By Leonor Villasuso Rustad
Charles Spies is a civil engineer by trade but a food lover at heart. When he and his wife moved to Minnesota from their native Brazil six years ago, he decided it was time to follow his passion. Drawing on his family’s gastronomic roots in Brazil, he designed a concept that would bring the taste of his homeland to his newfound home in the north. In late October, he opened Little Brazil Market and Café near Upper Landing Park. It’s located at 230 Spring St. in the former Caribou Coffee space.
Spies spent two years doing market research, creating a business plan and meeting with bankers to secure the necessary funding.
“They were surprised at how prepared I was,” he said of the bankers. “Being prepared makes all the difference [when applying for a loan].”
Locating a suitable space was his biggest challenge, but once he found one everything else fell into place. The restaurant and market passed inspection with a breeze, he said, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture was helpful when getting the needed permits to import goods.
In creating the menu, Spies replicated some recipes from his mother and godmother, both experienced cooks, and created others that celebrate his Brazilian heritage.
The café offers a wide array of sandwiches including the pernil (pork) sandwich made with fresh mozzarella and provolone cheeses, and bologna/mortadella. You’ll also find empanadas, potato and chicken croquettes, and savory meat or vegetable cakes. Desserts include carrot cake with chocolate sauce, chocolate cake with brigadeiro, orange cake and other delicacies. The restaurant seats 22 and has a patio.
The market side of the operation features a wide array of Brazilian food and products. Each week he receives a shipment of new items and, to date, has an inventory of more than 600 different goods, from groceries, dairy and refrigerated products to Brazilian treats and coffee. He also carries some children’s books featuring stories in Portuguese and English.
According to Spies’ research, around 3,000 people of Brazilian descent live in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. For more information, visit www.littlebrazilmn.com.
