Press
The Purist Fall 2023 Issue
https://issuu.com/thepurist/docs/the_pursit_fall_issue
In 1999, Rio de Janeiro native Ludmilla "Milla" Benevides moved from Brazil to the United States to pursue a career in bossa nova music, carrying a taste of her roots with her. When the singer was 7 years old, her father was transferred to the São Paulo countryside to work in a water plant. Benevides says that as early as she can remember there was always pão de queijo as part of the meal, which now serves as her brand's inspiration: homemade, naturally
gluten-free pão de queijo, or cheese bread, as she calls it. Milla's Puffs-Benevides' line of frozen cheesy delights-is produced with six locally sourced, non-GMO ingredients and tapioca flour imported from Brazil.
Growing up in a family that valued the importance of cooking and eating high-quality food together is the guiding force for her business. Throughout her time on and offstage, the singer recalls bringing flavorful snacks— Brazilian delicatessen gluten-free cheese puffs-to rehearsals and events for all to enjoy. Benevides now crafts her bite-size morsels with a heritage recipe that she has developed over the past five years. The at-home process is simple and convenient: Heat the oven to 400 degrees, place the cocktail-size bites on a baking sheet and in 17 minutes, they are ready to enjoy. Larger dinner roll-size buns bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. For an elevated experience, she recommends stuffing them with your favorite cold cut or vegetable. "It becomes like a liftle luxe sandwich, and it's lighter than a regular bagel," says Benevides. "You don't feel like you're eating a lot, and it's a perfect cocktail size for any occasion, event or party."
What began as an homage to her roots and community quickly evolved into a large-scale business operation. Today, Milla's Puffs are available for sale at local farmers markets and a range of specialty shops such as Provisions in Water Mill and Sag Harbor, Serene Green in Sag Harbor, Nurel's in Hampton Bays, Eastport General Store, lavarone Brothers in Wantagh, IGA in Southold and more. While Milla's Puffs has seen quick success online and in the Hamptons, the brand's founder remains humble and excited for what the future holds, and plans to expand her offerings. "There is nothing better than sharing our culture in a country that gave me the opportunity to express my passion for music and food." millaspuffs.com
HAMPTONS REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE
Milla's Puffs bring Brazil to the East End
Pity the foodie who has never sampled pão de queijo, the impossibly pliant, addictively chewy Brazilian cheese bread made with tapioca (the secret ingredient that offers the chew like none other). Ludmilla “Milla” Benevides arrived on American soil 18 years ago via Rio de Janeiro in pursuit of a career in bossa nova — brought her beloved pão de queijo with her from home, baking them for friends and family. Since 1998, Milla and her husband, Marcello Pimenta, have offered unforgettable, high-energy bossa nova performances all over the East End. This newest passion project demonstrates the symbiotic relationship the couple has found between music and food.
Pão de queijo — or cheese puffs, as Milla now calls them — have been part of Brazil’s legacy for nearly 200 years. Before the introduction of cheese, though, the food was a combination of soaked, peeled cassava root, combined with milk and eggs, a food of access made by African slaves. In the 19th century, cheese was added, and the popular puffs were born.
Milla’s version of the Brazilian staple involves six locally sourced ingredients (apart from the tapioca, which she gets fresh from Brazil). Her product, which arrives in pre-batched balls, are ready-to-bake. Pouches come in two sizes: cocktail size (30 to a bag) and classic size (10 to a bag). In addition to the classic flavor, Milla has also introduced a new flavor, the tomato and basil cheese puff.
Through her website, millaspuffs.com, puff enthusiasts can purchase cheese puffs in bulk. But local East End businesses have also picked up on the pão de queijo trend of late. Provisions Natural Food Market in Sag Harbor — as well as the new outpost, in Water Mill — now carries the cheese puffs. You can also find them at the Community Supermarket & Deli in Hampton Bays, the Hampton Fruit & Vegetable Market in East Quogue, Village Prime Meats in East Quogue, Iavarone Bros. in Wantagh, Buoy One in East Hampton, Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, and Serene Greene Farm Stand and Seafood Market in Sag Harbor.
The farmer’s markets are abuzz with cheese puffs, too, this season. Good Ground at Hampton Bays, Westhampton Beach, Southampton at Agawam, and Riverhead Winter Market are just a few of the farmer’s markets where you can expect to find Milla’s cheese puffs this year.
If you have never experienced the chewy, luscious goodness of a cheese puff before, this is your year. Fall is the perfect time of year to stock up. Serve them as appetizers, serve them as snacks, serve them before Thanksgiving — just serve them. Cheese puffs are an excellent entrée into the wide world of Brazilian food. Better yet, they’re an excellent way to support a local business (or several local businesses, actually), all from the privacy of your own home. If the idea of a kitchen filled with the scents of slowly baking cheesy bread brings a smile to your face — and why wouldn’t it? — Milla’s cheese puffs are the fall treat you may not have known you needed in your life. Go forth, and get your chewy, cheesy bread on.
SHARING THE MUSIC AND FOOD OF BRAZIL
March 11, 2021
Known around the East End for her bossa nova song stylings with her guitarist husband, Marcello Pimenta, Ludmilla Benevides, or more familiarly Milla, has also enjoyed cooking for friends and family as another way to share Brazilian culture with them.
In 2015, it gave rise to Milla's Puffs, a six-ingredient cheese and cassava flour bread that she prepares ready to bake in individual buns for a fresh-from-the-oven treat that is also gluten-free.
This past year, having a side hustle really paid off, or at least paid the bills. When the duo's appearances at venues such as Pierre's, Baron's Cove, Sole East, and others stopped abruptly because of Covid, Mr. Pimenta could still find solo work playing guitar. As the singer in the group, "I had to rely on the cheese puffs," Ms. Benevides said, to help support the family, which includes a daughter, Anabel, still in high school.
She started the business by filling 30 quart-sized plastic containers a day and selling them at farmers markets. Several years later, Milla's Puffs are in several stores, including the Provisions locations in Sag Harbor and Water Mill and Serene Green in Noyac, with a kitchen at the Stony Brook University business incubator at Calverton and equipment that can crank out 2,000 puffs per hour. She estimates she makes 250 packages a day, now in branded bags with all of the nutritional information. Stores in Wantagh and now Huntington are also stocking her product.
A native of Rio de Janeiro, Ms. Benevides said she and her husband first visited New York City at the invitation of his twin sister in 1997. "She said bossa nova was very big here. We came and we jammed in a couple of clubs, even in the subway. We played for a half-hour there and made almost a hundred bucks."
When they went back to Brazil, they looked for a sponsor so they could return to New York. "I was doing music in Brazil with big-shot musicians who were traveling all over South America. It was actually easy to get a visa." Two months later they had a sponsor and started to play in New York City.
"We met other interesting people, like caterers, who said we should move to the Hamptons," she recalled. "With all of the private parties in the summer, they said we should be able to get a lot of gigs."
Having attended private schools in Brazil, her children had a tough time in the public school system in New York City. They moved to Hampton Bays and started to work with Sant Ambroeus, which, in addition to its restaurants, supplies catering and entertainment for private parties. "From there it was history, we started giving out our cards and established our life here." They now live in East Quogue.
They were busy and happy, but "after a couple of years I decided I needed something else just for me. I always liked to entertain and provide food for my friends and family." The puffs were one of her most popular dishes. "Everyone who came to my house would ask, 'Can you make the cheese puffs?' "
Called pao de queijo, or P.D.Q. for short, the bread, which is formed into small buns, is made from cassava (also known as tapioca flour), milk, eggs, and cheese. When baked, they puff up and come out fluffy, but with a chewy texture. They originated in Brazil with enslaved people who made the bread without the cheese, which started being added in the 19th century.
From the beginning, her son, Fred, now an adult, has been most encouraging and supportive. "He gave me the confidence to pursue my dream." His girlfriend at the time designed her first label and logo. "I wanted something very homey and cozy that would remind me of my childhood."
Through the incubator, she learned the practical side of the business and got all the required licenses and insurance. She has her own kitchen in Calverton to prevent cross-contamination and keep the bread completely gluten-free. "My product is safe for people who have allergies or celiac. It's very serious."
She noted that she liked balancing the practical mechanics of the business with her more organic and intuitive approach to music. "It's a hustle," she said, in terms of the time and energy her business requires. With regular orders from stores to fill, she's still at farmers markets for the exposure and to gauge consumer response, and regularly mails the buns to clients in five other states.
Brazilians have used tapioca across their cuisine for centuries as a thickener in stews and other recipes, and even in crepes. Cassava, a root and not a grain, "doesn't spike the blood sugar and is low glycemic. It's a healthy carb."
An interest in gluten-free food and keto and paleo-friendly bread products has buoyed demand. Although not vegan, her bread works well with fillings like mushrooms and grilled vegetables.
Her latest project is brainstorming with friends to devise a new flavor to add to the original and the tomato and basil puffs, and to design its label and packaging. "It's not an easy process, but I'll get there."
Whats Hamptoning Feature
Bread and cheese: the ingredients in pizza, mozzarella sticks and the classic sandwich. They’re also the main components of cheese puffs, a gluten-free treat that’s ready to serve in minutes.
Cheese puffs have been a Brazilian delicacy for nearly 200 years. African slaves were the first to begin the evolution of a treat to become known as pão de quiejo in Portugese. They first soaked and peeled the cassava (tapioca) root and mixed it with milk and eggs to make bread. Cheese wasn’t added until the 19th century when more resources became available to the Afro-Brazilian community, according to Chebe.com.
East End Food Institute News Feature
East End Food Institute News Feature
Over half of East End Food Institute's member businesses are owned or operated by women, representing an impressive array of farmers, bakers and artisans that provide a critical foundation to the East End economy. A few of these stand-out entrepreneurs include Ludmilla Benevides of Milla's Puffs, Rachel Stephens of Sweet Woodland Farm and Rocio Fukuda of Rustik Cake Studio.
Native Brazilian, Ludmilla "Milla" Benevides, started Milla's Puffs because she wanted to introduce the flavors of her home country to her community on Long Island. Milla's savory cheese puffs, or "pão de queijo," are uniquely delicious and a customer favorite at East End Food Market.
Farmer and herbalist, Rachel Stephens' dedication to her craft is truly unmatched. Rachel grows nearly every ingredient used in Sweet Woodland Farm's syrups, tonics, self-care products and teas, hand-processing everything in small batches to ensure the highest quality. Stop by East End Food Market on Saturdays to meet Rachel and learn more about her products.
Originally from Peru, Rocio Fukuda draws upon her love of art and sculpture to inspire her cake designs for her company, Rustik Cake Studio. Rocio uses our shared community kitchen to design and bake her creations, which can be purchased through her website and our Virtual Farmers Market.
We're honored to include so many exceptional women leaders among our membership. To learn more about business membership with East End Food Institute, click below