Rigo Duarte (grandson of Basílio Almeida, one of the owners) says it all began when Manuel Gomes, a Portuguese immigrant, had the idea of selling angu à baiana (with pork offal) in paint cans to earn a living. Angu had already been a delicacy sold since the 19th century by Black women in the streets and in the so-called Casas de Zungu.
Manuel Gomes used to keep his cart at Basílio's father's bar, and that's how a long partnership began between the latter and João Gomes - Manuel's son.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a street vendor at a night market. On the left side, we see a man in a plaid shirt and jeans, holding a bag. In the center, there is a small wooden cart on wheels, where a dish is being prepared. On the upper part of the cart, there is a sign with prices written in white. On the right, a man in a striped shirt and jeans is serving dishes. In the background, we see a metal structure with railings.Foto: Paulo Moreira - Carrocinha do Angu do Gomes - Agência O Globo
The duo adapted the recipe and replaced the pork giblets with beef giblets. The success was immediate, but many old customers would ask: "where's Gomes?"
It was then that João and Basílio decided to name the recipe "Angu do Gomes," registering the trademark in 1955.
The trend caught on. The food, cheap and tasty, won over customers, and angu carts soon multiplied. In 1965, they opened a restaurant on Largo São Francisco da Prainha, and in the 1970s, they expanded the number of carts, reaching as many as 80 spread across the city.
Image description: This is a photograph of a building with two colorful facades. The facade on the left is yellow, while the facade on the right is pink. Both have windows with red grilles and decorative balconies. At the lower part of the facades, there are arches opening onto an area covered by red awnings. Inside this area, bar furniture can be seen, including black tables and chairs. On the ground, there are green plants in pots. The sky is clear and sunny.Angu do Gomes na rua Sacadura Cabral - Site Angu do Gomes
The restaurant was frequented by a lot of famous people -- João Nogueira, Nelson Cavaquinho, Beth Carvalho, Chico Anysio, and Tim Maia used to spend time there. And for a long time it worked as a meeting point for the artists from Rádio Nacional, who killed time there, near the Edifício A Noite.
As a result of their fame, the duo decided to expand the business by opening GB Lanches, G for Gomes and B for Basílio! The carts were spread along the beachfronts, at Tivoli Park, Feira da Providência, and in many places around the city!
