If you’re not yet familiar with the concept of churrascaria, you are likely a vegan, or perhaps someone who’s been living under a rock for the last ten years. It’s a Brazilian-style barbeque feast, featuring what can only be described as a festival of meat. As it’s been implemented in the States by groups like Texas de Brazil and Fogo de Chão, gaúchos dressed in traditional garb bring you meat after meat after meat after meat after meat until you inadvertently explode, or you turn over the serving dot on your table.
The serving dot is a bit of an interesting phenomenon for a restaurant. When you’re seated, each person at the table is issued a serving dot, one side is red, one side is green. Flipping the dot results in a stampede of gaúchos bringing you everything from sausage to leg of lamb to filet mignon wrapped in bacon. It’s all carved directly from a long skewer to your plate, by every passing gaúcho. Of course, there’s also a salad bar, so if you’re not doing Atkins, you can get a huge salad, or maybe some caprese or some soup, or even possibly some seared ahi tuna. Prepare yourself, though, when you flip that dot over, as the gaúchos will come without ceasing until you flip that dot again. Remember, also, that everything is coated in rock-salt before it’s roasted, in the traditional brazilian style. This results in steak and pork that’s phenomenal, but lamb that loses its subtlety.
We had a great time at Texas de Brazil out in Fairfax, and though the bill was a little high for just two, I don’t think I’ll need to eat again for at least three or four days. Oh, and remember to have the crème de papaya. It’s fantastic.
Texas de Brazil (warning, website has sound)
11750 Fair Oaks Shopping Center
Fairfax, VA
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
I live and work in the District of Columbia. I write at We Love DC, a blog I helped start, I work at Technolutionary, a company I helped start, and I’m happy doing both. I enjoy watching baseball, cooking, and gardening. I grow a mean pepper, keep a clean scorebook, and wash the dishes when I’m done. Read Why I Love DC.
