This place looks like a hole in the wall in Pinheiros market but they can literally get you any…read morespice, herb or tea that your voodoo hippie aunt can think of. I brought my friend here looking for ingredients for her homemade shampoo - wtf I know not a good idea but when you love someone you've gotta indulge their crazy. Everyone else told us we were nuts, but the owner here pulled out a book on herbs and helped us look up more info about homemade shampoos and which elements improve hair growth. He let us smell a hundred different things and was friendly to our puppy who we didn't want to leave in the car. He even let us take home a special booklet on herbs and offered to procure ingredients that he didn't have on hand. The guy was like something out of an old timey movie or children's book with all of his magical knowledge. Just not something you find in a supermarket. Along with a nifty owner, the place has an incredible selection of powders, spices, mixes and herbs. Some things I had no idea were edible or existed. I wouldn't hesitate to come here for special baking needs either, as they had different types of flour, sugars and flavoring. You could make a great set of mulling spices or tea from the great smelling dried herbs and leaves filling dozens of shelves of glass jars. The cheese and meat selection while prominently displayed in the shop was not so exciting. The other stall down the hall seems more the dried meats and cheeses guy while this is the spice wizard. I also wasn't super impressed by the cleanliness of the joint though in someways it added to that old timey charm.

Amüse is an interesting but slightly underwhelming corner establishment for food and drinks in Vila…read moreMadalena. I stopped by for a late afternoon drink and a bite to eat. The drink menu was quite limited and, like a lot of places these days, they seem to be geared toward gin-based drinks. Maybe it's a marketing push by Tanqueray. Meanwhile, the food was average, but maybe it's just a matter of luck to pick the right dish from the menu. There was a late afternoon/early evening party with a DJ playing some interesting stuff, but unfortunately I didn't have time to stick around. I guess I'll have to give it another try some other time.

Among the best perks of my job is the opportunity to indulge my passion for perusing foreign…read moregrocery stores. I love combing the aisles for snacks, soaps, salts and other lovely non-liquid items that I can consume immediately or take back in my carry-on luggage. Quitanda is São Paulo's to Whole Foods. I was a fan before even stepping inside having sampled their fresh-pressed juices (especially the abacaxi com hortelã!) at a friend's place. Pay attention to the exotic (if you're not from Brazil) fruit selection at Quitanda - I found two of the biggest passion fruits I've ever seen there (and I used one to make maracujá #infusedwater - so good!) I was also impressed with the array of soap and picked up a local honey scented one to take home. This Pinheiros grocery store is definitely worth a nosey if you're curious what healthy Paulistas feast on.

My favorite place to buy groceries, Quitanda has bucked the trend of filling the center of the…read moresupermarket with crap and hiding the fresh food on the sides. Going there you can't help but leave with bags full of fresh produce which is beautifully displayed front and center in the store. At lunch they serve a healthy buffet which is a bit over priced, but I can overlook that, because I am the type who would rather buy one of their sushi to go plates and go eat it in the park. They have a great selection of frozen foods for celiacs and vegans in the back next to the organic foods. The bakery is pretty good, and the juices are awesome. It's the closest thing I've found to Trader Joe's in Brazil.