Cafe Brasil

Cafe Brasil, Santa Cruz, CA

Eggs Benedict

Omellete Caipira

Churrasco Pressed Sandwich

Acai Bowl

Cafe Brasil is a fine establishment serving breakfast & lunch. They are widely known for their famous acai bowls along with great Brazilian-style dishes. Located in the heart of Santa Cruz, Ca, Cafe Brasil is not hard to miss. The vibrant colors representing the country of Brazil; blue, yellow, and green are painted on the house-like restaurant. The place literally looks like something out of the islands with large plants surrounding the place. 

The place is spacious inside with a capacity of almost 50 I’m guessing. There are large crowds that come in and out so I suggest coming extra early to beat the lunch traffic. Otherwise, there is a waiting list on the front desk. 

I ordered the Churrasco pressed sandwich which has melted mozzarella and tomatoes; this is almost like a panini. The meat is was bbq’d just right and didn’t have a chewy texture. It was moist and tender rather. As I bit through the sandwich, the juices from the melted mozzarella and tomatoes combined and dripped in between the bread. It was simply delicious!

Finally I ordered what I came for; The famous Acai Bowl. Their acai bowl is served in a large goblet with pureed acai berries which is almost thinner than smoothie-type texture. It’s mixed with apple juice and guarana syrup. The top layers consists of bananas, strawberries, fresh crispy oats, and a small flag! The texture of the acai puree is thin with an icy texture to it; it’s almost like a icee slurpee drink. It’s pretty tough to dig through especially since you'd want to get  everything form the top-down of the goblet. The Acai Bowl here is a must try and I also suggest trying the food from the menu such as the Pressed sandwiches, Feijoada Plate, and the Omelettes! 

Cafe Brasil is a great destination for all ages and for fresh & light meals! 

* FUN FACT: Guarana is a plant originating from the Maple family. It’s the size of a coffee bean and actually contains more caffeine than regular coffee itself (2-4.5% compared to 1-2% caffeine in coffee)!



Photo by: Allister de Vera
Cafe Brasil, Santa Cruz, CA.

Mahalo Bowl

Mahalo Bowl, Sunnyvale, CA

Small Mahalo Bowl; Maureen de Vera

It's been a couple months since I've been seeing this purple truck parked on El Camino, Sunnyvale. At first, the truck was drawing a few people at a time and now I see large crowds around the truck. I knew something had to be good here so I had to give it a shot. For weeks, my sisters kept telling me to try their acai bowls. I never had an acai bowl before and I never knew what exactly was in this stuff.

According to AcaiBowl.net the recipe is a dish of pureed acai berry. The typical ingredients are mainly granola, bananas, strawberries, honey for the sweetness, coconut, and soy/almond milk. The idea first originated from Brazil. The acai berry is from the Amazon of Brazil and they are filled with healthy antioxidants, amino acids, and fatty acids that are beneficial.

As of today, the acai bowl has become one of the hottest super foods out here in the streets. Sure it's been around for a long time but since people are tending to workout more and the fitness life has become such a big deal nowadays, the acai bowl is slowly beating out the typical smoothies/health shakes, etc. I have to say, I cannot go back to even having frozen yogurt with the fruits. This truck provides acai bowls that are given time to make and handled with care. What you get is this huge pint or cup with the mix all inside. This will def do the job after a good workout or even for a snack.

I feel so lucky to be living in a city where Mahalo Bowl is catering to. It's convenient for the people working out at 24 hr fitness and the locals grocery shopping. Even the color of the truck being purple just draws attention. I ordered the famous Lg. Mahalo Bowl which consisted of the pureed acai, honey, fresh and crunchy oats, coconut water and flakes, and guava juice. For $9 this pint did the job! It took some time to eat alone. From the first bite to the last, I couldn't stop admiring the taste of this. Everything was fresh and the textures were all there; you can taste the puree texture, the crunch of the oats, the stringy feel of the coconut flakes, and that sour-like bite from the guava and acai.

I definitely recommend people to stop by at this truck for some legit acai bowls and smoothies! You totally get what you pay for. I want to personally thank my two sisters and my good friend Natalya for giving me the idea to blog about this truck. Thanks!


Photo by: Allister de Vera
Mahalo Bowl, Sunnyvale, CA

A Short Interview: Mychael Haysbert

Video by: Allister de Vera

A Short Interview: Adrian Aujero

Video by: Allister de Vera

Fogo de Chão

Fogo de Chão, San Jose, CA

Fogo de Chão. It just sounds prestigious. Another review for a Brazilian steakhouse that caters to Churrascaria. Once again, my experience was tremendous. Right from the start, the host sits me and my sister down to this white linen table with shiny silver wear laying on the tables and the infamous “GO card”. 

As I sat down, our server gave us the run-down on what Fogo was all about and what they have to offer. This was a short introduction to welcome their guest. After that I made my way to the salad bar where I smelled the fresh cheeses, the cured cold-cut meats, olives & fruits, salads, etc. There were even buffet style platters that had rice and soup. The salad bar contained about 30+ items and were organized into sections.

THE GRAND FINALE came into place when I sat down. Servers came back & forth introducing the meats and asking us how we wanted it cooked. The meats were grilled and charred to perfection. Medium rare is the typical base of each meat served BUT they offer and cater to your liking. I personally loved the ribeye and lamb shank. Their lamb has so much flavor with the meat being tender at the same time. The ribeye cuts were chunky and thick but has a buttery texture as my knife ran down. Each type of meat had its own flavor and its own texture so I definitely recommend trying each one.

Fogo has its own style when taking care of their guest. They want you to feel at ease when dining and they provide complimentary polenta and fresh grilled plantains. The traditional Brazilian cheese bread (Pão de Queijo) are fluffy and fresh right off the oven. I recommend taking advantage of these!

My experience here at Fogo de Chão reached my expectations. From the interior design and structure of this restaurant, the professional service from each employee, to their main purpose which is food. The place was spotless and the salad bar as well as their actual bar was just clean and neat. The food was cooked to its perfection and the flavors and portions were all there. Bottom line, Fogo gave me another type of experience when dining. As you finish your meal, you are greeted with shiny red-squared dark chocolate pieces with hints of fresh mint. These are there to cleanse the palate so take a couple and enjoy! I cannot wait to come back for more! Obrigado!


Photo by: Allister de Vera
Fogo de Chão, San Jose, CA.

Le Papillon

Le Papillon, San Jose, CA

Linguine and Prawns with Cognac Truffle Cream

Sugar Snap Pea Soup with Roasted Button Shiitake Mushrooms

Swordfish and Braised Duck Breasts

Papillon was built in 1977 by Mike Mashayekh. His goals was to simply create one of the best fine-dining restaurants in the Bay Area. Scott Cooper is the executive chef and is a Bay Area native. His style and art of cooking is presented with such passion. From the beginning to the end of dining, the experience is unique and fun.

The restaurant looks like an old vintage home in the middle of a busy intersection. There is a sign that explains "No phones allowed". Once I walked in, I noticed a group of classy business people huddled around the bar tasting wine while the sommelier explains the origins and contents of their wine. The dining room looks like an upscale & mellow living room with white-linen tables and a rose on top of each table. Silver ware is placed according to how a person is "suppose" to eat. Fresh bread & butter is served and refilled each time. The menu is simple; either a 3 course or 4 course prix fixe is chosen with a number of special items from appetizer, soup/salad, and entree.

I started with the linguine and prawns with cognac truffle cream. This was a plate with a bundle of linguine that had a silky texture. The prawn was fresh and chunky with that fresh seafood scent. The truffle cream was light but still had that truffle bite to it. Second, I chose to have the snap pea soup with shiitake mushrooms. This was honestly the best soup I've ever had, hands down. The sugar snap pea soup was thick and rich. It had lots of texture from fresh pureed snap peas. The sugar naturally came out of the ingredients. The shiitake mushrooms were medium-sized and had that fresh tender bite to them. The scent of the mushrooms can easily be sniffed from the start. I definitely recommend this soup to have. Finally, I ordered the swordfish. Nothing but fresh and tender bites out of this bad boy. It was like a fish steak on my plate that was grilled to perfection. It has a soy-verjus reduction with scallions and risotto croquets. The fish was a perfect size; almost compared to a fist full. Before all this was served, my friend Wes and I tried a jelly cube with some type of syrup inside and a  vegetable puree with fish roe inside this tea cup. At the end of our exotic meal course, we received a white chocolate cube with salt on the bottom as a sweet delight.

The food here at Le Papillon is outstanding. The flavors are presented well. Each ingredient complimented each other. The ideas of even putting together a menu like this, is just eye-boggling. The mini bite size apps in the beginning were served in exotic platforms like a wooden bark, marbled tray, etc. Presentation and quality of the food is key here. It's nothing but the best. I had an amazing experience here at Le Papillon. This is definitely the restaurant to experience fine-dining here in the South Bay.

* I recommend ordering the 2010 Chappellet Napa Valley; Cabernet Sauvignon. This will definitely pair well with your meats. ($14 a glass)


Photo by: Allister de Vera
Le Papillon, San Jose, CA.

Pampas

Pampas, Palo Alto, CA

Filet Mignon

It's been years since I've been wanting to come here to this steakhouse. It's not some ordinary steakhouse where you sit, order wine & steak, and leave. No, this is a Brazilian steakhouse that serves over a dozen type of meats from lamb, chicken, and steak. The experience of having a server come with a sword with freshly cooked meat to the table is an experience. The rule is when you want more meat, you would flip the Pampas circle card to green and when you want to take a break, you would flip it to red. It's simple! 

As you walk inside Pampas, the atmosphere is business casual. People are dressed casually with a slight sophistication. This restaurant is a white-linen type place so be prepared to dress accordingly. There is a small lounge in the front of the restaurant with a live band. There is also a downstairs seating for more space; this was awesome to look at. Wine is a big deal here so make sure to definitely pay attention to the reds while wanting to pair it with your meats. The servers are on point! Even though the places busy, they still manage to take good care of refills and they're efficient with green card tables.

There is a appetizer bar that contains over 45 items from vegetables, raw fish, salad-building, to even a cheese section. This was very unique to me. I enjoyed every type of meat that was served but I personally loved the filet mignon because it was juicy and tender. The thickness was just right and the insides had a medium rare type texture. I also liked the cordeiro which was leg of lamb marinated with garlic and mint. The special vinaigrette was the perfect pair for this meat. Finally the frango picante which is chicken legs marinated with chilies and vinegar. The skin white meat was cooked to perfection to where it literally fell off the bone. 

My experience here was what I expected. I didn't have to wait long to get a new cut of meat or even get my drinks refilled because the servers kept coming. The ambiance was everything; people enjoying their food and just having a great time talking/laughing. I suggest coming with a group of friends or even just celebrating an anniversary here. The food and service will not disappoint. 

* Make sure to purchase the Rodizio! This menu provides the complete experience here at Pampas.

Photo by: Allister de Vera

Pampas, Palo Alto, CA