What’s with yuca-derived Tapioca? Well, it fits into the gluten-free market and it’s sodium-free, fat-free, cholesterol-free and it comes with potassium, calcium, iron, copper, and phosphorus; Vitamins (complex B), folic acid, and assists in the production of serotonin.

Oy gevalt! And what else??

It can be used in many luscious ways; here are some things the Brazilians of TAP – NYC do with it:

• Baked yuca sticks with avocado or requeijão (cream cheese) dip;

• Tapioca Crepes such as the Anytime: queijo coalho (white cheese), tomatoes, oregano, or the Vegan: avocado, mushrooms, roasted zucchini, tomatoes, and chia seeds;

• Best of all, Pão de Queijo – tangerine-sized, tapioca-based feather weight bread-puffs with a molten cheese magma-like interior dollop – just out of the oven. The colder the weather, the greater the benefit.

This is beautiful baking, in the Brazilian way that Ronaldinho played the beautiful game – cheesy, but skilled and artful. On that note, take a listen to Brazilians Elis Regina sing Aguas de Março with Tom Jobim, before heading up to the Upper West Side Historic District that includes TAP – NYC, The Dakota, Central Park, Strawberry Fields, the Columbus Avenue ‘stroll’ and Trader Joe’s (everyone’s favourite).

Take the B, C, 1, 2, 3, Trains to 72nd Street and you’ll be one avenue block away. TAP – NYC is on Columbus Avenue between 72nd and 73rd Streets.