See a gastronomic itinerary around Gramado that pleases different palates

Synonymous with rebirth, with family and friends, Christmas also refers to a rich table. And in Gramado, a city in Serra Gaúcha that breathes Christmas from the last week of October until January 21st, there is no shortage of options to please the most diverse palates.

From the traditional chocolates that make the city famous to restaurants with different gastronomic lines, Gramado also presents itself as a tasty option for fans of end-of-year festivities. O Good Gourmet visited the city of 40 thousand inhabitants, which receives up to 7 million tourists per year, and shared a little more about the local cuisine.

In this itinerary, we present you with a gastronomic circuit that would be the envy of major capitals in the country and the world. From traditional Gaucho steakhouses to pizzerias to delight children, Gramado has options for all tastes. Check out!

A Scottish castle

Gramado currently has more than 300 restaurants, according to city hall data. From colonial coffees to pasta, from Brazilian cuisine to burgers, including vegan options, the offer impresses first-time tourists.

The city, which obtained the Category A Destination classification from the Ministry of Tourism, is the 7th most recommended tourist destination in the world for weddings and the 3rd destination in the country for family trips. In a place where tourist attractions range from Santa Claus Village to a NASA station, an NBA theme park and a water park, a Scottish-style castle becomes part of the city’s almost cinematic setting. First and only exclusive house from Brazil, and part of the select Relais & Chateaux hotel chain (which brings together the best hotels and restaurants in the world), the Saint Andrews Castle in Gramado is inspired by the medieval buildings of the Saint Andrews region, in Scotland.

In addition to the luxurious and personalized suites, complete with exclusive butler service, Saint Andrews has the Primrose restaurant. With mostly French-Italian cuisine, the restaurant whose name was inspired by a typical Scottish flower, is headed by chef Fernando Becker. The space, which hosts gastronomic festivals throughout the year, hosted the Truffle Festival between October 28th and November 4th, with dishes prepared with Italian white truffles and selected wines from the Saint Andrews cellar.

Becker prioritizes the terroir of the Rio Grande do Sul mountains and the integrity of local products (preferably organic) by adding them to noble ingredients from European cuisine.

Czech crystal chandeliers are installed on each of the five tables, giving the environment a sophistication similar to castles or period film sets. When making a reservation, the customer is invited to inform the concierge of their gastronomic preferences. Which gives Becker the support to prepare an exclusive and personalized menu. It’s called the Confidence Menu. For daily lunch, Primrose offers a three-course menu. Including Red Angus Filet Mignon with vegetables sautéed in basil butter, or shredded ossobuco Ragu with artisanal soft polenta and edible sprouts as main course options.

At dinner, suggestions from the à la carte menu include the New Zealand Congrio with organic vegetables and basil oil, the Amazon Pirarucu Loin with olive sauce and brioche bread crumble and the Aquarello Risotto with shrimps, Spanish saffron and brie cheese.

Service: saintandrews.com.br

little chalet

If you prefer a more intimate atmosphere, Chalezinho’s fondue rotation offers, in a cozy space, three possibilities – traditional, premium and super premium – and includes cheeses, cuts of meat such as filet mignon, baby beef, pork mignon and brisket. chicken, plus the sweet part – Ninho Milk with Nutella, semi-sweet Lausanne, Lindt Classic and Kopenhagen White Chocolate as options.

For those who are going to spend Christmas in Gramado, Chalezinho promotes, on December 24th, Christmas dinner between 8:30 pm and 2 am. The package will include a selection of cold cuts, antipasti, fruit and bread, plus cheese and meat fondue. For dessert, sweet fondues. You must purchase tickets for the dinner, which will be attended by Santa Claus, costing R$ 479. To guarantee your place, visit salesgramado.chalezinho.com/ceia-de-natal-chalezinho-gramado

It has 44 years of history as a reference in fondues in Brazil. The house has units in São Paulo, Campos do Jordão (SP) and Belo Horizonte (MG).

Service: lawn.chalezinho.com

Fire flame

If a good barbecue cannot be missed on a trip to Rio Grande do Sul, the choice is the Chama de Fogo steakhouse. Fifth place among the best Brazilian steakhouses according to Travelers Choice 2016, from Trip Advisor, the restaurant works with noble cuts, such as the shoulder stake, or racket, and the short rib, or premium rib, the rump bonbon and the ancho (eye steak), from animals of the Red Angus breeds and Black Angus, all created in the Gaucho campaign.

The traditional ribs from Rio Grande do Sul are roasted over low heat, taking at least eight hours to prepare. Among the most elaborate cuts are lamb, such as shoulder and French carré. For dessert, the nest milk ice cream with dulce de leche is a must.

The house, which in its decoration adds British influences to the Gaucho tradition, is located on the main avenue of Gramado. It offers a comfortable and cozy waiting room, with a bar to enjoy drinks – originals and reinterpretations – while waiting for a table.

Service: churrascariachamadefogo.com.br

Cara de Mau Pizzerias

Pizzas served by pirates? At Cara de Mau pizzerias, they not only serve but, at certain times, interrupt service to liven up the night with sketches and performances on stage and between tables. On the menu, more than 80 pizza flavors: ‘fire corals’, with shrimp with catupiry, ‘Porto’, with fig, brie cheese and blueberry jelly, ‘Kraken’, with mozzarella, roast rib, tomato sauce and onion , and the sweets ‘Pérola Negra’, made of dark chocolate with dulce de leche, and ‘Lágrimas de Sereia’, made of strawberry ganache, white chocolate, strawberries and Ovaltine. Ideal for those traveling with small children

Service: carademau.com.br/gramado

Malbec

A second option for meat lovers is Malbec. This year, it created its own food safety protocol to offer the experience called “From Field to Fork”. The idea is to ensure carefully monitored control of each stage of the process, together with suppliers, partners and staff, from origin to the customer’s plate.

The specialty of the restaurant, which celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2023, is grilled prime cuts of beef, lamb, fish and poultry. On the menu, parrilla and fondue à la carte are good options. And the endorsement of the Brazilian Angus Beef Association makes Malbec an exclusive partner for Angus beef in Serra Gaúcha. The premium wine list is designed by in-house sommeliers and external consultants, and offers exclusive labels and old vintages.

Malbec is also on the city’s main avenue: Borges de Medeiros, 2101, in the center.

Service: restaurantemalbec.com.br

The capital of artisanal chocolate

Federal Law No. 13,990, of 2020, granted Gramado the title of National Capital of Craft Chocolate. It makes perfect sense; One of the local tourist attractions are the shops and factories located in the city. Which form, amidst the streets of European architecture, a kind of unmissable circuit.

Among the main ones are Lugano, Chocolates Prawer – considered the first artisanal chocolate shop in the country –, Florybal Chocolates, Caracol Chocolates – with its rustic bars – Lagos de Gramado – with gluten-free and zero sugar lines –, Chocolataria Gramado and Chocolate Gramadense, perhaps the most traditional of them, in activity since 1976.

One of the youngest on the circuit is Choco Oz. Inspired by the film The Wizard of Oz, it is located in the Santa Claus Gallery, with its own coffee shop, and has vegan bars and an alcoholic line. Good choice for those who want to escape the obvious.

*The journalist traveled at the invitation of Insider2 Comunicações, with accommodation from Laghetto, transport from Turistur and airline tickets from Azul.