A new restaurant, “Iaia’ Brazil”, which features “authentic Brazilian street food” is about to open at 18 Elm Street in Gorham. It will be in the location previously occupied by Carter’s Greenmarket, which has moved to an adjacent space in the same building.

Co-owner Claudia Katz had long wanted to start her own restaurant to honor the casual style of street snacks served by corner vendors in her home community of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Over the past eight years, and especially since she and her family moved to the Scarborough-Gorham area from Montana five years ago, Katz had made increasing efforts to find the right location so she could make her restaurant dream into reality. Now she is about to open “Iaia’ Brazil “with the help of her husband Bob, and her daughter Ingrid. Most of the menu items are based on family recipes handed down to Katz from her late mother, whose family nickname was “Iaia.”

The Katzes believe their restaurant is the first casual restaurant featuring Brazilian street-style cooking to open in Maine. There are several tables for indoor dining, and all items will be available for take-out.

The menu will feature Minas Gerais-style “pastels”, which are small, savory turnover-style pastries. They will be available with a variety of fillings, including meat, cheese, vegetable, and seafood. There will also be “cloud pastels,” which in Brazil are often eaten for breakfast or as a mid-morning snack. Açaí bowls with various fruits are also expected to be popular menu items, as well as several types of Brazilian chowders Brazilian-style juices and sodas will be available, in addition to an assortment of coffees and teas, both hot and iced.

A Grand Opening is planned for Friday, May 12. Starting May 15, “Iaia’ “will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday through Friday.

As an added feature, “Iaia’ “will be displaying a number of art prints showing colorful Maine coastal scenes, created by Portland-based artist Karen Fisher.