Tag: lamb

Fogo de Chao adapts to a new reality amid Covid 19

When restaurants shut down dining rooms in March due to Covid 19 they had to rely on takeout and delivery until the lock down ended in May. Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao was no different furloughing 90% of staff with managers becoming cooks, order takers and delivery drivers. The restaurant offered Fogo to Go butchered raw meats, meals to go, catered off site meals for small groups and Caipirinha cocktail kits. Management at the headquarters in Dallas were devising a plan for locations throughout the country as how to adapt to the new reality when dine-in service resumed.

Fogo de Chao is known for its generous assortment of meats skewered and served table side by gauchos but also for its generous assortment of cold salads, meats and cheeses at it salad bar. That’s where it biggest challenge would be on how to serve guests who were used to making their way to the salad bar stocked with over 30 items.fogo de chao

The new normal at Fogo de Chao

A recent visit to the Scottsdale location I found out what has changed since they re-opened for dine-in service last month. The changes were obvious once you enter to restaurant, hostess’s and all employees wear face masks, a poster board next to the hostess stand reviews their commitment to health and safety and fewer tables in the dining room for social distancing. Gone were menus, salt & pepper shakers and the green (Go) and red (Stop) coaster cards diners use to let gauchos know whether to approach you for more meat.

As for the buffet, selections have been reduced. Servers now bring a charcuterie board of meats, cheeses and olives followed by courses of salads to choose from. Gauchos continue to roam the room carving slices of beef, chicken, pork and lamb to your heart’s desire as they did prior to Covid 19. Only difference is they approach you asking if you’d like more meat.

Fogo continues to offer Fogo- to-Go’s butcher shop, catering with curbside pick-up and contact-less delivery. Summer promotions are being finalized and I will update as soon I as I hear what they are.

The Scottsdale location is at 6300 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale 85250. The restaurant offers full service dining as well as group dining, an outdoor patio and bar. The restaurant is open for lunch, dinner & brunch on weekends. For more information and to make a reservation head to their website.

Galeto Brazilian Steakhouse set to open in Chandler

A unique dining experience that is Galeto Brazilian Steakhouse is coming November 1st to Chandler. “Gauchos” work the dining room parading 9-14 different skewered meats for guests to choose from and sliced right to their plate.

The tradition of the “churrasco” cooking technique dates back to southern Brazil in the early 1800s. Guests will be able to choose from beef, pork, chicken, sausage and lamb seasoned and carved table side. Meats are cooked over hot stone coals and seasoned with rock salt. Use green and red tokens to signal the Gauchos when you’re ready for the fire roasted meats.

If you’re not a meat eater there is an impressive alternative at the Gourmet Bar. Enjoy more than 45 signature dishes and appetizers to choose from and can be enjoyed with or without the meats.

The Chandler location will be the second Galeto Brazilian Steakhouse after the original in Oakland, California. Visit the Chandler location at 825 N. 54th St 85226.

The butcher returns as Arcadia Meat Market set to open in January

Years ago people would purchase their cheese from a cheese shop, fish from a fish market and meats from a butcher, today you can find the one stop shopping  with few peddling their product knowing only basic information. With that in mind the Arcadia Meat Market is set to open on January 11th 2018.

Partners Nick Addante and Luigi Paroli plan to bring back the old school butcher shop offering Arizona raised beef, pork, chicken and lamb and will source all natural products from Colorado, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico and California.

Need for the Arcadia Meat Market

Addante is a partner in Arizona’s only grass-fed beef producer who realized that the mass marketed meat industry lacked what consumers want including transparency, product knowledge and the treatment of animals.

“All our meats are free range and pasture raised, never had any antibiotics or hormones, and the animals we sell have always eaten healthy food resulting in the best quality meats.” Addante says.

“We believe that healthy animals raised in open pastures make for a healthier planet and healthy happy customers. We work with producers that care about our planet and the animals they raise. Our ranchers practice sustainable farming methods so their business may continue to thrive for generations to come.”

The Butcher

Addante also wanted a skilled neighborhood butcher who cared about the meats they are butchering for their customers and the customers themselves.

Enter Paroli, a 2nd generation butcher from New Zealand who’s worked across the country and will hand cut all meats in-house.

“It’s all about bringing back trust and transparency, because I was raised on that, including 8,000 hours of training under a master butcher in Wellington, New Zealand,” Paroli says. “I’ve run butcher shops from Alaska to Manhattan and it all comes back to good, healthy, grass-fed, pasture raised, organic proteins. Plus, you can come and get something specially cut for you and feel good about providing for your family.”

Arcadia Meat Market will be open daily Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Also offered will be ready-to- cook meals, grab & go items and more. In the future they plan to sell wine, cheese, charcuterie and cold pressed juices.

Arcadia Meat Market will be 3950 E. Indian School Rd. #150 Phoenix 85018.

 

 

Rusconi’s American Kitchen tempts us with Summer Dinner Menu

No beating around the cactus, its June and summer has hit the Phoenix area pretty quickly. As much as we lament the hot summer months a few good things make life easier for us locals. As we stick around and sweat it out there is less traffic on the road, no waiting for a table at our favorite restaurants and restaurants doing what it takes to get our butts in their seats. Rusconi’s American Kitchen is wooing us with a Summer Dinner menu that offers 3 courses & glass of red or white wine for only $44.00 per guest.

This Summer 2017 Feature Menu is available through August in addition to their daily dinner menu. The Summer dinner menu is as follows…..

Course One (choice of)

wild arugula with cotija cheese 

shaved watermelon radish, beets, chardonnay vinaigrette

chilled pea soup with house smoked salmon

crema and tiny croutons

 

Course Two (choice of)

pecan wood grilled loin of lamb

mild roasted pepper grits, small carrots and American goat cheese

pecan wood grilled sustainable salmon 

blackberry glaze, small potatoes, sweet corn, baby cabbages

 

Course Three (choice of)

 budino of the moment

 RAK dark chocolate bread pudding

Rusconi’s American Kitchen is at 10637 N. Tatum Blvd. (NE corner of Tatum & Shea) Phoenix (480)483-0009 http://rusconiskitchen.com/