Michaela Cleary, World News Editor
The national holiday of Thanksgiving is celebrated in many ways all across North America. One lovely example is the unique Thanksgiving dinner provided by Texas De Brazil, located in the heart of Tampa, Florida.
Texas De Brazil is a traditional Brazilian steakhouse on Boy Scout Boulevard, near the International Plaza. For the past 12 years, this restaurant has provided guests an unforgettable experience as they dive into South American cuisine.
This year was no exception, as they hosted guests for a Brazilian-style Thanksgiving dinner. One of the restaurant’s many friendly hosts welcomed guests and seated them in an ornate dining room adorned with flowers, golden tapestries, and hanging lights. The ambiance was very welcoming and luxurious.
Once seated, guests were served drinks and given a unique double-sided serving card. The card was written in Portuguese, green on the front and red on the back. The green side read, “Sim por favor,” which translates to “Yes, please” in English. This signified that guests were ready to eat. The red side read, “Nao, Obrigado,” which translates to “No, thank you” in English. This signified that guests were done eating.
Throughout the evening, the gaúchos (the male servers handling the meat) would come around each table in the restaurant and slice off pieces of meat, supplying an endless stream of helpings. Various types of meat were served, including filet mignon (their signature Thanksgiving special entrée), bacon-wrapped chicken, parmesan pork, lamb, and dozens more. Guests also had the option to order their desired meat if it was not already provided. This style of serving is known as rodízio, meaning rotations. This style of service is trendy in Brazilian barbecues all around the world.
In addition to the continuous serving of different meats, there was a salad bar and a designated section serving sides. There were many varieties of potatoes, vegetables, beans, rice, and Brazilian cheese and soups. They offered a special Brazilian cheese bread that was very popular among guests, as it kept flying off the platter. For guests who also wanted more traditional food, turkey, and gravy were also available for selection.
Allison Ramirez was visiting from Pennsylvania and decided to attend Texas De Brazil’s Thanksgiving special.
“The food is absolutely incredible! This was my first-time visiting, and it did not disappoint. I usually do a more traditional Thanksgiving dinner with a home cooked turkey, but this might be my new go to,” Ramirez shared.
Texas De Brazil is such a fun and unique restaurant. This Brazilian steakhouse is a great way to introduce international cuisine and culture while celebrating a festive holiday.
