Pão: Padaria Artesenal Organica (Jardins)

Pão
Rua Bela Cintra, 1618
http://www.padariaartesanal.org/

Janhavi and I stumbled across this small organic bakery one Saturday on our search for a place to just "sit and have a cup of coffee". Unfortunately, the first time we went, all three TINY tables were taken, and it was just way too hot to wait or to sit outside. One woman said to us "it's the worth the wait." A few months later, we finally made it back, and it was totally was.

What's striking about this place is that it is SO small, yet it packs a really big punch. It's really as if you are in someone's kitchen, only it's a restaurant! When we went the second time, all three tables were free (they were full and people were hovering by the time we left), so we could enjoy our lunch at an actual table. I think that people probably take "to go" from Pao...and my guess is, because it's so small, that's exactly what they want you to do. (Side note: Challah available on Fridays!)

I had the sanduich queijo de cabra com tapenade de figo (goat cheese and fig spread sandwich) and Janhavi had the sanduich mozzarela de búfala, tomate assado e manjericão (buffalo mozzarella, tomato, and basil sandwich). When our orders came (both came warm, on buttered whole wheat bread), we were so jealous of each other's sandwich that we immediately went halvsies. Both were delicious, although I think Janhavi's simple sandwich outshined mine. There was something about the basil that was so fresh and different.

Janhavi took a slice of lemon cake to-go. It made for a delicious dessert a few hours later, when we needed something sweet. All of the baked goods looked divine, and there were even some little samples on the counter.