Its meat is half light, like that of anchovies, and half dark, like that of tuna, with flavors reminiscent of both, horse-eye jack is the best fish of both worlds, in the words of Ian Medeiros of Fixi Restaurante, in Arraial do Cabo.

For centuries, eating turtle was a staple of the city's gastronomy. In the form of soup, pastry or fricassee, the delicacy was considered fine and consumed at high society banquets and also in less fancy restaurants.