"On a wander round haunts of long ago, was disappointed with the Pheasant, which had run out of Guinness, charm, and, it seemed, hope. But no sooner had I left to plod sadly back into town than I came by this small cafe. Decided to revive my spirits with a coffee. Inside was greeted by the proprietress, a most welcoming, smart, erudite Brazilian. A Brazilian coffee shop on Mount Pleasant, Reading! Wonders will never cease. Of course, being Brazilian, Pau Brasil sold wonderful cakes. I asked about them, and the lady described the displayed delights enticingly. I couldn’t resist and took a seat outside on one of the two tables. Well, my cake was terrific–think it was called Ladrez or something–a sponge with chocolate chequers round the edges. Coffee excellent too. Pau Brasil had triggered a moment of Zen. The lady chatted to me out front and, when I asked, explained why the shop is called Pau Brasil, which involved a fascinating slice of cultural history. At the end, she said, “Thank you for being interested”. Que senhora maravilhosa! She and Pau Brasil made my day."
