In 19th-century Rio de Janeiro, hygiene concerns made the use of human hands a major problem. As early as 1884, the French baker Delmilhac advertised his bakery as an example of technical advancement: mechanical kneader, special oven, and "less human contact with the dough."

Around November, the topic of French toast used to dominate Rio de Janeiro newspapers, always associated with other Christmas dishes that had nothing to do with turkey. Turkey was an English thing, then an American one.

In 1939, the manager of the Yokohama Shokin Bank built a weekend house in that then-deserted neighborhood. When the family returned to Japan, they allowed the cook to open a restaurant there, called Shujyu Na. The business had a short life due to difficult access.

Rafa Brito Pereira (@theslowbaker) has always managed to attract consumers seeking quality to unlikely places. His Slow Bakery (@theslowbakery), now in a less unusual location, continues to make the best bread in Rio for 10 years, and still attracts a crowd that arrives with luggage straight...