Brazilian steakhouses took over America and the world. And while this is so great for us Brazilians and those of you who are Brazilian lovers to have a place that taste like Brazil even thousands of miles away from Brazil. The funny thing is that each of them claim to have started the tradition of Brazilian style barbecue. However, I can tell you that brazilian style bbq has been around for many decades in every corner of Brazil. I remember, as a kid, going to eat Churrasco on the weekends…yes I am talking picanha, garlic bread, pao de queijo, pork loin, sausage, salad, farofa, rice and beans… ok 2 big differences…you will also find something that didn’t make it well outside of Brazil, chicken hearts! And the prices used to be sooooooo cheap before they got so fancy!
If memory serves me well, the brazilian bbq craze, started with Rodizio Grill, followed by Fogo de Chao. Then a string of Brazilian steakhouses starting poping up everywhere from mom and pop restaurants started by Brazilians who were already living abroad and cook authentic “homemade” style Brazilian food, including steakhouse style service, to the now multi million dollar chains such as Fogo de Chao.
If it’s your first time going to a Brazilian steakhouse, brace yourself and get ready for a meat feast experience you have never seen before. Waitestaff often dressed in costumes (from the south of Brazil), come around caring skewers with all kinds of meat cuts you can imagine. Then you can tell them if you want more or if you wish to wait…pace yourself! If you say YES, they slice it on your plate as you salivate. They will also entice you with pao de queijo and salads which may help fill you up quicker… listen to me my friends, resist the carbs! Go for the protein, try every cut of meat you can!!!!! After a few rounds, you will not want to see any meat for a few weeks 🙂 To help with digestion, I recommend drinking the Brazilian national drink – Caipirinha with your meal and the papaya cream for dessert, it helps with the digestion of all of that meat!
Let me forewarn you, after experiencing the Brazilian steakhouse, you will never think that your homemade bbq is quite right. You will go to the grocery store and look for seasoning and you will try to replicate the amazing flavor of that Brazilian picanha. After a few google searches, you will learn that it’s Kosher salt what it’s been missing all along! And of course the right cut of meat! That is all you will need! Pour kosher salt on that meat, let it sit for a little bit and now try.
To help you out, here are a few things you will need:
It will still come short of the Brazilian steakhouse experience but hey, it’s a closest match. Or just google Closest Brazilian Steakhouse near me and there you have it, probably one a few miles away 🙂
