Casulo, the restaurant led by chef Marina Leite in Lapinha da Serra, near Belo Horizonte, will close its tasting menu cycle Lapinha Memória Viva in December. The final session takes place on December 20 at 3 p.m., featuring a special edition accompanied by violin and piano.
More than a gastronomic experience, the menu was conceived as a ritual of memory — a narrative told through flavors, textures and gestures that connect generations. “Working with memory is to deal with what is fluid and subjective. Each moment reveals fragments kept in the waters, mountains and seeds that endure across generations,” says Marina.
The result of three years of research, the project mapped local producers, Cerrado ingredients and food traditions of the community. The eight-course menu reflects this journey, with highlights such as mocotó jelly with rapadura, coffee, cornmeal and black peanuts, paired with wines from Minas Gerais that enhance regional identity.
From memory to renewal
According to Marina, the menu’s conclusion marks the beginning of a new creative stage. “Throughout these months, we treated the menu as a ritual of surrender. Now it becomes part of our permanent menu — matured, alive, and ready to be experienced anytime. In 2026, Casulo begins a new cycle that reinforces its essence and purpose.”
Recognized for blending research, technique and intuition, Casulo has become a reference in territorial cuisine. Later this year, the restaurant will launch Casa Sempre Viva, a new guesthouse focused on experiential tourism and the connection between gastronomy, art and nature.
Service
Casulo – Restaurant and experiences Rua Olhos d’Água, 01 – Lapinha da Serra, Santana do Riacho Open: Tuesday to Sunday Final Lapinha Memória Viva session: December 20, at 3 p.m. Reservations: +55 (31) 98408-0368 | casulolapinhadaserra@gmail.com Instagram: @casulolapinhadaserra
