New Argentinian Coffee Shop Opens in Pleasanton
A new Argentinian coffee shop, Planta Coffee House, has opened in downtown Pleasanton. The cafe, located at Main and Spring Street, is from the owners of Brava Garden Eatery and features homemade Argentinian pastries.
Planta Coffee House is the second Pleasanton establishment from husband-and-wife team German Carlucci and Yanina Calamari, who draw on their Argentinian roots and Italian heritage at their nearby restaurant, Brava Garden Eatery. Their new cafe is located at 700 Main Street, just a few doors down from Brava at 724 Main Street. The menu features classic Argentinian baked goods like medialunas, a croissant-like pastry that can be sweet or savory. Alongside coffee, the cafe serves other Argentinian staples such as empanadas, a popular savory pastry. The offerings are inspired by simple, clean eating and also include a variety of sandwiches, salads, and avocado toast. Argentinian coffee culture, heavily influenced by Italian immigrants, is traditionally a social affair meant to be savored. Coffee is typically strong and espresso-based, with popular drinks including the *café con leche* (equal parts coffee and milk) and the *cortado* (espresso "cut" with a small amount of steamed milk). In Argentina, coffee is often enjoyed with *facturas*, a general term for pastries. Besides medialunas, another famous Argentinian sweet is the *alfajor*, a sandwich cookie filled with dulce de leche. This reflects a broader culinary scene that is seeing a rise in artisanal bakeries and specialty coffee shops.
