Why Don't Brazilians Like Brunch?

Where's The Brunch? 

I wrote a few weeks ago about how the cafe culture here in Porto Alegre is getting better and better all of the time. I've found a few cafes that I love and visit them very regularly to get my caffeine fix.

The situation isn't perfect though. While quality coffee is clearly one of the biggest factors in judging a cafe, it isn't the only one. One thing that seems to be lacking from Porto Alegre cafes is brunch.

Melbourne is Brunch King

Back in Melbourne, where great cafes are on almost every corner, a huge part of their business is made up of the weekend brunch crowd. There's nothing better than getting up late on a Saturday or (preferably) a Sunday and heading to your favourite cafe for some great coffee and a huge plate full of eggs, bacon, sausages, beans, potatoes and maybe some smashed avocado. I find it hard to go past eggs benedict if its on the menu.

It has become a ritual for many, commonly using it to 'debrief' the night before. Who did what with who? You said what? And what happened to Mike?

Sometimes you'll need a bit of 'hair of the dog' (for my Brazilian friends, this is when you need to drink some alcohol in the morning to make you feel better) with a Bloody Mary or a Mimosa. I've even been to a brunch which offers endless brunch sangria, which can turn your brunch into a full on bender.

Mostly though, you're there to get some good food and have a laugh about the night before. For a lot of people brunch in Melbourne is the best time to go to a restaurant.

Brazilians Don't Even Eat Breakfast

It isn't really a thing here in Brazil though. For that matter, neither is breakfast. Known as cafe da manha (literally, coffee of the morning) it is a bit of a non event here – especially if you're trying to find somewhere to eat out. Most Brazilians that I know barely eat anything in the morning. Maybe some juice or a piece of fruit. Many cafes here – even the good ones that I like – don't open until after a traditional breakfast time. Even those that are open early barely have more than some bread or granola for breakfast. If you're looking for something a bit more substantial, you're generally out of luck.

It might be because they tend to eat big lunches (often buffets with rice, beans, salad and steak) and dinners that they choose to forgo breakfast. A great big brunch on a weekend can mean you don't even need lunch, but it hasn't taken off here yet.

There Are Good Brunch Spots in Porto Alegre

That isn't to say it doesn't exist. So far we've found two cafes in Porto Alegre that offer brunch and they're both pretty good.

Eggs Benedict

The first one we found is Priscilla's Bakery (Rua Vasco da Gama 514). This place could fight right in to the Melbourne brunch scene with a huge list of brunch classics like waffles, pancakes, croque madame and eggs benedict. They also have a big range of cakes and pastries that you can have there or take away. On the day we went the service was a little slow, however the food was really good quality which always helps you forget your wait. The biggest problem with this place is that they're not open Sundays. While Saturday is a good brunch day, Sunday is the best and not opening Sundays is going to make it harder to make the brunch thing take off in Porto Alegre.

A Cruffin!

The other brunch spot we've tried so far is Ló Patisserie &Chocolaterie (Rua Vasco da Gama 915). Unlike Priscilla's, these guys are open on Sundays which is a massive plus. While they specialise in chocolates, cakes and pastries, they offer a brunch menu on weekends which revolves around the croissant. They have a number of croissants, including sweet and savoury options, and some that are even a combination of croissant and muffin – the cruffin! As well as being able to buy individual items, they have a few set menus which generally include a sweet and a savory item, a juice and a coffee. The food is absolutely delicious. The only downside is if you're feeling like something other than a croissant there isn't as much variety.

The search for the best brunch spot in Porto Alegre continues. My hope is one day Porto Alegre combines their love of the buffet livre with a new found love of brunch and creates brunch buffets!