[SmokeWatcher]

The wife and I tried Brazilian Bull Steakhouse the other night off Chandler Blvd. This place is pricey, but amazing! Count on about $50 per person. It's all-you-can-eat so don't be afraid to get more! The appetizer bar is huge with old favorites and new flavors worth trying, should make even a vegetarian happy! You get a painted cylinder to control the "food flow". Flip the green side up and the carvers line up at your table, each carrying something different. Flip it red side up and they leave you in peace. The main course meats are delicious, but the sides (beans, rice) were just OK...fillers so you eat less meat I guess. The individual portions are small...but there are a LOT of portions! Definitely worth going, just not for everyday dining! Check them out...

http://www.brazilianbullsteakhouse.com/BrazilianBull/Home.html

[Mike P in Tucson]

One of the best meals I ever had was at a Churrascaria (Brazilian Steak House) on Copacabana beach, in Rio.  In fact, severl of my best all time meals were in Rio.  I wish we had one in Tucson.

[Mark]

Me too, Mike. I ate at Porcao in Rio and still dream about it. My favorite was brahma bull hump. Talk about marbled beef!

About 20 years ago, I was working with a restaurant company and we were going to put a churrascaria in Tempe. A first in AZ.  I was going to name it The Grill From Ipanema. Then the historic building we were going to use burnt down and the deal was dead. I'm still bummed about it. But there is nothing better than endless grilled meats while sipping bottomless caipirinhas.

[mustang]

Me too, Mike. I ate at Porcao in Rio and still dream about it. My favorite was brahma bull hump. Talk about marbled beef!

About 20 years ago, I was working with a restaurant company and we were going to put a churrascaria in Tempe. A first in AZ.  I was going to name it The Grill From Ipanema. Then the historic building we were going to use burnt down and the deal was dead. I'm still bummed about it. But there is nothing better than endless grilled meats while sipping bottomless caipirinhas.

Here's a ranking of the top 20 brands of Cachaca (there are over 5000 commercial brands of Cachaca in Brazil).

Unfortunately, the Leblon Cachaca I bought at BevMo last month for my Caipirinha's didn't even make the the top 20!!  


To see the experts' rankings, go here:  http://www.brazil-help.com/cachaca.htm


Additional info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caipirinha


Brazilian Barmaid:  http://lebloncachaca.com/the-caipirinha/

[Mark]

Leblon is a pretty recent brand. Pitu' was the most commonly distributed brand in America, although virtually non-existent in AZ. I used to bring it back on biz trips back east. When I ran out I used to make a poor man's version using equal parts of the cheapest store brand white rum and tequila. It had the general taste of cheap cachaca.

[Mike P in Tucson]

I "lost" several nights in Rio because of caiparinhas.

[Mark]

Yeah, they do go down easy.

Even if you don't have any cachaca to make a caipirinha, you can make a caipiroski using vodka. Cut a lime or two into wedges. Dump a tablespoon of sugar on top of it and mash it around with a wooden spoon.  Top with ice and plenty of vodka (or white rum or silver tequila for that matter). Stir and sip the night away listening to bossa nova music. Muddling the lime releases the essential oils in the peel. That's what makes the magic in this drink.

Cachaca is one of those great all-around spirits that works with just about anything. One of my favorite Brazilian drinks is Batida du Caju, which is made with fresh cashew milk. I drank this one night at a rooftop lounge overlooking out over Copacabana beach with my wife. I felt like James F***ing Bond. (But I woke up with a hangover feeling like Rodney Dangerfield.)

[tbonejc]

I've been wanting to try this place out for a long time now.  I ate at a place like this in Cochabamba Bolivia.  It was awesome there too.  That's the place I had cow udder.  Yeah, not that good at all.