Brazil-founded chain offers information cache as Rio games approach
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As the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony approaches Aug. 5 in Rio de Janeiro, Fogo de Chão Inc. has unveiled an online guide that highlights the churrascaria’s Brazilian roots.
The Dallas-based company on Thursday launched the micro website, “The Fogo Guide to Brazilian Cuisine,” to highlight information on Brazilian etiquette, including dining times, grilling tips, regional cuisines and recipes for the South American country’s famed caipirinha cocktail. It even offers audio pronunciations for common phrases in the nation’s official Portuguese language.
“We hope our guide will help to introduce a few new phrases, new insights and new flavors of an incredibly beautiful, diverse culture to a global audience of travelers, explorers and connoisseurs,” said Larry Johnson, Fogo de Chão CEO, in a statement about the Internet-hosted pantheon of Brazilian culture
The Olympic Games will run through Aug. 21.
“The first Fogo de Chão opened in 1979, nestled in the countryside of Porto Alegre,” Johnson said. “Today, with more than 36 years of experience and 42 locations across three countries, we’re proud to share our expertise in all-things Brazilian cuisine in this new, engaging way.”
The interactive website offers a wide variety of recipes for those who are staying at home but watching the Olympics via television.
The website highlights Fogo de Chão’s nearly four decades in churrasco-style cooking, a Southern Brazilian tradition dating to the early 17th century. It offers home-oriented recipes for such Brazilian favorites as Pão de Queijo cheese bread; feijoada, the national dish of Brazil; and picanha, one of the most prized cuts of meat in the nation.
“For those aiming to travel to Brazil, learn more about Brazil or just looking to bring a small taste of Brazil into their own homes, ‘The Fogo Guide to Brazilian Cuisine’ taps into our deep roots and traditional South American heritage to create an authentic culinary experience, both on- and offline,” Johnson said.
The company said the guide will be updated with curated content through the Olympic Games in August.
For the first quarter ended April, 3 Fogo de Chão reported net income rose 33 percent, to $6 million, or 21 cents per share, from $4.5 million, or 20 cents per share, in the previous year. Revenue increased 6 percent, to $68.9 million, from $65 million last year. Systemwide same-store sales rose 1.1 percent during the quarter.
Fogo de Chão, which went public in June 2015, has 31 locations in the United States, 10 units in Brazil and one joint-venture restaurant in Mexico.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless
