The upbeat sounds of bossa nova and samba music flow out onto the Ave. Complex, delectable smells draw passers-by into the dining room. They enter an inviting atmosphere where people are dancing, chatting in English and Portuguese and of course, eating.

The place is Tempero do Brasil, a cozy restaurant on the north end of the Ave.

Antonio Ribeiro, his wife, Graça Ribeiro, and friend Bryant Urban opened the doors of their Seattle eatery about nine years ago and have been serving up authentic Brazilian cuisine ever since.

On any given night, the room is filled with live or recorded traditional Brazilian sounds. Diners dance and sing along with Antonio Ribeiro and Urban as they perform live music on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

“We really care about the culture,” said Graça Ribeiro. Their goal is to combine food, music and dance — all things they love — in a way that shows the true spirit of Bahia, the part of Brazil that the Ribeiros are from.

“There is no other restaurant like this is the United States,” Urban said. “People like restaurants that are real; what you see is what you get.”

Here the customers are more like friends, according to the Ribeiros. “Many people come back many times and we really get to know them,” said Antonio.

The Ribeiros have been in the United States for 14 years. They miss their home country, but they say that they are able to feel at home through the restaurant, which offers other Brazilian expatriates a bit of home as well.

Lots of Brazilians come here to feel at home, eat traditional food and listen to the music of their country.

“I will make them whatever they like,” said Graça. “Even if it’s not on the menu.”

Others bring their friends to show off their pride in their country and culture. Many who aren’t Brazilian but simply love the cuisine keep coming back as well, she added.

Urban and the Ribeiros want to express both the Bahian and Brazilian love for food through their restaurant. National Brazilian and local Bahian dishes are featured on the menu.

A typical Brazilian midday meal — their largest — consists of rice, beans and meat. According to the Ribeiros, these three staples are eaten almost every day in Brazil.

The house special, Feijoada (pronounced fay-ZHWAH-

duh), is a black bean stew with different kinds of meat including a ham hock, sausage and beef. The dish is served with rice, sautéed collard greens and orange slices. Feijoada originally came from Portugal, Graça said, and over time became a dish of slaves. They added any leftovers that could be collected from their masters.

Now, according to the Ribeiros, there are many versions. Their version in particular uses more black beans than most others.

Bife Acebolado ($16.95) is a basic New York steak, cut into thin strips and pan-fried with onions, served with rice and beans. A side dish, or “porçõe,” of Farofa ($2.75) is typically ordered to accompany this dish by many Brazilians. Farofa is made with manioc flour, diced onions, butter and bacon. These dishes are what people eat almost every day in Brazil, explains Antonio.

“Many times people come here and only order the Bife Acebolado because they miss their country,” he said.

Bahia is a northeast state in Brazil that is known for its beaches, lush green forests and rolling hills. The fact that it borders the coast explains why it is also known for its seafood. The area also has strong African, Indian and Portuguese influences in all aspects of its culture, including food. Coconut oil, palm oil and hot chili peppers can be

found in a majority of local dishes.

“Northern Brazil has unique food; there is nothing else like it,” Graça said. The food in the northern parts differs from the cuisine found throughout the rest of the country.

“Bahia and Salvador [Bahia’s capital city] is to Brazil as Paris is to France,” said Antonio. “You can’t say you’ve gone to Brazil unless you’ve been there.”

Any seafood dish, or “frutos do mar,” especially the Mocqueca de Peixe ($18.95) — which earned first place at Bite of Seattle in 2000, according to Graça — is recommended.

For the less adventurous or maybe those on a tighter budget, the “aperitivos,” or appetizers, are an excellent choice. Coxinha de Galinha ($6.95), or chicken croquettes, is a specialty.

“My son’s friends love it.” Graça said. “They always ask me to make Coxinha de Galinha for them.” The four chicken croquettes are served with Antonio’s special hot sauce, which he is planning to bottle and sell next year. The sauce is very spicy so beware.

All told, the menu offers more than 40 specialties.

One of the most important parts about food and culture is “the drink.” The Ribeiros and Urban say you can’t fully appreciate Brazilian culture until you have tried the Caipirinha. Brazil’s national drink, the Caipirinha is made

with cachaça (sugarcane alcohol), sugar and limes (or any other citrus fruit) that are mashed together and served on the rocks.

A popular nonalcoholic beverage is Guaraná ($2), a Brazilian soft drink made from berries grown in the Amazon forest.

Art and music do not come second to food in this restaurant. All three owners are very involved in the arts and enjoy educating their patrons about Brazilian culture.

Prior to their careers as restaurateurs, Antonio and Graça made their living as dancers, musicians and artists, traveling extensively throughout Brazil and the United States with a folkloric dance group performing traditional dances.

Paintings, woodcarvings and photographs showing many different aspects of Brazilian culture are displayed on the yellow walls. These include paintings and wood carvings by the Ribeiros.

The trio has definitely made a name for themselves here in Seattle. In 2002, Tempero do Brasil was voted “Best Dinner” at the Bite of Seattle. Seattle Weekly readers have also voted the restaurant one of the “Best Romantic Places to Dine.” The Stranger also placed them on their “where-to-eat-next” list in 1999.