Flavor of Brazil

Rio’s Brazilian Cafe has been open six months and we’re still going strong!  Thank you to all who have supported us this far, and to all those who have come to the Cafe for some yummy food.

Elias and I are very proud of the progress we’ve made, and are learning every day on how to “Make It Work!” 

If you’ve eaten here recently you may have noticed us running around turning breakers back on, turning lights off, and switching things from plug-to-plug.

Not any longer!  We’ve had the building’s electric upgraded, which has allowed us to add more air conditioning.  Hurray!  Starting Tuesday, June 22, we’re very excited to welcome you all in to a much cooler dining space. 

The patio has grown wonderfully and now has misters and fans to combat the heat; hanging plant life; more umbrellas, tables, and chairs; and a wide-screen tv for the games (more info on the World Cup below.)

Our interior space boasts art from many local artists, as well as tons of visual references to the Cidade Maravilhoso, Rio de Janeiro (more on that below, as well.)

So, friends, we can’t wait to see you at the Cafe, either for the first time or a return visit.  Brazilian hospitality only gets better with the heat.

We successfully navigated the not-too-complicated world of TABC and are proud to announce we now serve beer, wine, ports, champagne & coqueteis.

If you’ve ever heard of fresh-brewed beer, you might want to try our two beers on tap to really smack it to you.  We now serve Live Oak HefeWeizen and Big Bark Amber, brewed just four and a half blocks away.  Don’t worry, ya’ll, it’s close enough for me and Elias to drag a keg back, should we run out.

Seriously, both of these beers are incredible and come from our newly-built kegerator.  We’re selling the pints for $5, with a dollar off during happy hour, 4 – 7, Tuesday through Saturday.  During Brazil and US games, both HefeWeizen and Amber pints are $3.50.

So far our other beers include Xingu, the only Brazilian beer you can get in Texas; Fireman’s Four – made in Texas; and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. 

Within a few days we’ll feature other awesome beers like LoneStar, Redbridge (a gluten-free beer), Pabst Blue Ribbon (a vegan beer), and others like Dos X, Bud, and Mich Ultra.

We have incredible wines, folks.  They all come from a boutique wine distributor here in Austin and bring amazing quality for an amazing price.

Our Vinho Verde, a traditional Portuguese wine, is refreshing, floral and has a touch of effervescence.  Perfect for patio-days like these.  It’s only $6 per glass, and $5 during happy hour.

Our Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon gets its flavors from stark dessert air swept through on the Humboldt Current.  Very low tannins and a whiff of dryness make this an easy Cab to drink.  It too is only $6, and $5 at happy hour.

Our “high-end” wine is Crios Malbec, made by an Argentinian crazy-lady named Borgo.  Crazy like a fox!  This Malbec is scrumptious and won’t leave you alone for a long time.  It’s $9.50 per glass, and $8.50 at happy hour.

We have many others, but let me mention our newly-born cocktail, the Alegria.  “Alegria” means “joy” in Portuguese, a word you’ll know intimately once you’ve tasted this white port and prosecco dream.  Chilled, bubbly, and fruity, this drink reminds me why the Portuguese didn’t have kings or queens; they had emperors and empresses.

Don’t forget, you can always bring your own Cachaca or vodka and we’ll gladly make the Caipirinha set-ups for just $2.50.  Spec’s carries about fourteen brands of Cachaca these days (but we recommend the lesser expensive brands like 51 and Pitu.)

Can’t wait to say “Saude!” to you, soon.

I’m proud to say we’ve honed our operation enough that we can now offer some of the amazing meals you may have had from Elias before. 

Estrogonofe de Frango (chicken strogonoff with mushroom and a red crème de leite sauce, served over rice with yuca crisps) was one of the biggest stars on 6th Street.  It’s back with a vengeance and tastes better than ever.   A gluten-free meal, you can enjoy it for $10, day or night.

Nhoque de Arroz (rice gnocchi stuffed with sausage, parsley, basil and mozzarella cheese, served in a white crème de leite sauce) has been a favorite of mine since trying it for the first time in our tiny kitchenette in Botafogo.  It’s so good, filling but not hefty, and worth a few hundred tries. ($9.50) 

A few other meals include Elias’s Codorno Gostoso (roast quail served over mashed potatoes with a light red wine gravy and fresh sauteed spinach – $11), and his Torta Salgado com Bife (a savory pie with ground beef, spinach, diced potato, and more, served with a small apple and spinach salad – $8.50.)

A new appetizer that will make your happiest happy hour happier (say that 10x fast), is our Linguica a Cebolada, an amazing mix of sauteed sausage, onion and tomato.  It makes a perfect compliment to the yuca fries, a mouth full of beer, and the high-pitched scream of “Goooooooooooooal!”

Even with the new air conditioner, who could help but sweat during these trying times?  It’s World Cup, people!  When everyone is a fan and you get to learn what 100,000 vuvuzela horns sound like.

We’re proudly showing all the World Cup games inside and out.  We open at 7am, but will open earlier for the US and Brazil games. 

During the US and Brazil games, we have $3.50 Live Oak HefeWeizen and Big Bark Amber pints, regular happy hour prices on everything else, and too much energy!  Join us!  It’s contagious!!!!!!

This Sunday, June 20, is Brazil v Ivory Coast.  It’s going to be an awesome time and we need your voice in unison with ours as we cheer Brazil on to the finals.

Join us, too, for USA v Algeria on June 23 at 9am; and Brazil v Portugual on Friday, June 25th at 9am.

Check our Facebook Fanpage (www.facebook.com/riosbrazilian) for more updates on the World Cup schedule and specials at the Cafe.

Recently we’ve had some amazing press, including Elias’s and my first full-color photo shoot!  If you’d like to see the print version, just ask me…I’ve got some in my back pocket. 

L Style, G Style Magazine – amazing article and photo:  http://www.lstylegstyle.com/ – Click on interactive magazine in middle column (Hint: You have to allow pop-ups) and go to pages 90 & 91

InSight Magazine – our yuca fries are featured as some of the best fries in Austin, with photo! (scroll down to #7)  http://insiteaustin.blogspot.com/2010/05/food-feature-fries.html

The Austin Times – an incredible first-hand look from Katie Warner:  http://theaustintimes.com/2010/06/rio%e2%80%99s-brazilian/

Keep an eye open for our Copacabana salad in the next Austin Monthly!

We’re so proud to have local artists willing to showcase their talent in our space. 

- Two iron-worked faces, Appearing and Disappearing, hang on our wall from East Austin artist, Denise Molina.  Showcasing the energy between male and female these pieces were made by both the “hot” and “cold” method of ironworking.  Denise also teaches classes in her studio.  (http://www.facebook.com/people/Denise-Molina/1140830155)

- On behalf of local nonprofit Rainforest Partnership, Timothy Hawkins took incredible photos on his 2,500 mile journey through the Amazon Rainforest.  Capturing colors, wrinkles, dirt and friendship, his photos bring beauty to our dining area.  (http://www.timothyjhawkins.com/) (http://www.rainforestpartnership.org/)

- Austin writer and photographer Claudia Alarcon shares the sites of Bahia through gorgeous greeting cards.  Have a cup of coffee and send someone you love a kiss from Northeast Brazil.  (http://chileylimon.wordpress.com/)

- We’re so lucky to showcase our logo in ceramic by local artist Stefanie Distefano.  Stephanie teaches mosaics, pottery and more at her studio FlamingO Ranch (http://www.flamingoranch.com)  Her pieces express the joy our Sambista feels.

- Mr. Crescensio, a local sign-painter and secret Da Vinci, painted Christ the Redeemer in our hallway.  It’s incredible and makes you feel a teeny-tiny bit like you’re standing on Corcovado, marveling at the presence.

- Okay, so “painted representation” may be better than “art,” but I hope you enjoy the references to some of the most beautiful parts of Rio I painted.  On the outside of our building you’ll see the Sugar Loaf Mountain with it’s terrifying little buggy-on-a-string, the Gavea mountain with a hanglider riding the wind, and the Christ statue watching over it all.  Inside you’ll walk the same patterned sidewalks as millions of hot, sandy feet.

- We’ve also hung photos of Rio de Janeiro in all it’s splendor and sadness.  See the enormity of Cristo, the beauty of the markets, and the vastness of the slums in these photos I purchased from the Web.

It’s so cool that we can be a Little Brazil Shop for the East Side, including the sale of beer & wine for take-away consumption.

Have the flavors of Brazil in your home anytime when you purchase:

 - Xingu, six-packs of Brazilian beer;
 - Vinho Verde & other wines;
 - Casa Brasil coffee;
 - Rio’s Brazilian Pao de Queijo (gluten-free cheese bread);
 - Rio’s Brazilian Malagueta Sauces;
 - Guarana Brazilian soda;
 - Zhi Tea organic Yerba Matte direct from Brazil; and more!

We’re very proud to have our first collaboration with Esquina Tango, the amazing dance (and party) studio located at 209 Pedernales.  Join Monica and her crew on Friday, June 25th to celebrate Festa Juninha with a mini-Forra dance class, DJ Macumbeatz, Seu Jacinto, and food by Rio’s Brazilian Cafe during the break.

You can take alcohol to the party, so purchase your Xingu, Vinho Verde, or other beverage at Rio’s Brazilian Cafe before/during the event, and receive a $2 off coupon good for food on your next visit.

More information and tickets can be found at http://esquinatangoaustin.com/index.php/social-events/seu-jacinto

We’re getting off to a great start, this our first May in the Cafe.

We’ve added more tables, chairs and umbrellas on the patio, and keep a bowl of water at the ready for the pooches.  This came in handy at our recent Friends of Pride benefit on the patio, sponsored by Fetch Pet Care and attended by at least ten Faaabulous pups!

From Tuesday through Friday we have a dedicated take-out & drive-thru staff member.  Now it’s even easier to give us a call and pick up your lunch at the drive-thru window.  (512) 828-6617

Mother’s Day Brunch = Live music, Free Tropical mimosas, and new brunch menu

Sunday, May 9th, join us for free tropical mimosas and a new brunch menu featuring Elias’s

• Salada de Cordorno, a roast quail salad with orange segments, romain hearts, and toasted almonds in an orange champagne vinaigrette dressing; and
• Nhoque de Arroz, a rice gnocchi with sausage, parsley, basil and mozzarella in a creme de leite white sauce.

Brunch is from 11am to 3pm, but for Mother’s Day we’ll have the menu available all night.

We’ll have the awesome (!!!) acoustic musician Kiko playing and singing traditional songs from Latin America.  Kiko performs twice on Sunday – 11am to 1pm, and again from 7pm to 9pm.  Please join us!

Last but not least…Check us out in L Style G Style Magazine!  We’re very excited about this amazing feature (and photo!).  Please give it a read and pass it on.  http://www.riosofaustin.com/lstylegstyle-5-10.pdf

Elias and I are really excited to have the Café featured on Living Social this coming Wednesday, April 7 – for 24 hours only!

Living Social is a daily-deal sent by e-mail or Facebook app for local Austin products, services and restaurants.  It’s very easy to sign up (and very easy to un-subscribe.)  -  More info on Living Social below

Why is our deal going to be so great?

Well, not only will you receive $40 worth of food at the Café for $20, you will also receive your choice of either a free bag of frozen cheese bread, or four free Caipirinha set-ups. 

Also, different than most local deals, Rio’s Brazilian Cafe’s deal will go through October of this year (seven months) AND you can use it in two installments.

• So, one scenario is a couple coming to the Cafe and enjoying $20 in food & two Caiprinha set-ups…and then doing it again…for just $20.
  
• Another way it could work is you bring in three friends, enjoy $40 worth of food and take a bag of frozen Brazilian cheese bread home for a late-night snack… for just $20. 

Living Social does have cool deals and it’s totally worth the glance in your morning e-mail, but even if you don’t stick with it, PLEASE join and go for our deal this Wednesday.

Oh yeah, our Rio’s Deal makes an awesome gift!  You can be purchase as many as you like and share them with family, friends, co-workers … or just some random dude you know really likes delicious Brazilian food.  Woo hoo!

 More information on Living Social and their policies can be found on their FAQ page.  To sign up and get in on the deal, go to www.LivingSocial.com.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us at the Café at 512-828-6617.  Thank you!

We’ve been open two months!
Thank you, Austin! 

So, it’s time to switch things up a bit. 

Starting Sunday, April 4 (Easter) Rio’s Brazilian Café will be open on Sundays from 11am to 9pm.  We’ll have FREE Tropical Mimosas (2 per person) plus a special Brunch menu until 3pm.

We’re also switching a few things on the menu to include our Eggplant, Basil, Tomato & Mozzarella Empadão plus an added version of our gluten-free yuca-root pastry with shrimp (and more!)

Starting on April 5th, we’ll be closed on Mondays.

See our post below about our $2.50 Caipirinha set-ups for B.Y.O. Cachaça or vodka.

We hope you’ll join us!!!!