DOC - champamnharia and risoteria

We tried this restaurant last week with our friends AP&P. This charming, lighted by candles place is a bit hidden on a side street in the Bela Vista neighborhood. We thought it was different because they have few tables on the sidewalk outside the restaurant. It's something that we don't usually find in Porto Alegre. The decoration is rustic and on the walls hanging old windows and doors. On another wall hangs a blackboard with today's special risotto and champaign. They offer 5-6 types of risotto, in a big portion (2 servings) or an individual one. The risottos we tried were delicious - prawns with orange aroma and another one with cheese. And of course it's recommended to drink champagne. The waiter was very welcoming and patient too, having to recite the list of desserts 4 times for us, Portuguese strugglers. Don't miss the strawberries in sugar and pepper for dessert!
It's recommended to arrive early because the place is small and becomes packed pretty early.
Address: Rua Jaime Telles 325, Bela Vista. Mon.-Sat. 19:00-00:00.

Air force base "open day"

The Brazilian air base in Canoas is having its annual open day tomorrow, Oct. 12th with lots of attractions like music shows, churrasco, exposition of civil and military aircrafts, F-5M, Mirage 2000 and of course an aerobatic show. The main aerobatic show usually starts at around 16:00. It's recommended to arrive 2 hours earlier to avoid the traffic jam.

Base Aérea de Canoas map - Tagzania

Essa POA e boa

Essa POA e boa is a contemporary art exposition, taking place in an indoor space by the Dado brewery in DC Navegantes. All artists participating are from Porto Alegre, showing 12 projects that include paintings, sculptures,video and music. Personally I liked this exposition much better than the Bienal. The works are more creative, colorful and interesting. The kids also liked it a lot.
Opening hours: Tue.-Sat. 12:00-22:00, Sun. and holidays 10:00-20:00. Free entrance and free parking at the DC Navegantes shopping center.

Farroupilha Parade

Farroupilha week will be celebrated tomorrow, Sept. 20th, with a nice parade of the gauchos. The parade passes by the Farroupilha park with gauchos dressed up in traditional cloths, riding horses or decorated trucks, marching bands and typical music. 9:45-12:30.

Sushi by Cleber

It is more than three years that we are visiting Sushi by Cleber. Sometimes we visit there once every couple of weeks and sometimes even twice a week. Sushi by Cleber can be considered as our "home sushi place" (some colleagues, while visiting in Porto Alegre are telling us: "we ate yesterday at Dagan's sushi...").

Cleber is not exactly what you will expect from a chef. A super cool, well-tattooed guy, nice and friendly and can make one of the the best sushis in town. The restaurant is casual yet well decorated, the fish are always fresh and the environment is... like home.

The house system is fixed price per person (around R$ 45-50) for free sushi buffet and some dishes that are served to the table (sushi and sashimi combo, hot Philadelphia sushi, grilled salmon, Shitaki mushrooms, missoshiro soup and others).

By the way - Sushi by Cleber is open 7 days a week for dinner!!!! During summer time, Cleber is open during week days in Porto Alegre and during weekends at Atlantida beach, about an hour drive from the city.

Address: Desembargador Esperidião de Lima Medeiros 317

Tel. 3328-8330/4499
Open every day, 19:30 - Last Customer

"No Ar" exposition - RBS group

RBS is a media group that celebrates 50 years of activity with a nice exposition in Porto Alegre -"No Ar" (=on air), about TV, radio, internet, newspaper and more. The exposition tells the history of RBS interactively, involving fiction, reality and rhythm. It's also fun for kids. Dates: 1.9 - 18.11.2007 Place: Usina do Gasometro Visiting hours: Tue.-Sun. 9:00-21:00. Free entrance. Free parking.

Home made soft cheese

Sometimes I really miss having a low fat and tasty soft cheese. The only soft cheese I could find here was Philadelphia or Alluete which are very fat. So I make my own cheese by taking 6-8 containers of Parmalat Iogurte Natural 200ml. (see picture). The blue one has around 4% fat and the green is fat free. I mix them with a little bit of salt and put all in a cloth diaper (the old fashion diapers). I tie the cloth above the sink and let the water drain for couple of hours and...voila! The time depends on the desired consistency. 4 hours would give softer cheese and 10 hours would give a firmer one. The cheese can stay for a long period of time in a close container in the fridge and is also good for baking purposes.

Hashi - Japanese Restaurant

We tried Hashi two weeks ago with a group of friends. We had a fantastic ten-courses degustation dinner that was so palatable, that less than two week later we find ourselves sitting there again, and having another degustation (only six-courses this time).

Chef Carlos Kritensen is bringing to the table original and creative flavors, using his experience from studying and working in Thailand, India, Nepal and Malaysia. Each of the courses we had was delicious - both to the eyes and to the tongue. Oyster cooked in Champagne and Brie cheese, Shrimp in Curry souce, Salmon sashimi with thin slices of lemon, Tuna fish with Foie Gras in balsamic marinade and many many others. To complete the experience, the chef comes out with every dish and gives a short exploitation about it.

Hashi (in Porto Alegre) is relatively young restaurant (less than two years old), so the Chef still needs to prove that he can keep the same level for long time. Up to now - he does it well and we will definitely come back soon. Every visit is a new great adventure.
If you're planning to have the degustation dinner you need to inform the chef one day in advance.

HASHI
Rua Desembargador Augusto Loureiro Lima 151
Tel. 3328-0005
Mon. - Sat. 19:30 - 24:00
www.hashi.com.br

Guia Quatro Rodas - planning trips in Brazil

If you are planning a trip in Brazil and you can read some Portuguese, don't forget to take a look at the "Guia Quatro Rodas Brasil". The book gives helpful information about all the touristic places in Brazil, including maps, prices and tips about hotels, restaurants and attractions.
The "Quatro Rodas" site, offers a lot of this information on-line for free.

Bienal B in Porto Alegre

The "Bienal B" is an alternative art exhibition, in parallel to the traditional Bienal do Mercosul. An informal organization of 300 artists is displaying the artists works all around Porto Alegre during the months of September, October and November 2007. This is a map of the bienal exhibits in Porto Alegre. During this period there will also be lectures and crafts classes given.