Episode IX: Brazil

The Wall of Wine

Episode IX marked our first venture into South America as we went to the Twin Cities finest in Brazilian BBQ, Fogo De Chao.  Brazil also marked another TCGC first, as we welcomed special guest Margaret Peeters, sister of Christina, to the chowdown.  Margaret deserves recognition as the person who suggested we start blogging about this food adventure, which inspired us to go nuts with this idea.  Thanks Margaret!

The bar

Fogo de Chao is part of a smattering of Brazilian BBQ restaurants that are scattered throughout not just the United States, but Asia as well.  Though there are many Brazilian BBQ restaurants, the experience of eating at one is one of a kind.  We arrived promptly at 5pm when doors opened for dinner.  As we first walked in, we were astonished to see the glass walls filled to the ceiling with various bottles of wine.  Upon being seated we ordered one of the white bottles of wine and were encouraged by our servers to get up and enjoy the salad bar.

Zack and the menu of meat

We declined.

The reason?  15 different types of sizzling, juicy meat were about to be brought to us on skewers and sliced directly onto our plates.  The system is set up as follows: each person has a small coaster that when flipped on one side will invite one of the many servers to bring over their particular brand of meat, ranging from various types of beef, chicken, lamb, and pork, and slice off a portion for one to enjoy.

Some of the many kinds of meat

The typical pattern of eating would have the skewer arrive, forcing a pause in meat consumption to place it onto our plates, trying the new meat, sitting back in our chairs and saying "holy sh*t", then continuing on with either the previous meat or the current one.  It was fantastic.

(From left) Margaret, Brazilian server, Christina, Brazilian server, and Zack

To compliment the massive amounts of meat was a smattering of dishes ranging from carmelized bananas to a variation of mashed potatoes.  We ate until we couldn't imagine eating again in our lives, then snapped a picture with some of our friendly Brazilian servers.

Brazilian BBQ brought happiness to our St. Paul/Minneapolis.