Contact: Erin Brock
CKPR
407-541-0812
ebrock@ckpr.biz
or
Andrew J. Groveman
Belz Enterprises
901-260-7348

 

ORLANDO'S FIRST TEXAS DE BRAZIL RESTAURANT COMING TO BELZ DESIGNER OUTLET CENTRE - ORLANDO

ORLANDO, Fla., (July 1, 2003) - Texas de Brazil has chosen Belz Designer Outlet Centre as the location for Orlando's newest "churrascaria," or Brazilian-inspired restaurant.

Dallas-based Texas de Brazil plans to open its first Orlando location in a 10,000-square-foot space facing International Drive at Belz Designer Outlet Centre. The restaurant, which will open in late 2003, will feature patio dining, private dining rooms that can accommodate large parties and an ample wine cellar. Texas de Brazil specializes in slow-roasted, meticulously seasoned cuts of beef, pork, chicken, lamb and sausage served to diners tableside.

"As the newest churrascaria in Orlando, we are excited to enter a market that is the second largest convention destination in the country, with a population of more than one million people," said Salim Asrawi, Texas de Brazil C.O.O. "We believe locals and visitors alike will find that Texas de Brazil is truly the most incredible continuous dining experience on earth."

The variety of meats on the menu at Texas de Brazil are seasoned with rock salt and cooked over an open flame, a traditional method used by Southern Brazilian gauchos, or South American cowboys. The combination of mesquite, hickory, apple, cherry, pecan and alder woods used in roasting creates a robust grilled flavor. True to gauchos' tradition of personally carving meats for presentation, servers roam the restaurant with the grilled meats on sword-like skewers taken directly from the grill and presented to guests.

A Texas-sized side bar will offer diners more than 30 house salads, hot appetizers, cheeses and soups. Freshly-baked Brazilian cheese bread, fried bananas and signature cocktails also are part of the restaurant's signature fare. Texas de Brazil will hire about 50 employees for the restaurant's staff.

"The addition of Texas de Brazil to Belz Factory Outlet Centre brings a new dimension to the dynamic shopping and entertainment atmosphere at the north end of International Drive in Orlando," said Andrew J. Groveman, president of the Factory Outlet Division of Belz Enterprises.

About Texas de Brazil
Based in Dallas, Texas de Brazil operates authentic continuous service Brazilian-style steakhouses in Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas; Addison, Texas; and Memphis, Tenn. The chain will open two new Florida restaurants in Miami and Orlando in 2003. For more information about the restaurant, visit www.texasdebrazil.com

About Belz Enterprises
With headquarters in Memphis, Belz Enterprises is a multi-faceted real estate company with more than 30 million square feet of developed property, including more than 40 shopping complexes, ranging from community shopping centers to regional malls. Belz developed and manages Factory Outlet Worlds in Lakeland and Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Las Vegas, Nev.; St. Augustine, Fla.; and Orlando, Fla., where the company also operates Belz Designer Outlet Centre. Belz is a partner in B.T. Orlando Limited Partnership, which owns Festival Bay at International Drive, Orlando's newest lifestyle retail and entertainment establishment. In 2001, the firm opened Belz Factory Outlet World-Puerto Rico, the first enclosed factory outlet mall on Puerto Rico. In addition, Belz operates 100 Oaks Mall in Nashville, Tenn. The company also has developed and owns a group of premier hotels, including the flagship Peabody Hotels in Memphis and Orlando and the recently opened Peabody Hotel in Little Rock, Ark.