berimbau (carmine at bedford/bleeker)

Brazilian food! And authentic too... I know this because I went with my friend from Brazil - most of the entree list were things that she makes for dinner! I started with a mango caipirinha which was delicious, although the original lime will always be the best. We got Pao de Queijo (which I had just tried for the first time the weekend before) which are little bread balls with cheese in the middle - but not a block of cheese like mozzarella sticks, it's more melted into the bread. I asked the waitress if I should get the Stroganoff or Bobo de Camarao and she said the Stroganoff was amazing; it was. But the best part - it's chicken in a creamy sauce with mushrooms and served with rice - topped with potato sticks!! This is apparently the traditional way, and I must say it made the whole dish, adding a little crunch and that saltiness. My friends got the picanha, and I'm pretty sure you can't go wrong with meat in a Brazilian place. It was an intimate, low-lit place with exposed brick, and great for hours of talking. They definitely have space to push some tables together for bigger party, but I would make a reservation no matter how many you're going with. http://www.berimbaunyc.com/

Calle Ocho (columbus and 81st)

This past Sunday I ventured across Central Park to go to brunch at Calle Ocho in the Upper West Side. The draw, of course, was the all-you-can-drink sangria bar, but the food was delicious, too! They try to slow down your drinking by not allowing double-fisting, plus you have to go up to the sangria table and wait in line every time you want to fill up. Still, the sangria flavors are delicious (tropical was my favorite for the white, and mulata for the red), and any motivated diner can certainly get their share :)

The treasure box of bread arrived with strawberry butter (meh), and since I HAD to try all the different types I was pretty full by the time my entree arrived! But back to the bread - there was a dense biscuit, a donut type deliciousness, chocolate chip rolls, and some other fried variety. As good as they were, next time I think I'll just stick to the light-colored biscuit-type to save room for food and sangria. As for the Pollo Ranchero, I'll say it was good! The scrambled eggs on top weren't spectacular, but as a whole the dish was great.

A great brunch with friends - and it didn't hurt that it was finally a sunny, warm spring day! (but no outside seating)