Churrascaria facts for kids
A churrascaria is a special kind of restaurant where meat is cooked in a style called churrasco. This word comes from Portuguese and means something like "barbecue".
Often, churrascarias serve food in a "rodízio" style. This means waiters bring big skewers of barbecued meat right to your table. They slice the meat onto your plate until you've had enough!
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What are the special words for churrascaria?
The words used for churrascaria come from Portuguese.
- A churrasqueiro is the person who cooks the churrasco meat. They might work in a churrascaria or cook at home.
- A churrasqueira is the special grill used to cook churrasco style food.
Where did churrascaria come from?
This way of cooking meat started in South America. It began with the gaúchos (cowboys) from southern Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Centuries ago, in the Pampas region, they would roast meat over open fires. This is how the churrasco style began.
How do modern churrascarias work?
Today, many churrascaria restaurants offer "rodízio" service. This is a fun way to eat! Waiters, called garçons in Portuguese, come to your table. They carry big skewers with different kinds of meat. You can try many types, like beef, pork, lamb, chicken, or sausage. A popular cut of beef is called picanha. Besides the meat served at your table, there is usually a buffet. At the buffet, you can get salads, bread, rice, and a special side dish called farofa.
Churrascarias in Brazil
In most parts of Brazil, churrasco is cooked over charcoal. But in the south of Brazil, near the borders of Argentina and Uruguay, they also use wood embers for cooking.
Churrascarias in Portugal
In Portugal, you can find many churrasqueira grills. These are in towns, cities, and even along highways. While these restaurants offer barbecued chicken or beef, they might also have rotisserie chicken and other dishes.
Churrascarias in the United States
The churrascaria style of cooking, especially with "rodízio" service, has become quite popular in the United States. You can now find these restaurants in many cities across the country.
See also
In Spanish: Churrascaria para niños
