Website: http://valsbraziliancuisine.com/
Address: Wigwam Commons 14960 Ste 208, Goodyear AZ.
First some terminology to help those of you who are not familiar with Brazilian food.
- Feijoada - A bean soup or stew made typically made with black beans and cuts of pork and or beef and often brazilian sausage known as linguiça. It is also flavored with salt, onion and garlic.
- Linguiça - A Portuguese / Brazilian sausage usually made from pork and flavored with onion garlic and paprika.
- Churrascaria - A all you can eat meat buffet where the meat is slow roasted over fire usually on skewers. The meat is usually brought to the table and sliced from the skewer for the customer.
- Pão de Queijo - Cheese Bread.
- Coxinha - A croquette made from minced chicken and spices and formed into the shape of a drumstick.
I have been to Val's Brazilian Cuisine twice and enjoyed both visits. The restaurant is not a churrascaria, although on Thursday, Friday and Sunday Val does serve some churrasco style dishes.
On the two occasions I have been to vals I have tried the following items.
- Porco Tenderloin (Pork Tenderloin) - This was delicious dish with a uniquely Brazilian flavor. It is served with feijoada over rice and small salad or vegetable. I tried this dish on two occasions and both times the flavor was excellent. On the first visit the meat was very tender and moist. On the second visit the meat was not quite as tender, but the flavor was still outstanding. The feijoada was excellent as well.
- Frango Marinado (Marinated Chicken) - I was supprised by the amount of chicken that was served with this dish. It was also delicious and extremely tender. It was served with choice of side dishes. I chose the feijoada for the side dish and once again it was excellent.
- Coxinha (Chicken Croquettes) - Very Good. I strongly reccomend you try at least one. There is nothing else quite like a good Coxinha.
I was also able to try the Bobo de Camarao and the Straganofe de Carne and both were also delicious.
If you are looking for Brazilian food but don't want to pay the price that a Churrascaria will cost you, or if you are just looking for something different Val's Brazilian Cuisine is definitely a place that you should try.
