CHUD.com Community › Forums › REGIONAL › Los Angeles & West Coast › Fogo de CHUD
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Fogo de CHUD

post #1 of 44
12/26/08 at 10:28pm
Thread Starter 
The raw foodists thread in the Miscellaneous section gave me an idea.

I love two things, beef and the people who post and/or write for CHUD. Why not combine them?

If you haven't heard of Fogo de Chao, you should google it. The short of it is this: all you can eat beef. It's not just one cut; Fogo runs the gamut of styles of beef/meat: lamb chops, rib-eye, filet, bacon wrapped filet, bacon wrap chicken legs, garlic beef, parmesan pork, etc. To top it all, gauchos with funny pants and swords serve the above-described choice cuts.

It's a bit pricey. For dinner, it's in the $50 range. For lunch, however, it's kind of a steal. All of that, for $32. There's also a salad bar, for the pussies, and all you can eat mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and cheese biscuits.

Whether you guys want to do lunch or dinner is your call. I vote for lunch, since we're in a recession, but I don't mind springing for dinner. And, being that I'm the new guy in town, first round of drinks (Caipirinhas or Caipiroshkas, you pick your poision) are on me, no matter how many of you end up coming to Fogo.

Is some time in January good? A Friday would be best for me, since I can duck out of the office early and no one would miss me.

If we get enough interest, we can switch over to email and plan. With a large enough group, we may even get a private room!
Reply
post #2 of 44
12/27/08 at 12:05am
I'm Officially Endorsing this. It's the best chain restaurant experience you'll ever have. Treat yourself.
Reply
post #3 of 44
12/27/08 at 12:08am
I'd love to have a meal but there's no way I can swing lunch. It would have to be dinner. I mean it's $50 but I have no qualms on a joint like this.
Reply
post #4 of 44
12/27/08 at 12:59am
January would be awesome, but like Hocken said it'd need to be dinner. I'm in Westwood during work hours so I have to slog eastward to get anywhere decent, and that's not counting if the girlfriend wants to come with since she works in Santa Monica, which is like a mile from our place.

Fuck, I wish I was still in Hollywood.
Reply
post #5 of 44
12/27/08 at 1:12am
I work on the westside myself so I know how it is. Although for a place like that I may need to classy it up*. I can't just show up in a deep v-neck tee ;p


I know you don't need a suit. I just wanted to make that remark
Reply
post #6 of 44
12/27/08 at 1:29am
So Jealous. I love Fogo de Chao. When I get a little more scratch together, this would be great for the DC/Baltimore Chewers.
Reply
post #7 of 44
12/27/08 at 1:43am
If we end up anywhere where a suit is required, I will make a point to wear a Slayer t-shirt and pee on someone before the night is out.
Reply
post #8 of 44
12/27/08 at 2:15am
A shirt without a logo on it is as dressy as you need to be. You're in LA, put on a polo shirt or an ironic bowling shirt or some shit like that. I usually wear jeans and a decent shirt there.

Bringing a girlfriend there is, historically, a waste of $55. Just sayin'.

Also, avoid the bullshit liquor cart they offer after dinner. It doubled our bill. Get a Caipirinha at the bar before your meal, or just have some red wine, goes well with all that bloody meat. Make sure the fucker with the parmesan crusted pork medallions comes back.
Reply
post #9 of 44
12/27/08 at 2:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
Bringing a girlfriend there is, historically, a waste of $55. Just sayin'.
Too late, I already mentioned the possibility to her and she was like "AWESOME I HOPE THEY DO IT". Do I stab her now or later?
Reply
post #10 of 44
12/27/08 at 2:43am
Whatever she can't eat, she smuggles out. They don't wrap stuff up for you to take home, so tell her to get creative.

I fly out to LA a few times a year, but I don't know when the next trip is. This would be fun.
Reply
post #11 of 44
12/27/08 at 2:57am
"Stick the roast beef in your pussy, babe. What? No, I'm not...stop hitting me! Fuck!"
Reply
post #12 of 44
12/27/08 at 2:59am
I was thinking her bra or her purse. You went all Irreversibly Cronenberg on me.
Reply
post #13 of 44
12/27/08 at 3:46am
I'll be in LA for a week in January, towards the end of the month. Just sayin'.
Reply
post #14 of 44
12/27/08 at 1:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick Nunziata View Post
I'll be in LA for a week in January, towards the end of the month. Just sayin'.
The dinners have it. The drink offer still stands! We might as well wait for Nick, too.

I love that this is coming together.
Reply
post #15 of 44
12/27/08 at 4:43pm
If you like Fogo, you might want to check around for other Brazillian BBQs. Sometimes you can find a real good one for $25 a person, particularly if you live in a big multi-cultural city like LA.
Reply
post #16 of 44
12/28/08 at 7:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devildoubt View Post
If you like Fogo, you might want to check around for other Brazillian BBQs. Sometimes you can find a real good one for $25 a person, particularly if you live in a big multi-cultural city like LA.
It's funny you mention that because there are other Brazillian BBQ places. However, my former supervisor was from Rio and he said that bar none Fogo was the best.
Reply
post #17 of 44
12/28/08 at 10:26am
I went to a different (cheaper) one in California, and it was pretty bad.
Reply
post #18 of 44
12/28/08 at 1:20pm
Thread Starter 
I've tried other ones, and they all compare rather poorly to Fogo. The meat is mostly gristle, and they don't have the variety.

Well, it seems like there is interest in this. Does the week of January 26, 2009, work for everyone?
Reply
post #19 of 44
12/28/08 at 6:11pm
I'm down.
Reply
post #20 of 44
12/28/08 at 10:18pm
I think my arm can be twisted on this, also. Meat is good.
Reply
post #21 of 44
12/28/08 at 10:18pm
Now I need to see if I can get work to send me to LA that week...
Reply
post #22 of 44
12/28/08 at 11:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratty View Post
Meat is good.
Glad to see we are in agreement on this. Otherwise, I would have tagged you as some kind of commie.
Reply
post #23 of 44
12/29/08 at 1:47am
Thread Starter 
Does any particular day of that week work best for any of you guys? I don't have a strong preference; I work 7 days a week anyway.

Nick, is that the week you'll be in town?

I count 5, at this point: EdHocken, Ratty, Jake, his beef-stealing girlfriend, and me. This is going to be... legendary.

Would Devin show up if coaxed? I'll even give rides back to wherever if you can make it there! My car isn't that big though, it seats 4 uncomfortably.
Reply
post #24 of 44
12/29/08 at 8:50pm
Sign me up! I leave the US for the Philippines for 3 weeks as of 1/31, so hopefully this will come together before then.
Reply
post #25 of 44
12/29/08 at 8:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tieman View Post
Sign me up! I leave the US for the Philippines for 3 weeks as of 1/31, so hopefully this will come together before then.
It has now become a mission from God to get this together. You need a good dose of all-American (Brazilian?) beef before heading off to faraway lands.

People! I need dates! I'm going to start PMing if I get no answers!
Reply
post #26 of 44
12/29/08 at 8:59pm
I will not go. BUt next time Phil is in town he should get in touch, we'll get a drink.
Reply
post #27 of 44
12/29/08 at 9:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spook View Post

People! I need dates! I'm going to start PMing if I get no answers!
Anything that falls on a Friday would be best. Since Tieman will be in Manila by 1/31. I suggest 1/23.
Reply
post #28 of 44
12/29/08 at 9:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by devincf View Post
I will not go. BUt next time Phil is in town he should get in touch, we'll get a drink.
I'm guessing this means you don't want to meet the rest of us loyal readers, even during a different meet-up?

I'm out of town on 1/23 for work. Nick, when are you in town? Is Wednesday 1/28 a bad day for you, Ed? I'm guessing 1/30, the last Friday in January, would be hard for Tieman?
Reply
post #29 of 44
12/29/08 at 9:47pm
It's not but I have to be at work at 7:30 the next day (But everyone has work the next day). A Saturday is also good. I mean if it's on a weekday, it's not a deal breaker.
Reply
post #30 of 44
12/29/08 at 10:24pm
Hanging out with the readers is Nick's thing, not mine.
Reply
post #31 of 44
12/29/08 at 11:00pm
Is this place's quality pretty consistent throughout all of their locations? I don't live in LA, but I see that they have a Philly location and I'd love to try it out at some point.
Reply
post #32 of 44
12/30/08 at 3:20am
Philly's where I've been, El Wack. It's good.

Will do, Devin. Big fan of drinks!
Reply
post #33 of 44
12/30/08 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
El Wack: I've been to Fogo Chicago and Fogo DC. Both were exactly the same: awesome.

Devin: that's cool...

I think I'm going to start PMing the people who have expressed interest; might be easier to coordinate that way. If I haven't gotten in touch with you in the next couple of days, PM me and I'll give you the details.
Reply
post #34 of 44
12/30/08 at 5:25pm
For people on the fence - flash menu here.

Quote:
Operating under the unique service concept of espeto corrido, which translates from Portuguese as "continuous service," Fogo de Chão satisfies palates and the desire for something original. Instead of ordering from a traditional menu, Fogo de Chão offers a prix-fixe system where guests can sample the entire menu, or just focus on their favorite items.

The lunch and dinner menu features unlimited servings of 15 different delectable cuts of fire-roasted meats, a sumptuous buffet of gourmet salads and fresh-cut vegetables, and a variety of Brazilian side dishes.

Each guest uses a two-sided disk to control the pace of their meal. The green side signals the Gaucho chefs to bring out skewers of sizzling fire-roasted meats to carve at the table. The red side indicates a stopping point. Turning back to green lets the Gaucho chefs know to start offering the meats again.

The traditional side dishes of warm cheese bread, fried bananas, crispy hot polenta and seasoned mashed potatoes are automatically brought to each table and replenished throughout the meal. The restaurant's award-winning wine list, traditional Brazilian beverages, and a variety of decadent desserts complement the experience.
Reply
post #35 of 44
12/30/08 at 5:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
For people on the fence - flash menu here.

Oof...

My arteries are clogging merely by reading the menu.

There is nothing like that here! Florida sucks. I need to move.
Reply
post #36 of 44
12/30/08 at 5:37pm
http://fogodechao.com/locations/miami.htm

Guess if you're up in the panhandle that doesn't help. Drive to Atlanta?
Reply
post #37 of 44
12/30/08 at 5:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lima Oscar Lima View Post
Oof...

My arteries are clogging merely by reading the menu.

There is nothing like that here! Florida sucks. I need to move.
Yeah but don't you guys have solid cuban food? I mean there's maybe one joint in LA that does that.

Although IMO, I don't think the cheese bread is all that great. I've been told it's basically there to clear the taste of the meat out of your mouth.
Reply
post #38 of 44
12/30/08 at 5:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
http://fogodechao.com/locations/miami.htm

Guess if you're up in the panhandle that doesn't help. Drive to Atlanta?
That is part of the suck. Until '98, I lived in Duluth. Yes, there were cool things outside the Perimeter, but no restaurants like that.

Actually, the ex-wife and I used to drive up to Chateau Elan every weekend. The restaurant there at the resort was pretty good. The wine was bad, but cheap.

Actually, a visit to Atlanta sounds pretty good. Eat some animals, price some real estate. Thanks for the suggestion.

EDIT: Not a lot of ethnic food around here, Ed. The Florida Panhandle is really L.A.(Lower Alabama). Country fried everything with assloads of gravy. I actually have to drive to Mobile, AL. to get decent Indian food.
Reply
post #39 of 44
12/30/08 at 6:15pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by EdHocken View Post
Yeah but don't you guys have solid cuban food? I mean there's maybe one joint in LA that does that.

Although IMO, I don't think the cheese bread is all that great. I've been told it's basically there to clear the taste of the meat out of your mouth.
Seriously. Who do you have to kill in LA for decent Cuban food? All I can find is Mexican. For miles.

Except that Peruvian fried rice place, which, incidentally, is quite the hit at my workplace, Ed.
Reply
post #40 of 44
12/30/08 at 6:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spook View Post
Seriously. Who do you have to kill in LA for decent Cuban food? All I can find is Mexican. For miles.

Except that Peruvian fried rice place, which, incidentally, is quite the hit at my workplace, Ed.
Well my friend it's a little thing known as geography. Of course we don't have cuban joints out here 'cept for Versailles and Portos*.

And good to hear about the Peruvian booth. That place never seems to get the business the Thai-Mex Booth and Hawaiian booth place get.

Although, I must point out that Inca cola sucks.


*Which is fan fuckin tastic according to everyone I know. And home to the potato ball
Reply
post #41 of 44
12/30/08 at 10:01pm
I'm going to eat some plantains in honor of you guys. That's horrible that you can't get Cuban when you want it. Cuban is 2 of my 15 favorite restaurants in Philly.
Reply
post #42 of 44
12/30/08 at 10:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
I'm going to eat some plantains in honor of you guys. That's horrible that you can't get Cuban when you want it. Cuban is 2 of my 15 favorite restaurants in Philly.
Tell me about it. That was the food I grew up with in PR; my dad is Cuban, and food in PR is very close to Cuban food.

It's impossible to get Caribbean cuisine in LA. The closest I've gotten is Spanish, especially after Jose Andres opened his new place at the SLS (Rojo y Blanco).

If you're ever in DC, give Jaleo a try. Awesome tapas.

I promise to PM shortly. Sorry. Work is kicking my ass.
Reply
post #43 of 44
12/31/08 at 12:05am
Like I said it's geography. You're pretty much going to get Mexican and Central (Pupusaria anyone?) American food around here.

In the meantime Spook please enjoy this moment of lawery inspiration. I believe it'll uplift spirits and provide some avatar inspiration.
Reply
post #44 of 44
12/31/08 at 10:54pm
Sorry for lack of response, guys, I've been without internet for a week and a half (posting from phone atm). I'm down for the 23rd. Spook, as for Cuban, try Casablanca in Venice. It's pretty good.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Los Angeles & West Coast
CHUD.com Community › Forums › REGIONAL › Los Angeles & West Coast › Fogo de CHUD