Every month, Take 5 sees a PRD resident answer five questions on whatever our editors feel like asking.
This month we talk to Alessandro Nicolau, an expat of Lebanese, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish heritage and the man behind La Vaca Feliz. A decade in China has seen him trading jewelry overseas and helping his sister set up shop selling snacks from their native Brazil. But his current claim to fame – and what’s earned him the love of many homesick expats – is his business of crafting soft, fresh cheeses for the hungry masses of the PRD.
What’s the best thing about doing business in southern China?
It’s the way all cities in the region are connected and the fact that setting up an export company in Hong Kong makes doing business here very convenient and hassle free. The area also has a great foreign community which is our main clientele for the cheese business at the moment. Also, the beaches!
What’s been your biggest disappointment since you moved here?
The fact that you can’t just walk into any place and order a proper cheese sandwich is my only disappointment. But it also became the biggest drive to start producing it.
China just saw a (temporary) ban on some soft cheeses and China generally seems wary of the pungent stuff. What was the worst reaction to your cheeses?
As we work with fresh cheeses we don’t really have any of the stronger smelling ones; however, due to the fact that most Chinese are used only to processed cheese, which is basically gelatin with a taste of cheese, they get surprised when they see real cheese. Fresh mozzarella has liquid with it so they find it really weird that it’s not a dry block and we’ve had clients saying that it was spoiled because liquid was coming out of it.
Generally, the reactions are quite positive especially because it reminds them of tofu.
Pack a basket with a good bread, a bottle of wine and one of your cheeses: Where’s your perfect Shenzhen picnic destination?
That’s the toughest question but I’d say two places: Shenzhen Bay Park (if you don’t want to travel far) or Dongchong Beach (if you’re okay driving for a while).
What’s a craving you just can’t satisfy in China?
I grew up surrounded by grandparents who had to adapt their taste in order to satisfy their cravings, even if it meant doing it by themselves. I prefer to look at life through that perspective instead of the usual expat mindset of “I can’t believe they don’t have this here!” So I pretty much am able to get plenty of satisfaction in China, be it food or things to do.
Check out La Vaca Feliz by scanning the QR code below.
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