Marilyn Anderson’s
Romance on the Road goes to….
Brazilian Tropicana
Boca Raton, Florida
Some nights are for intimate romance, and some are for pure fun. On this night, we grabbed another couple, Harvey and Barbara, and headed for a lively evening with a traditional Brazilian meal and an energy-filled show.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, we started off with a pitcher of Sangria, which was cold, sweet, and filled with fruit. Next, we headed up to the cold salad buffet, where we piled our plates with spinach salad, beets, hearts of palm, artichokes, and various other salad fixings. They also had salmon, which I literally “forgot” to taste. Me, forget food? Oh well…next time.
After the salad course, the servers bring you fresh plates, and put hearty family-style helpings of rice, black beans, and fried bananas on the tables.
Then, the waiters come around… and around… and around… with long skewers of chicken, steak, and sausage. There was top sirloin, regular sirloin, garlic steak, spiced chicken, and bacon-wrapped chicken. As they cut slices for each person, you “catch” the slice with your individual set of small tongs. All you have to do after that is eat, eat, and eat some more. The servers keep coming back with skewers – until you tell them to stop!
A tray of desserts included chocolate cake, strawberry shortcake and tiramisu, but we were encouraged to try the homemade Brazilian desserts: flan, passion fruit mousse, and coconut pudding. We’re glad we did. Especially when we learned that Rosa, our gracious manager, had personally made the flan and pudding; and the owner’s wife and choreographer, Dalva, had made the mousse.
The entire staff for this Brazilian restaurant and show was almost like family. It has been in business for two decades. They were located in Pompano Beach for years until five months ago when they moved to Boca Raton. Mike and Dalva own the restaurant, but most of the wait staff and show people have been with them for years, as well. Rosa, our manager, told us she has been with them for 19 years. Rosa is a real sweetheart, so be sure to say hello to her from us when you go.
After satiating ourselves with food and drink, we settled back to listen to the band for a while. There’s a dance floor, and I was ready to jump up and move to the beat of the drums, but alas, Dennis and my crew weren’t budging. Next time, I’m bringing my boogey buddies! On Tuesday nights, guests get a special low-priced package for the meal, band, and dancing—and I’m guessing the dance floor is hopping.
Wednesdays through Sundays include all the above, the buffet, the Bossa Nova band, and dancing, along with the Brazilian Tropicana Show. And what a show it is! I must admit I wasn’t expecting it to be that good, but what a terrific surprise! There’s singing, dancing, and a martial arts specialty called Capoeira. It’s all energy-packed and loads of fun, sort of a mini-Las Vegas Revue.
I absolutely loved the Capoeiristas. These were 5 amazingly built guys doing a combination of fighting, dancing, and gymnastics… and they were sensational. One of the Capoeiristas looked very young, and when I asked afterwards, it turns out that he was 13! I was told that sometimes one of the female dancer’s daughters joins them as well—and she is only 9! The other Capoeiristas were older—and wow—what pecs!
Barbara and I loved watching these guys. Dennis and Harvey liked them too, but better still, they liked the dancing feather-head-dressed and sequined and beaded bikinied showgirls who moved their stomachs, torsos, and buns in twenty directions at a mile a minute!
It was all a delight to watch. And even more so when the lead singer, in a Carmen Miranda tribute, danced through the audience and cuddled up to men at different tables. Then she took one of the guys back to the stage to dance. Guess who the lucky guy was? Dennis! It was a hoot, especially when she asked him questions, and one of the Brazilian guys from the band put the answers in Dennis’s mouth—literally! The audience roared, and Harvey, Barbara, and I got a great kick out of it. When Dennis got back to the table, he thought I had “set him up.” But no, I didn’t have anything to do with his being chosen. Actually, it’s usually mewho bounds up to the stage when they ask for a volunteer. Finally, this was HIS turn!
With regard to atmosphere, the room itself isn’t fancy or stylish; but once the food and fun begins, it doesn’t matter. Everyone there was enjoying themselves.
Before the show started, I got to chat with one of the dancers, Heather. She is the only one in the troupe that isn’t Brazilian, and she’s been dancing with them for three years. I’m a sucker for a good romantic story, and I love how Heather met her hubby of two years. She started taking Capoeira lessons—and he was the teacher! He has also been a part of the show for 12 years. Unfortunately, he wasn’t in the show the night we saw it; he had broken his leg (I knew that looked dangerous!). Heather made sure to tell us he didn’t injure it in the show, but at his CapoeiraAcademy, where he teaches.
Another thing we learned about Capoeira was from our friend Harvey, who was with us. Harvey had taken six years of Martial Arts, so he knew the history of the Capoeiristas. It seems when they were slaves, their owners prohibited them from having weapons or practicing any kind of martial arts because they didn’t want the slaves rebelling or having an uprising. So instead, the slaves started dancing and put their martial arts into dance so their masters didn’t know what they were doing. Yes, there were some rebellions, but they were all to a dancing beat! Besides having a background in Martial Arts, Harvey told us that he has lots of Spanish-speaking relatives from Columbia, and he can’t wait to bring them all for a night at Brazilian Tropicana!
The supper club is great for couples, families, and groups. There are lots of tables for people celebrating birthdays and other occasions. Organizations can book the entire room for banquets and private parties on off nights.
Meanwhile, now I’m deciding whether to practice my samba and gyrate my buns, or try Capoeira with all those marvelous spins and high kicks. Hmmm…you think if I practice them I’ll work off some of that food and end up in the great shape those gals and guys were in? Oh… if only!
Brazilian Tropicana
7880 Glades Road
Boca Raton, Florida
(561) 477-5421
www.braziliantropicana.com
Marilyn Anderson
Romance on the Road
