The Old Pot

The Panela Velha, Old Pot in English, is one of our favourite restaurants in São João da Boa Vista. We have lunch there often. Here is what their excellent food looks like. Unfortunately I can only tell you it is delicious. You must come here to taste it for yourself.




Here is the restaurant.




They have a small sign outside telling you what they serve.




They even have an nice welcome mat in the doorway.




This is the grill where they BBQ the meats.




They BBQ several meats, beef, pork, chicken, sausages, and fish.




This side table has a wide selection of condiments for the meats.




Paulo, the chef, holds up some beef for me to select the piece I want.




They have a very large salad table. This section has cheeses.




There are many vegetables to choose from.




Some are mixed, others are solo.




The display continues. Select anything you want.




Around the corner they have lettuce and tomatoes.




This is a large heating pan for various dishes with hot pies in front.




There is a basket of breads in the corner.




There are many hot dishes including pork skins. A Brasillian favourite.




Corn fried like French Fried potatoes.




I tried this dish because I like bananas. This is fabulous! The bananas are rolled in ham and cooked in a rich sauce. One word describes it. MMMMMMMM!!!




A delicious stew.




The old standard. French Fries.




There are many other hot dishes to choose from.




There is a comparatively small desert selection of fruits and jello.




After serving myself this huge plate of food I took it to the scale to be weighed. They sell by the kilo. I had no desert but there is no charge for the desert.

I can't believe I ate the whole thing!




We got there a little late so the main lunch crowd was gone. This is a very popular eatery in São João da Boa Vista. The food is fabulous and the prices are reasonable.


We like to come here often because they are one of the few that we like that serve fish. Judy loves fish.



Photos by Urso Branco

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Pousada Zago

Food Cooked on a Wood Stove

Pousada Zago is a lovely country restaurant right inside Águas da Prata, located just one block from our house.

This is the first restaurant we ever dined in, here in Águas da Prata.



When you come to visit here be sure to bring a big appetite as the helpings are quite large. Often we have had to take home more than half of what were served. The food is excellent and the service matches the food.




We arrived to find these ladies from Campinas with a gentleman from Spain having a beer on the verandah.



Inside the restaurant the tables were waiting.




The restaurant has rooms available too. The dining room seats about 60.




We went back to the kitchen to see what was happening. They were preparing noque.





These people from Poços de Caldas have started their meal.




They do not have a menu for the restaurant. Everyone gets the same meal.

First came a delicious macaroni soup with bread rolls.





This was followed by a simple lettuce, cucumber and tomato salad.




The next course included the noque (bread and flour, rolled, cut in pieces then boiled) along with zuccini and rice.




Then a small beef was added.




Brasilians love beans so a delicious bean dish is added.




The desert we had was a candied banana and cheese.




Sebastião and Bernadette stand proudly before the wood stove in their kitchen.




All the food you just saw would normally be for one person. We were used to their large servings so we just ordered a single serving and shared it.

Pousada Zago is located in Águas da Prata, Centro at Rua. Dr. Wolfgran Ferreira, 187. Telephone (19) 3642-1177.



Photos by Urso Branco

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Café Pão de Mel - Poços de Caldas

Our Favourite Coffee Shop in Poços de Caldas

Whenever we go to Poços de Caldas we try to arrange a visit here for coffee, soft drinks, a sandwich and sweets.





They have the best cakes in the region. This was very delicious. Mmmmmmmmmm.




A tempting Strawberry masterpiece. They are hard to resists.




They have an assortment of delicious "salty" things too. In Brasil it is either Salty or Sweet.







They have a limited but superb supply of sandwiches. This is a ham, cheese, lettuce and tomato sandwich on pita bread. We tried to duplicate it at home. As simple as it is we just couldn't get it the same.





Here is one of my favourites. That little choclate is called "Bom Bom de Nozes". It is a delicious choclate with a nut (Nozes) on top .





This is the Famous "Pão de Mel". It means Bread with Honey and is covered in choclate. We have never found a better one anywhere else. This is simply the Best in Brasil.!! MMMMMMMMMMMMMM





Some famous people stop here for a coffee and a sweet. Here we see the "World Famous Urso Branco" getting a shoe shine while his daughter, Lucia, watches.



This is the favourite coffee house of a group of retired business men in Poços de Caldas. They have up to 12 Old Pals that gather there every Thursday for Coffee and Companionship.


We enjoy this shop because of the friendly and courteous staff, the fine food and the central location in downtown Poços de Caldas.



Photos by Urso Branco

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Pousada, Pesqueiro e Restaurante Progresso

Fish along the Highway

There is a marvelous eatery along the rodovia to São João da Boa Vista. It is a working farm with a fishing hole, a restaurant and pousada (motel).

As you drive along watch for this sign on the east side of the highway.




Turn in here.




You come in along that road under the trees.



As you drive through the farm you come to this sign. The pousada is on the right and all the other attractions are straight ahead.




Here come Judy and Urso Branco up to the restaurant.




The whole place has several intersting buildings.




There is the fishing pond in front of the restaurant.




I like the rustic benches they have.




This hut is at the end of a small walkway out over the pond.




You can just make out people fishing across the pond.




Inside there is a salad bar.




The main course is here.




They have a modest selection of local wines.




The bar is fairly big.




They can seta a large crowd in this room.





We arrived a little late so we didn't need to line up.




Judy selects her food. Notice she is accompanied by a little helper.




The main course was a choice of chicken, beef, rice and veggies. Simple country fare but very delicious.




Now this is just like home. Dogs! Look under the table.




From the small hut out over the pond looking back at the restaurant.




Look at the family fishing under the restaurant, in the shade.




They even have a dance hall off to the side.





You can see people fishing on the far side of the pond. You can have your catch cooked up for you if you wish.



The view of the mountains.




Another of those intersting benches.




There is a ramp up to the second floor, over the restaurant.




This is a hall that can be rented out for conferences or other events.




There are dances held here on Saturdays.




A variation on those benches.




This is the pousada back near the entrance.




Someone has a sense of humour or just a need, The sign says Little Goat House whereas there is a calf in it. As I said. this is a working farm.


This is another "Must See" when you visit the vicinity of São João da Boa Vista/Águas da Prata.

For more information about these facilities go to the Progresso website or telephone them at (19)3623-1990.


Photos by Urso Branco

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