Churrasco Cooking Style

Brazilian barbecue (churrasco) was invented by gauchos, nomadic horseback riders not so different from the American cowboys of the Wild West. Gauchos lived in rural areas and had access to plenty of cattle for their meat. They developed a style of roasting beef on skewers over the embers of a fire, which brought out the natural flavor of the meat and made it more succulent. The gauchos would prepare skewers of meat for a large gathering of their friends and family. All throughout the dinner, the gauchos would come around and slice off slabs of beef, supplying an endless stream of helpings. The style of serving was called rodizio, and it is still popular in Brazilian barbecue around the world.

When people go out on the town, they tend to gravitate toward American food, pub fare and chain restaurants. These options are familiar, and even though you may not have a great meal, you know you'll at least have a decent one.

However, you may actually be shortchanging yourself by playing it safe. People who live by the philosophy "variety is the spice of life" tend to have more positive emotions. So, the next time you go out to eat, consider changing it up! Trying new cuisine at a Brazilian steakhouse (churrascaria) is an excellent way to expand your culinary horizons.