Tucked away in south Provo and surrounded by office buildings, a locally owned Brazilian restaurant is bringing a taste of Brazil to the city.
Esther Batista always wanted to be an entrepreneur. Combined with a passion for food, Snackalish was born.
As a young girl, she recalls suggesting to her mother that they fire the woman who helped clean their house so Esther could do the work for pay. Her mother declined but was amazed that, at such a young age, her daughter was already looking for business deals.
"For as long as I can remember, I have always had the spirit of an entrepreneur. Even as a child, I always looked for ways to make money,” Esther Batista said.
Esther Batista got the idea to start her own food business because of her interest in business and passion for cooking, but also because she was getting married.
“At the time, every catering service I researched was just too expensive, so I decided to create my own solution. I started a small food business from home, offering catering services to other couples, who, like us, were looking for something more affordable and convenient,” she said.
What started as a service to solve a personal issue quickly grew into a business. When the opportunity to move from her home into a physical location arose, Batista could not pass it up.
The restaurant opened Sept. 26, 2025, and has since served many customers, bringing a piece of Brazil to new and existing fans of the cuisine. Sabrina Silva, a Brazilian immigrant, recalls how such places helped her adjust to life in a new country.
“Having a Brazilian restaurant in Utah makes me feel at home and complete. When I first moved to Utah, going to Brazilian restaurants and meeting other Brazilians helped me a lot during that hard time in my life," Silva said. "Brazilians love to meet up to celebrate and talk, and restaurants like that are a perfect way to do so."
Batista isn’t doing all of this by herself; her husband, Gabriel Batista, has been supporting her however he can.
“I am a big believer in better days ahead, knowing that we are constantly evolving day by day, and that’s what I try to remind her of during the hardest moments,” Gabriel Batista said.
Esther Batista immigrated to the United States when she was 12 years old. Her family was in search of medical treatment for her father and a better life.
She did not know the culture or the language. When she first immigrated, the American dream meant survival, belonging and hope. Looking back, she feels the American dream is within reach of anyone who has the desire and puts in the work.
“Being an immigrant shaped every part of how I built this business, from the flavors we serve to our customer service. While many people associate Brazil mainly with barbecue, I wanted to introduce a different side of Brazilian cuisine,” Esther Batista said. “My goal was to stand out in an ocean of fast food while also bringing a sense of familiarity and home to the Brazilian community through flavors that carry emotion and tradition.”
The road for the Batistas has not been easy.
“I would say the financial aspect was the hardest part, especially since we were both very young, in our early 20s, with no experience or external financial support to fall back on,” Gabriel Batista said.
The Brazilian community in Utah continues to grow, as does the number of Brazilian restaurants, bringing a sense of home to those who miss Brazil and an opportunity for others to learn about a new culture.