Maranhão Gastronomy Museum

Museum located in São Luís in the northwest of Brazil, specialized in exhibiting typical foods as well as their elaboration processes and the contribution of indigenous, African and European communities to the cuisine of Maranhão.

Maranhão Gastronomy Museum
Source: Google Street View
Type:	Cultural Museum
Country:	Brazil
Establishment:	2019

The Maranhão Gastronomy Museum (Portuguese: Museu da Gastronomia Maranhense) is a museum located in São Luís in the northwest of Brazil, specialized in exhibiting typical foods as well as their elaboration processes and the contribution of indigenous, African and European communities to the cuisine of Maranhão.

History

The house where the museum is located was built in the 19th century, based on the design of buildings when the economy of the State of Grão-Pará and Maranhão began to develop within the Portuguese Empire, incorporating materials such as Lioz stone, which was widely used in different structures or buildings in Portuguese style during colonial times.^[1] During the 2000s, the house was acquired by the São Luís City Hall and remodeled by IPHAN, where approximately R$ 47.256,17 was invested for the remodeling of the building that had deteriorated over time.^[2]

The museum opened in June 2019, with support from the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage of Brazil (IPHAN) and the Municipal Tourism Secretariat of São Luís.^[3] At the end of 2019, cooking courses were organized at the museum to promote the use of Sururu, a mollusk native to South America known as "Charru mussel" in English, in different traditional recipes.^[4]

In June 2020, it was reported that the museum had become one of the most popular attractions in the city of São Luís with more than 22,700 visitors, in addition to the participation of around 400 people in the culinary workshops organized inside the museum.^[5] In 2023, the museum launched exhibits about handicrafts made with buriti fibers, also known as "Moriche palm", in addition to jellies made with fruits native to the State of Maranhão, such as Juçara, also known as Içara in some parts of Brazil, and Cupuaçu.^[6] In November 2021, the museum won the Darcy Ribeiro Award granted by the Brazilian Institute of Museums (IBRAM).^[7]

Collections

The museum shows how the cuisine of other continents has influenced the cuisine of Maranhão after the arrival of people from Africa and Europe.^[8] The museum also exhibits traditional handicrafts found in the market "Casa das Tulhas" located in the Historical Center of São Luís, in addition to several representations of the houses located in the rural areas of the State of Maranhão known as "Casas de Roça" where traditional clay pots as well as structures made of iron to store kitchen utensils are displayed.^[9]

References

1. Inaugurado Museu da Gastronomia Maranhense em São Luís. (2019-06-13). O Imparcial. (in Portuguese)

2. Silva, M. P. (2022). O museu da gastronomia maranhense: Perspectivas, implementação e desafios no século XXI. (in Portuguese)

3. Museu da Gastronomia abre as portas com vasto acervo em São Luís (2019-06-14). Imirante. (in Portuguese)

4. Inscrições para curso gratuito de culinária são abertas em São Luís. (2019-11-30). Portal Guará. (in Portuguese)

5. Emir, A. (2020-06-14). "Museu da Gastronomia completa primeiro ano como um dos maiores atrativos turísticos de São Luís" Maranhão Hoje. (in Portuguese)

6. Emir, A. (2023-03-06). Museu da Gastronomia Maranhense divulga cronograma de exposições até fevereiro de 2024. Maranhão Hoje. (in Portuguese)

7. Prefeitura de São Luís vence prêmio Darcy Ribeiro com projeto de acessibilidade do Museu da Gastronomia Maranhense. (2021-11-29). Agência NE9. (in Portuguese)

8. Cruz, B. de P. A., & Sousa, P. H. M. de. (2021). Pesquisa em gastronomia: Volume 3. Editora CRV. (Page 48) (in Portuguese)

9. Museu da Gastronomia do Maranhão é inaugurado em São Luís. (2019-06-14). G1. (in Portuguese)