High-quality steak demands bourbon of equal caliber but striking that delicate but powerful balance can take more than a bit of knowledge, along with a lot of trial and error.
Luckily, the experts at Fogo de Chão (fogo-dee-shown) Brazilian steakhouse are intimately aware how the perfect pairing can be a transformative experience for the steak, the bourbon, and the gastronome.
People looking for the perfect side-by-side steak and bourbon pairings are invited to a unique tasting event on Thursday, July 13 at Bar Fogo, Fogo de Chão locations across the country.
Dry-Aged & Bourbon at Westfield Garden State Plaza
The Dry-Aged & Bourbon event at Fogo de Chão’s only New Jersey location — Westfield Garden State Plaza, next to entrance 2 near Macy’s in Paramus — takes place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. A curated selection of premium bourbons were carefully selected to seamlessly align with bone in ribeye and dry-aged tomahawk ribeye.
“Each bourbon has its own personality,” said Cat DePaula, Fogo de Chão Sales Manager at the Paramus location. The chain owned by global private equity firm the Rhone Group has 74 locations globally, with 58 in the U.S.
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DePaula added that at the event, Fogo de Chão Paramus Sommelier and Assistant Manager Dante Costa will talk through the bourbons’ profiles. He will also discuss finding the right balance when pairing bourbons and steak.
Dry-Aged & Bourbon is $45 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and includes choice of two celebrated bourbons — including Basil Hayden’s, WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye, and Angel’s Envy — plus two ribeye tastings (bone in ribeye and dry-aged tomahawk ribeye), and passed bar bites. Make reservations online at fogo.com/dryagedandbourbon.
Always at Fogo de Chão
The full menu is also available, complete with the restaurant’s signature churrasco culinary art experience that features specially-trained gaucho chefs fire-roasting and carving meats off table-side skewers.
The Market Table, either as an add-on or by itself, offers seasonal salads, soups, fresh vegetables, imported charcuteries, rice, and other noshes. An expanded plant-based menu includes vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian selections. The enhanced Bar Fogo beverage list has both traditional and non-alcoholic craft cocktails made with CleanCo’s low-proof spirits with less than 0.5% alcohol, the Dallas-headquartered chain announced in March.
Fogo de Chão Expansion Plans
Aside from Paramus, the New York City Metropolitan area has Fogo de Chão restaurants in Queens and the chain’s flagship U.S. location on West 53rd Street in Manhattan. A Fogo de Chão in City Point, Downtown Brooklyn is slated to open later this year.
In New Jersey, the chain has approval by local planning boards to open at Bridgewater Commons in Bridgewater and Willowbrook Mall in Wayne. At Bridgewater Commons, the chain is taking vacant space on the second floor of the mall opposite Uncle Julio’s and Cheesecake Factory, per local reports. At Willowbrook Mall, the restaurant is renovating the old Brio Tuscan Grille restaurant, which closed three years ago.
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Fogo de Chão — which means ground fire — was founded in 1979 by brothers Arri and Jair Coser in the countryside of Porto Alegre in the southern region of Brazil.
CEO Barry McGowan said the chain is continuing to follow its trajectory of 15% growth, and opening 12 restaurants a year.
The international brand recently debuted in Ecuador and has plans to enter Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Canada and the Philippines.
