INTERNATIONALLY renowned Southern Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão has opened its first Middle East restaurant in one of the most prestigious areas of Jeddah last August 9. Located at the intersection of Prince Sultan Road and Sari Street, the restaurant offers guests a taste of Southern Brazilian culture and cuisine through the centuries-old Southern Brazilian grilling technique of churrasco.

“Jeddah is such an exciting, dynamic city filled with unique restaurants from all over the world,” said Larry Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Fogo de Chão. “We saw this as a great opportunity to become part of their growing culinary scene. We are thrilled to officially join the community and share our passion for Southern Brazilian cooking and hospitality with Saudi residents and visitors alike.”

Fahad Enany, the founder of Enco Ventures, the joint venture partner of Fogo de Chão for the Middle East commented, “We’re proud to bring the internationally renowned restaurant Fogo de Chão from Brazil to the heart of Jeddah, and to be the first to introduce the truly authentic Brazilian experience of churrasco to the Kingdom.”

The Fogo menu is anchored around the full churrasco experience – the art of roasting meats over an open fire, and espeto corrido, or “continuous service,” which Fogo de Chão began serving nearly 40 years ago in Southern Brazil. A variety of savory and fire-roasted meats are expertly prepared and carved tableside by a team of Brazilian-trained gaucho chefs. The gourmet Market Table and Feijoada Bar, which includes seasonal salads, soups, fresh vegetables, feijoada (traditional black bean stew) and authentic Brazilian side dishes perfectly complement the meal.

The new Fogo de Chão Jeddah location will offer guests a variety of dining options and experiences, including:

• Gaucho Lunch: A customizable experience designed to accommodate the busy schedules of weekday diners and business professionals.

• Seafood: Brazilian-inspired seafood options such as shrimp cocktail, mango Chilean sea bass and grilled salmon are available a-la-carte.

• Group and Private Dining: Whether celebrating a special occasion or hosting a business meeting, Fogo de Chão is the place for group and private dining internationally. The Jeddah restaurant is well-suited for groups of all sizes with beautiful private and semi-private dining spaces and complimentary A/V equipment.

The Jeddah culinary team is led by Head Gaucho Chef Lindomar Do Prado, who first learned the gaucho style of cooking on his family farm as a child in Linha Piracema, a small village in Paraná. His team of Brazilian-trained gaucho chefs butcher all of the meats in-house, roast them over an open fire, and carve each piece tableside for guests.

The Fogo de Chão Jeddah restaurant boasts an extensive drink menu, featuring a fusion of Brazilian inspired “mocktails” made from seasonal fruits, perfect for cooling off on a hot summer afternoon. The “mocktails” were designed and crafted by Fogo de Chão specifically for the Jeddah location. Fogo also offers a tempting dessert menu, featuring the finest recipes and flavors of Southern Brazil including local Brazilian favorite, Papaya Cream, made with fresh papaya and vanilla ice cream, then garnished with fresh mint. — SG