Texas de Brazil

My latest trip to Cozumel is coming to an end (in pictures and stories), so now it is back to normal, everyday life, as normal as our life actually gets.

We do not really go out to eat that much at home, but this was a special occasion. It was our 18th wedding anniversary. We went to Texas de Brazil (pronounced Tehas), a Brazilian steakhouse. We have a few Brazilian steakhouses here, and their concept is the same, A Little Bit of Brazil in Downtown Denver though we found Texas de Brazil to be the best one. The quality of foods and selection is amazing and never ending.

We arrived just as the steakhouse was opening, which turned out to be perfect timing. Everything was fresh and fully stocked.

Although meats of all kinds are the main attraction, there is also a spectacular salad bar that offers all kinds of fresh salads and vegetables. So even if you are a vegetarian, there is still plenty of food you can enjoy.

My curiosity got the better of me and I just had to ask about the flowers. They are not real, but they definitely look very real. Just imagine how expensive and tedious they would be if they were real.

We started our meal off with a great salad, each of us having something totally different. We could have easily feasted on this and we would have been very happy and very satisfied, but we were there for the meats after all.

As soon as we sat down, a plate of fried bananas and some very creamy garlic mashed potatoes were brought to the table. The bananas are supposed to be a palette cleanser in between cuts of meat.

If you are not familiar with a Brazilian steakhouse, all the meats are served table side by waiters dressed in gaucho style clothes. A wide variety of meats is skewered and sliced off individually at your table. You can eat as much as your tummy can hold, and you can try everything that is available. The selections ranged from lamb to a variety of steaks to pork and chicken and sausages. We tried bits of everything, and it was ALL absolutely fantastic! It was all so tender and cooked to perfection. All of the meats are cooked the gaucho way – over an open flame with natural wood charcoal.

Every person at the table was given a little card. Green means the waiters keep on coming, serving everything they have. Red means you are stopping, or at least stopping for a bit. You can easily change your mind, and flip your card if you decide you want more too.

Because we have dined at these types of restaurants on numerous occasions, we learned a long time ago that 1) DON’T forget to bring a healthy appetite and 2) take very small portions of everything so you can try it all. I stopped long before Larry did, and I gave him about half of what I did try too, though everything was EXCELLENT. It was a great way to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary.

I normally do not feature chain restaurants, but I do make exceptions every now and then. The Texas de Brazil family is growing all over the country, and even internationally as well.

The story of how Texas de Brazil started. “Texas de Brazil began with a dream in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Enjoying the rancher’s life and feasting in the rodizio style native to the region, one of our partners had visions of bringing churrasco culture north to the United States. He wanted to share this unique way of dining where guests indulge in a parade of meats and extravagant seasonal salad area.

The destination for this restaurant was none other than cattle country…Texas. After all, the traditional steakhouse of Brazil blends perfectly with the service and class of the Lone Star State. We are proud to bring our family-owned restaurant to the rest of the world as we expand domestically and internationally. Come and enjoy the culinary experience found only at Texas de Brazil. In southern Brazil, local cowboys called gauchos, prepare legendary feasts in a tradition known as churrasco. They slow-roast meats over open flames and present an impressive display of seasonal greens, vegetable dishes and regional delicacies. The succulent meats are brought to each group’s table and carved in a show of skill and festive offering”.

The Texas de Brazil location we dined at was in Denver, located at 8390 Northfield Blvd., Suite 1800, Denver, CO 80238. You can call ahead to make reservations at (720) 374-2100 or you can find them online at TexasdeBrazil.com. If you have never experienced the Brazilian steakhouse, it is a must. If you have experienced it before, then it is definitely time to experience it once again. You will be very happy you did.