Cadê Moradia debuted with a recurring segment, Brasilidade ("Brazilianness"): a score for each city based on how easy it is to keep up a Brazilian routine — hair salon, manicurist, waxing, corner grocery, restaurant. Jason Lanzarini explains why right at the start of the first episode: many people arrive, especially women, and feel lost, not knowing where to find the everyday basics. In northern Los Angeles, realtor Mariness Chata, who lives in Santa Clarita, helps hand out the scores.

First: what's a city and what's a neighborhood

To make sense of the map, Jason points out that much of what looks like a city in northern Los Angeles is actually a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles. The entire San Fernando Valley — Reseda, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Panorama City, Sherman Oaks — belongs to the City of LA. Santa Clarita, by contrast, is a city of its own. (The difference between city, county and "Greater Los Angeles" has its own article in this newspaper.)

Sherman Oaks — score 7 to 7.5

In the conversation, Sherman Oaks comes across as the Valley's gateway for anyone coming over the 405 freeway. Jason says there are lots of Brazilians there, aesthetic clinics and a Brazilian grocery right next door — "if you want to be near Brazilians, it's one of the main ones." Mariness agrees that adapting is easier than in Santa Clarita, where life is more "Americanized."

The catch is the price. According to Mariness, homes in Sherman Oaks cost almost double those in Santa Clarita, because of their proximity to central Los Angeles — heading down the 405 or the 101, you pass Universal Studios and reach Hollywood. That's why, Jason notes, many people rent there at first and later buy in another area. The upper part of the neighborhood, in the hills, has the houses Brazilians recognize from the movies. The score landed between 7 and 7.5: Mariness notes that Culver City, another area mentioned as strong in Brazilian services, would rank a notch higher.

Santa Clarita — score 5

Santa Clarita has lots of Brazilians but little visible "Brazilianness." Mariness is blunt: as of the recording, the city had no Brazilian restaurant, grocery store or bar — "I think if someone opened one, they'd do really well." To buy Brazilian products, you have to drive 20 to 30 minutes to the San Fernando Valley.

She explains the profile: people who move to Santa Clarita usually have families and are looking for a bigger house and good schools. Life revolves around work and kids, and social life is more low-key. Even so, she says, it's common to hear Portuguese in the stores. Jason notes that, often, the Brazilian is the next-door neighbor and nobody knows it — there's no gathering spot, and church tends to fill that role for families.

Mariness also points out that Santa Clarita brings together the communities of Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus and Valencia, which formed the city in 1987; Stevenson Ranch and Castaic, mentioned in the same breath, are part of the valley but remain unincorporated county areas. The city attracts companies — Princess Cruises is headquartered in Santa Clarita — and is home to the Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park. The city's neighborhoods and prices are covered in other articles in this newspaper.

San Fernando — the island city that named the valley

Jason highlights a curious case: San Fernando, a small, independent city completely surrounded by the City of Los Angeles — an enclave, like Beverly Hills. It was one of the first settlements in the northern part of the region: the town was founded in 1874, near the old Mission San Fernando Rey de España, from 1797, and the city was incorporated in 1911. Its name ended up christening the whole San Fernando Valley. Today it's a city with practically no room to grow, a historic feel and Brazilian grocery stores not far away, in Jason's view.

Kids, English and Portuguese

The conversation ends on a topic that weighs on many families. Jason says he knows parents who have their kids speak only Portuguese at home until age 7, because English will come at school no matter what. Mariness shares her own experience: her daughter didn't want to speak Portuguese at home and only learned it in college, when she met Brazilians — "she gets by," with an accent. Both agree that learning later is much harder.

Sources and verification

• Episode 1 of the Cadê Moradia podcast (February 2026), Brasilidade segment, with Mariness Chata and Jason Lanzarini.
• City of Santa Clarita — incorporated in December 1987 (Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus and Valencia).
• City of San Fernando — founded in 1874 and incorporated in 1911; Mission San Fernando Rey de España (1797).
• City of Los Angeles — San Fernando Valley neighborhoods, including Sherman Oaks.
• Princess Cruises — corporate headquarters in Santa Clarita.

This topic comes from the full episode — watch it:

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