Pedro Barbosa, a chef from Belo Horizonte, applies refined high gastronomy techniques to ice cream cones at Uaiê, his sorveteria in the São Pedro neighborhood. Inspired by his childhood in Minas Gerais and experiences in renowned kitchens, he creates flavors blending local tradition and innovation. The shop, opened in February 2024, offers about 14 weekly options at R$ 28 each.
Pedro Barbosa, born in Paracatu in northwest Minas Gerais, grew up surrounded by pots, a wood stove, and abundant tables. "I never considered doing anything else. This is what I want until the end of my life," says the chef. His childhood also shaped his aesthetic eye: while his grandmother gathered wood, Pedro and his cousins picked flowers, an element that now reappears as a finishing touch on the ice creams.
Behind the narrow counter at Uaiê in the São Pedro neighborhood, center-south Belo Horizonte, Barbosa carefully finishes each dessert, placing a flower on the ice cream or adjusting the cone. Nothing there is automatic. The sorveteria stands out from conventional ones: the chef assembles the weekly menu, tests recipes, and offers the best harmonizing combinations.
His training began in Brasília and continued in São Paulo, where he spent eight years at Maní, under chef Helena Rizzo. There, he developed the precision that accompanies him today. According to Pedro, Helena said he had "jeweler's hands".
In 2021, he gained prominence as vice-champion on the TV Globo reality show Mestre do Sabor, entering with a bold dessert. After the program, he moved to Belo Horizonte and faced instability until he came up with the idea of bringing restaurant desserts into ice cream cones. Uaiê was born in February 2024, modestly, and grew through word of mouth.
Working with frozen treats required studying fibers, texture, and temperature. Classic flavors like vanilla came first, followed by those carrying Minas identity, such as Minas cheese ice cream with cornmeal broa and guava jam sauce. The menu follows the seasons and costs R$ 28 per serving. "I try to connect with people through a Brazilianness, bringing local ingredients," he states.
The most curious creations include mini cakes, crunchy filled canudinhos, cotton candy, and edible flowers, as in the dulce de leche ice cream with Canastra cheese pudding brûlée. Uaiê is at R. Padre Odorico, 78, São Pedro, open Tuesdays from 12pm to 7pm, Wednesdays to Fridays from 12pm to 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm to 7pm.
