Carlota

Charming international cuisine in a country home Somehow, whilst juggling a successful foodie blog, a YouTube channel, and numerous book and television deals, accomplished chef Carla Pernambuco manages to delight visitors in her restaurant with an exquisite international menu. The fish dishes and guava soufflé in particular receive consistent high praise; but no meal, be it inspired by Brazilian, Portuguese, Italian or Oriental style cooking, will disappoint. Part of Carlota’s appeal, however, is that nothing about it feels ostentatious or overdone; it exudes charm, in fact – though this is hardly surprising since it is housed in a traditional, white-washed country home.

This Brazilian bistro created by Carla Pernambuco and her husband is relaxed and relaxing, and that goes for the food as much as the place itself. The menu is long, interesting and cosmopolitan with incursions into Portuguese (bacalhau a bras), Italian (risotto and pasta) and Oriental traditions, as well as Pernambuco's own range of stunning dishes such as grilled lobster tail, manioc purée and Thai vegetable julienne, and grilled salmon fillet with couscous and maple-and-orange sauce. Her selection of Brazilian snacks such as salt-cod rissois (a turnover), pão de queijo (a hot cheese roll) and various fried tidbits is an enjoyable way for two people to graze on something tasty while getting to know the local repertoire.

West of Centro, in leafy Higienópolis you'll find the casual-yet-chic whitewashed-brick bistro Carlota (Rua Sergipe 753; tel. 55/11/3661-8670; www.carlota.com.br). Owner-chef Carla Pernambuco blends the flavors of her own Italian heritage, the culinary style of her training in Manhattan, and fresh Brazilian ingredients; typical dishes include codfish and shiitake mushrooms with Indian curry sauce, a grilled duck magret with jaboticaba sauce and manioc puree, or huge ravioli stuffed with shrimp and asparagus.

Com 27 anos, o Carlota, bistrô brasileiro da chef Carla Pernambuco, nunca foi tão moderno. Clássico paulistano consagrado, o sobrado de tijolinhos brancos no bairro de Higienópolis ganhou novos ares com as mesas de madeira sem toalha, as flores de papel sobre as mesas e os quadros escolhidos pela cozinheira. No menu, a cozinha multicultural, divertida e afetiva, segue em constante renovação, mas tem alguns itens já consagrados que nunca saem de cena.

Prestes a completar 30 anos de atividade, o Carlota se mantém entre os melhores endereços gastronômicos da cidade, recebendo prêmios da crítica especializada e conquistando o paladar do público. A casa da chef Carla Pernambuco tem fachada branca e grandes janelas, que banham o ambiente com luz natural. Ali, os clientes exploram a cozinha multicultural idealizada pela chef, em conceito que ela define como “bistrô de bairro”.

O Carlota, bistrô brasileiro comandado pela chef Carla Pernambuco, fica localizado em um sobrado de tijolinhos brancos no bairro de Higienópolis. Para o inverno, o local incorporou em seu menu a Canja da Mamma, uma chicken soup com cenoura e macarrão cabelinho de anjo (R$ 55). Considerada como um clássico das delis nova-iorquina, ela é sugerida como prato do dia do restaurante na seção chamada “Favoritos”.

CARLOTA. Com cozinha contemporânea, Carla Pernambuco está sempre se renovando. Mas algumas receitas clássicas estão sempre presentes como o rolinho vietnamita de camarão e legumes e o eterno suflê de goiabada com catupiry. Rua Sergipe, 753, Higienópolis.

Last but definitely not least, our list concludes with a restaurant rich in research and mixtures of different cultures, aiming to build its own story. There, you can find dishes such as: