Copius Amounts of Meat...Yet Another Brazillian Cultural Experience
Yesterday was Luke's birthday so Luke, Chad and I got last minute reservations at Fogo de Ch�o, a Brazillian restaurant which serves their food Churrasco style. After you attempt to conquer the antipasta/salad bar, "Gauchos" roam around the restaurant with spits holding various cuts of meat from Brazil. If the disc to the right side of your place setting is showing green, the Gauchos will keep the succulent meat flowing at a steady pace. Beef sirloin, tenderloin, filets, beef ribs and the beef house cut...chicken wrapped in bacon...lamb chops...pork ribs and pork tenderloin...it becomes a challenge just to keep up with it all. Of course, if you're plate is full and you need a break from the Gauchos, all you have to do is flip the disc on your right side over to red.
Next to our modest table of three was a twenty-four top belonging to Jesse Jackson, Jr. and his entourage. They easily had everyone else in the restaurant out-classed, but all seemed very nice and were having a great time.
As they should have been - according to the manager, this was the second time Jesse Jr. had been in there this week with a large reservation. Other than the price ($43/person) why would anyone not like it? Even the antipasta/salad bar could keep any vegetarian busy for hours with food of outstanding quality. The manager had talked to us for a while about the restaurant - where they get their meat, the cooking process, how the majority of the staff is from Brazil including the Gauchos who all have been trained at their Sao Paul store for 3+ years and their plans for expansion. He was even gracious enough to show us around the kitchen and cooking areas.
Fogo is probably one of the most profitable restaurants in Chicagoland. They probably serve around 300-500 people every evening and their food costs/ingredients are fixed. Most of their meat comes from Chicago/Midwest purveyors with the exception of the lamb which comes from New Zealand.
This is actually the fourth time I've been to Fogo - twice now at the Chicago store but my first and second time was in Houston with my friend Gerardo. It is located in a stripmall area on Westheimer and definitely not as much as a spectacle as the Chicago store...but still quality.
Anyway, it was interesting to see Jesse Jr. out and Fogo is always a cool experience...especially if you're a fan of meat. Afterwards, we headed to Alive One for some drinks and the infamous "Live Music Jukebox". Not a bad way to celebrate a birthday...
I was just listening to Baby Mammoth - Captain Webb
