I know where the beef is!

Estilo Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse

  Take your friends and take your time! 
  This is not the time or place to be in a hurry.
   With over 40 items from the salad bar and 16 choices of beef, chicken, pork, and lamb, it will be hard to save room for desert!
   So sit back, relax, enjoy your company, and at least share the deserts.


Collin County's District Attorney came for the experience and left with the 7 Layer Chocolate Cake. 
 

  Looking for a place to enjoy a delicious and unhurried lunch or dinner?  Look no further than Frisco’s unique signature Brazilian Steakhouse, Estilo Gaucho.

  I arrived licking my chops, ever so ready for some tasty, open-fire roasted rib eye or bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin.  If you were with me as I was escorted to my table, you would have witnessed my surprise at  Estilo Gaucho’s breathtakingly big salad bar. 

   Among the 40+ choices were Chicken Stroganoff, Shitake Mushrooms, Cured Meats, Smoked Salmon, gourmet cheese selections, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, assorted soups and salads; you name it, and it was there.  
  They were beckoning even me, a stranger in a green land.

      I was jealously guarding space for my beloved meats. I chose only the Caprese Salad.  And boy was it good!  But was this some kind of trick?  Making a meat-lover like me pine for a second helping of salad?  
   I wondered, when would my true love arrive?  How long could I remain faithful and resist the surprising temptation of those whispering greens? 
   

GREEN MEANS GO 
  

Co-owners David and Alex

  Almost too late, I was reminded of the round marker that each diner is provided.  Red on one side and green on the other. 
  That disc held all the power!  I turned it over to Green expectantly, burying the red side into the white tablecloth.  
  The Green then shown forth. It was calling out to the servers:  Bring this man the meat!  And bring meat they did.   

  And there it was, my first sizzling skewer:  the Picanha (prime cut of the top sirloin), eye level as I sat in my comfortable chair.  “Yes,” I said, I would love some (though the look in my eyes made words unnecessary).  “Rare, medium rare, medium, well done?”  The server wished to know.  “Medium,” I said with fake poise, hoping to shroud my eager anticipation.

   It smelled so good and looked so tasty.  He shaved off a portion, which I easily grabbed with my supplied tongs.     
   Civilized men everywhere rejoiced as I placed the Picanha gently on my plate instead of directly in my mouth.

   They kept coming, those Brazilian servers with their sizzling array. Lamb shank? Yes. Tenderloin? Of course. Ribeye? Flintstone sized ribs? Top Sirloin? Lamb Chops!
   Are you kidding me? My plate is full of slices of everything and a server is standing beside me with Bacon wrapped Filet Mignon and chicken breast! Both please!

  My plate kept filling because I couldn’t say no! Finally, Frisco Mayor Maher Maso laughingly reminded me to turn my disk from green to red! Thanks Mayor.

  I have just sat down with some great company. We had a long and entertaining dining experience.    
  Everyone could choose from 16 meats served by a constant flow of polite gauchos. By the magic of a vigilant server our drinks were never low and if anyone ate any of the sides of fried plantains, cheese puff bread, mashed potatoes, or the baked Parmesan polenta fingers, more was sure to come.

  We were seated in the back corner table, officially dubbed 'JB's Table' where we could see all the comings and goings. It seemed like every time a favorite meat was being offered, all of us were tempted again. 
  I guess RED just means Whoa.

Dessert!

  I have left no room for dessert! Apparently that doesn’t matter to my host. When I signed on to this adventure I agreed to give everything a taste. Since the others had given the salad bar due homage, I won’t feel guilty about those other 44 items I didn’t sample.

  But J.B. Blocker is being relentless about the desserts. Extra silverware was supplied and so I scooped out some of  the Crème Brulee, dove in to the Papaya Cream, and looked down at my own cheese cake. I intended to share the cheese cake but I looked down again and it was nearly gone. Since I hadn’t tried the 7 Layer Chocolate Mousse Cake I was handed one ‘to go’ along with an extra serving of cheese cake I had intended to share.

   I drove straight to the office and deposited the two desserts in the common room refrigerator.  A staff member soon laid claim to the 7 Layers of sinful chocolate. Her report is that she would go to Estilo Gaucho for the cake alone! 
  Good luck with that.

   I have to congratulate David Jeiel and Alex Nunez for a great dining experience and exceptional service from beginning to end.
  For a private area away from the traffic for 4 to 6, you can call and reserve J.B.’s Table and see every happening while you enjoy an unhurried business lunch or friendly dinner.

  “I’ll be back!”

Greg Willis

Criminal District Attorney

Collin County Courthouse

- J.B. Blocker is a media consultant based in Collin County in North Texas. Advertise with J.B. by calling 469-334-9962.