NEW ORLEANS – Internationally-renowned Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão, known for its variety of fire-roasted meats and traditions of authentic gaucho chefs, opened its first Louisiana location in the J.W. Marriott Hotel, 614 Canal St., on Friday, January 8, 2016.
“Having started in Brazil, celebration is an integral part of our culture,” said Fogo de Chão Chief Executive Officer Larry Johnson. “There’s no other city in the U.S. that knows quite how to celebrate like New Orleans, and we’re thrilled to share our Southern Brazilian traditions and cuisine with the Crescent City.”
This Valentine’s Day weekend, Fogo de Chão invites guests to experience the authentic tastes and flavors from Southern Brazil, and as a thank you for sharing your love with the restaurant, couples who dine Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 14, will receive a Valentine’s Dining Card, good for a complimentary lunch or dinner towards their next visit.*
All Fogo de Chão locations will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14.
Fogo de Chão shares the Brazilian gaucho traditions of churrasco, the art of roasting meats over an open fire, and espeto corrido, or “continuous service,” which allows guests to control the variety and pace of their dining experience. The New Orleans culinary team is led by Head Gaucho Chef Carlos Girotto, who first learned the gaucho style of cooking on his family farm in the state where Fogo was founded, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Fogo’s Brazilian-trained gaucho chefs butcher the meats in-house, roast them over an open fire, and then carve each cut tableside.
The menu features:
• Picanha – the prime part of the top sirloin, sliced thin and lightly seasoned with rock salt or garlic
• Filet Mignon – an elegant and tender cut of beef, it’s dressed simply with sea salt to expose its natural flavors
• Cordeiro – fresh lamb flavored with a special mint marinade, sliced off the bone or served as tender chops
• Ribeye – this highly marbled cut of beef is slowly grilled over direct heat to maximize its flavor and tenderness
• Fraldinha – one of the most distinctive and flavorful cuts of beef from the bottom sirloin
Additionally, Fogo offers a gourmet Market Table & Feijoada Bar with seasonal salads, soup, fresh vegetables, feijoada (traditional black bean stew with rice, fresh orange and yucca flour) and more.
The menu is complemented by an award-winning wine list, an extensive cocktail program including many traditional drinks from Brazil such as the Caipirinha, and a dessert menu featuring Papaya Cream, Crème Brûlée, and Brazilian Flan, all of which are made in-house.
Fogo de Chão at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in New Orleans is one of the first locations to offer a new Gaucho Lunch Menu, featuring convenient options to meet weekday lunchtime diners’ busy schedules. The new location also features Bar Fogo, the recently introduced concept offering a casual way to experience Fogo with shareable small plates, cocktails and daily Happy Hour specials in the bar.
Fogo reps said the two-story restaurant, with a walkout patio and 40-foot balcony overlooking Canal Street, integrates seamlessly into the fabric of New Orleans. Inside, they said the contemporary design pays homage to the farm culture of Fogo’s heritage with silhouettes of the native Brazilian Araucaria tree, wine casks, and two Market Tables adorned in white Carrara marble. The first and second floors are joined by a floating staircase and a large open atrium.
The J.W. Marriott-Fogo de Chão renovation marks the first fully completed block in the economic redevelopment of the historic Canal Street area. “Fogo de Chão’s presence in the J.W. Marriott will serve as a unique complement to our growing downtown scene,” said Kurt Weigle, CEO of the Downtown Development District of New Orleans. “Pairing authentic food and unprecedented service with high visibility on Canal Street should create a formula for success.”
The company was founded in 1979 in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and expanded into the U.S. in 1997.
There are currently 41 locations throughout Brazil, the United States, and Mexico, including locations in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Beverly Hills, and Mexico City.
Hours of operation at the New Orleans Fogo de Chão are:
Lunch: Daily from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Dinner: Monday-Thursday 5:00-10:00 p.m.
Friday 5:00-11:00 p.m.
Saturday 4:00-11:00 p.m.
Sunday 3:00-10:00 p.m.
*One complimentary dining card per couple while supplies last. Couples must dine between Friday, February 12 and Sunday, February 14 to receive complimentary dining card. The Fogo de Chao Valentine’s Day promotional dining card is valid for one complimentary lunch or dinner in the Main Dining Room only. Promotional offer valid Monday, February 15 – Sunday, April 30 at any U.S. or Puerto Rico Fogo de Chão location. Not valid on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016. Valid Sunday – Thursday Only. Not valid with any other offer, discount (including Holiday Bonus or Early Booking Dining Cards), or prior purchase. Valid redemption one promo item per table/visit. Beverages, dessert, tax and gratuity not included. Non-transferable or for resale.
