im still in my Rio hangover. not because i've had too much Caipirinhas, simply because i can't move on from it. Rio is paradise.
and the food, complements that paradise.
breakfast. Cafeina have several branches around the city. some in Ipanema and in Copacabana. i went to the one in Leblon I at Avenue Ataulfo de Paiva, about 10 minutes by walk from my hotel. cafe opens at 8am.
the area is a bit upscale to what i can see, and the customers mostly families, with their baby strollers parked by their tables. the location and set up was more relaxed as compared to the rest of Rio. i liked it.
they have an english menu, which was very helpful. their staff can hardly speak it. i was making do with my limited spanish knowledge like leche and my uno, dos, tres. assuming (and hoping) the spanish and portuguese language are almost the same.
they have set breakfasts, also some made for twos. i ordered the Natural option. came with fresh orange juice, your choice of hot drink (in my case, tea with leche), half a papaya, white cheese and turkey breast, yogurt and granola, wholemeal bread and cereals mini baguette with jam, butter, cream cheese and honey on the side.
it was quite a spread. i was impressed. everything was fresh and well, natural. i've been very good trying to stay away from carbs, but not even that stopped me from finishing almost all my bread. the papaya was ripe to perfection. and the yogurt with the granola was divine. it was exactly how i wanted to start my day in Rio.
after a morning pick-me-up like that, i decided it was a great day to walk down the beach. see a bit of Rio when everyone else was still sleeping, recovering from their cachacas last night. and a chance for me to burn all the bread i just ate. there's wishful thinking.
some emo moments by the beach, and occasional people-watching. and by people i mean men in speedos. i guess i've burned enough calories, moving on.
if you're by Ipanema, might as well drop by Barraca Do Uruguay near post (lifeguard tower) 9.
it's basically a beach bar, serving sandwiches and drinks. there's plenty of them scattered in Rio's beaches. but what makes this place special is, Anthony Bourdain ate here. twice! once in A Cook's Tour, then 10 years later in No Reservations. naturally, i have to eat here too.
i ordered the carne (beef) sandwich.
i was in awe to see the large chunk of steak she was slicing. i was already drooling as she prepares our sandwiches. she puts some fresh onions in there and a special sauce. you have a choice of having it spicy or not. i like everything spicy.
the spice and the sauce goes well with the flavor of the meat. i enjoyed it too much i went for seconds. and same goes with my friends! there goes my low carb diet again.
one can't go to Rio and not have caipirinhas. after all, it's brazil's national cocktail. it's basic ingredient is cachaca (sugarcane hard liquor) which is very common in brazil. mix that with lime, sugar and crushed ice, and you got yourself a refreshing, yet lethal drink. uma caipirinha, por favor!
i heard one of the best place to get the best caipirinhas (and caipiroskas) in town are in Academia Da Cachaca. there's one branch in Leblon, by Rua Conde Bernadotte.
the place was spacious. i especially loved the brazilian flag design on their ceilings. and their display of cachacas and other liquors was astounding.
decided to try their escondidinhos, mashed sweet cassava and shreds of jerked beef covered in melted cheese au gratin. which reminded me so much of corned beef when i had my first bite. throw in some chili oil and olive oil in there, a great caipirinha on the side and it's as sublime as it is equally sinful. usually is, in every case.
im thinking it's much like Rio, sinful and sublime.
just the way i like it.
and the food, complements that paradise.
breakfast. Cafeina have several branches around the city. some in Ipanema and in Copacabana. i went to the one in Leblon I at Avenue Ataulfo de Paiva, about 10 minutes by walk from my hotel. cafe opens at 8am.
the area is a bit upscale to what i can see, and the customers mostly families, with their baby strollers parked by their tables. the location and set up was more relaxed as compared to the rest of Rio. i liked it.
they have an english menu, which was very helpful. their staff can hardly speak it. i was making do with my limited spanish knowledge like leche and my uno, dos, tres. assuming (and hoping) the spanish and portuguese language are almost the same.
they have set breakfasts, also some made for twos. i ordered the Natural option. came with fresh orange juice, your choice of hot drink (in my case, tea with leche), half a papaya, white cheese and turkey breast, yogurt and granola, wholemeal bread and cereals mini baguette with jam, butter, cream cheese and honey on the side.
it was quite a spread. i was impressed. everything was fresh and well, natural. i've been very good trying to stay away from carbs, but not even that stopped me from finishing almost all my bread. the papaya was ripe to perfection. and the yogurt with the granola was divine. it was exactly how i wanted to start my day in Rio.
after a morning pick-me-up like that, i decided it was a great day to walk down the beach. see a bit of Rio when everyone else was still sleeping, recovering from their cachacas last night. and a chance for me to burn all the bread i just ate. there's wishful thinking.
some emo moments by the beach, and occasional people-watching. and by people i mean men in speedos. i guess i've burned enough calories, moving on.
if you're by Ipanema, might as well drop by Barraca Do Uruguay near post (lifeguard tower) 9.
it's basically a beach bar, serving sandwiches and drinks. there's plenty of them scattered in Rio's beaches. but what makes this place special is, Anthony Bourdain ate here. twice! once in A Cook's Tour, then 10 years later in No Reservations. naturally, i have to eat here too.
i ordered the carne (beef) sandwich.
i was in awe to see the large chunk of steak she was slicing. i was already drooling as she prepares our sandwiches. she puts some fresh onions in there and a special sauce. you have a choice of having it spicy or not. i like everything spicy.
the spice and the sauce goes well with the flavor of the meat. i enjoyed it too much i went for seconds. and same goes with my friends! there goes my low carb diet again.
one can't go to Rio and not have caipirinhas. after all, it's brazil's national cocktail. it's basic ingredient is cachaca (sugarcane hard liquor) which is very common in brazil. mix that with lime, sugar and crushed ice, and you got yourself a refreshing, yet lethal drink. uma caipirinha, por favor!
i heard one of the best place to get the best caipirinhas (and caipiroskas) in town are in Academia Da Cachaca. there's one branch in Leblon, by Rua Conde Bernadotte.
the place was spacious. i especially loved the brazilian flag design on their ceilings. and their display of cachacas and other liquors was astounding.
decided to try their escondidinhos, mashed sweet cassava and shreds of jerked beef covered in melted cheese au gratin. which reminded me so much of corned beef when i had my first bite. throw in some chili oil and olive oil in there, a great caipirinha on the side and it's as sublime as it is equally sinful. usually is, in every case.
im thinking it's much like Rio, sinful and sublime.
just the way i like it.
