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Taste of Brazil in the Eastside at Kitanda Brazilian Espresso and Bakery
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Around the lunch hour, Kitanda Brazilian Espresso & Bakery located on 24th Street just outside of the Crossroads Mall in Bellevue, can draw quite a crowd. They are Microsoft employees, people from Brazil, or regulars such as Kat from Bothell. Kat made the drive for one reason only, even though a Starbucks is not too far away from where she lives.
“The Brazilian Mocha is the best,” Kat says. A chef herself, Kat’s palette is hard to win over. “I like the mixture of the strong Brazilian coffee beans combined with the condense milk.”
While the coffee is good, Kat admits the service is slow as the baristas put attention to each coffee. Behind the counter, you’ll find Thiago Vieira putting the finishing touches. “We started to make art out of the milk foam and customers like that.” Vieira is known to sketch a swan, sun, or a flower from the milk foam.
In addition to the coffee drinks, customers can enjoy traditional Brazilian food like the Coxinha, which is deep fried chicken filled dough, or the Kibe, deep fried meat shaped in a cone. With so many dishes to choose from, Vieira says the Feijoada is the customers’ favorite. It’s a dish made of beans, sausage, dried meat, bacon, pork, rice, collard green and served with salad. But, the tasty meal is only offered on Saturdays. Vieira said, “This is a rather heavy dish and people like to watch the soccer game while their eating.”
If the flat screen is not turned onto a soccer game, customers can find themselves watching soap operas or news from Brazil. Others prefer to sit at the table and work on their laptops as Kitanda provides free internet.
There’s also a Kitanda in Kirkland on Northeast 124th street. Kitanda is open from 7AM to 8PM Monday to Friday, 8AM-7PM on Saturday, and 8AM-6PM on Sunday.
