Sunday, January 31, 2010

Bar do Juarez (Itaim Bibi)

http://www.bardojuarez.com.br/
Av. Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek, 1164

Itaim Bibi (also locations in Moema, Brooklin, and Pinheiros)

You can't get more boteca than this. My friends and I were entertaining an out-of-town guest and wanted to take him the "most Brazilan" place we knew. Bar do Juarez was it.

We had a hankering for picanha, and the sizzle didn't disappoint. The beer is cold, the atmosphere is bustling (sitting on the sidewalk, fumes are free), and the fried foods don't stop coming. If you're a vegetarian, there are not too many options other than Palmito Pastels...but the picanha is so tasty you might just change your mind!

Yogen Fruz (Bela Vista)

http://www.yogenfruz.com.br/home/pt-br/
Shopping Paulista
Rua 13 de Maio, 1947 – Piso Paraíso
In front of the panoramic elevators

What a great find! I hadn't been to Shopping Paulista until today, and I was so happy to see yet another frozen yogurt store in the neighborhood. Of course, it's in the mall (not so spectacular)...but it's been raining so much it's nice not to have to wait in a long line in the rain! And what a line it was...about 20 people deep the entire time I was there.

It's the same, yet different. The lowfat tart yogurt is delicious. You have the option of smoothies (which look awesome) or - -and I haven't seen this in SP -- a sort of make-your-own fruit flavor yogurt. In addition to regular fresh fruit toppings, they have frozen fruits available to "mix in" to the plain yogurt. So, you can have FRESH mango frozen yogurt made right for you. I definitely will be back to try it.

Best part of Yogen Fruz? One topping is 1 real, but 3 toppings are only 2 reais. Makes you want to pile it on and enjoy the freshness of it all.