People
Meet Vlad - Senior Grill Supervisor at Fazenda Leeds
It's time to meet another of our amazing Team Members, Fazendeiros. This time we went to Leeds and asked Vlad - our Senior Grill Supervisor at Fazenda Leeds - a few questions so you could get to know him a little better.
1 Please share with us your Fazenda Story
I used to work around Fazenda and didn't know about it until my brother in law started working there. At that time he had just arrived from Portugal and was struggling to do things, complaining how difficult his KP role was, so I applied for the job to show him that I could do it easily, and also because I like a challenge. I joined Fazenda in 2012 as a Kitchen Porter, just part-time.
A year passed by and I started to get to know all Team Members much better. Great people I have met and the atmosphere is enjoyable. I always felt at home around these good people, most of them carrying their roles with skill, knowledge and professionalism, which inspired me to learn more, especially in areas I had never worked before.
My first attempt to change areas of work was rejected, but I did not lose the ambition of becoming one of those who handle meats from butchering, to grilling and serving it, because these Team Members were indeed the biggest attraction at Fazenda. Becoming a Passador, I thoroughly understood the Rodizio system, which I had never worked on before being taught mainly by Batista, our Head of Grill. During this process Fazenda was providing training and courses that brought me up to senior grill supervisor. Then I also got to travel to other Fazenda restaurants acquiring and sharing knowledge about how our Rodizio system works at Fazenda, which is personal and unique.
2 Describe in 3 words what you think the Fazenda Experience is
UNFORGETTABLE because we create memories, the way we do things brings us PROFESSIONALISM and CARE by treating everyone guests and Team with respect.
3 Who would be your guest to your ideal dinner?
Over all these years I have been serving and getting to know people. Many are memorable, many have become regulars, sometimes they come just to see me. I have served celebrities, stars, athletes but my spirit is that all guests are special and that includes my family but maybe serving president Obama would be ideal for me.
4 Favourite Place to go on holiday
I don't usually travel around the world. I am from a very small island in the world called Sao Tome and Principe. A serene island, especially outside the city, with a very passive population. I would invite you to visit Principe island, for anyone who wants to escape the crowds, pollution and enjoy the taste of nature in the forest, on the clean and deserted beaches, enriched with a super natural diet based on countless varieties of the best quality fish in the world.
5 Share with us a moment that makes you feel pride
Lots of great moments I have experienced at Fazenda, uncountable moments; but I feel very proud of myself after the past few years of learning everything about being a passador: how to skewer the meat, how to cut it perfectly and grill it. I feel really proud of managing to run the grill alone with more than 10 passadores, with the meat above all at the right cooking points they requested especially in December weekends, which is a really busy period.
Personally been proud of having two beautiful daughters, a lovely family and could achieve my dream of building a house in my country from the ground up.
6 Favourite Fazenda meat
Without a doubt Picanha. The flavour, the texture combination with fat is the secret of its tenderness, but medium rare ribeye is a potential rival.
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Before you book
Please read all reservation terms stated on this page. By making a reservation with us you agree to our terms.
Reservation Terms
Online Reservations
Tables of up to 10 guests can be booked straight from our website (9 for Fazenda Birmingham and Edinburgh).For larger tables please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] and our Reception Teams will be happy to help with your enquiry.
After making your reservation you'll receive a confirmation email. Should you not see this in your inbox after a few minutes please check your spam/junk folders. Do let us know if you have not received it and we'll be happy to help.
Dress Code
Our dress code is “elegant smart casual”. We do not require gentlemen to wear jacket and tie, however, we do not permit sportswear (gym wear) or beachwear.Children
We welcome children of all ages and believe we provide a great atmosphere for families to enjoy the restaurant experience. In the evening if guests wish to make a reservation with children under the age of 8 please do so for no later than 6pm (reservation durations vary depending on the number of guests so please note the reservation cannot go beyond 8pm). When making a reservation please count children in the total number of guests and let us know if you need a high chair or space for a pram/pushchair.
Please note: We politely request that children are always supervised and remain seated at the table to allow our teams and other guests to move around the restaurant safely and maintain physical distance.
Lastly, please note that children under 16 years of age need to be accompanied by an adult to dine.Cancellations & Deposits
We might require card details for some reservations. Your card will not be charged upon booking and your details will be securely processed by Stripe.If you no longer wish to keep your reservation, please let us know with as much notice as possible. Should you cancel your reservation or reduce the booking size less than 24 hours before your reservation date and time, a charge of £10.00 per guest will be processed.
Halal Selection
Halal reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance.Allergens
The team at Fazenda take food safety very seriously and particularly so when it concerns allergens in food. On our website you can view allergen information on our Menu page. When visiting us you'll have access to it via our menus and also on our Market Table.Smoking
In line with legislation passed in 2007 Fazenda is a no-smoking restaurant. We do not allow e-cigarettes inside either.Pets & Guide Dogs
Animals are not accepted unless assisting guests with additional needs.Photography
Guests are allowed to take photos and videos for personal use inside the private dining room, gardens and on the terrace. At the moment we are not able to accommodate any photography requests for professional or educational purposes until further notice.FAQs
**What are your opening days and times? **
To view each restaurant opening times please click on Locations and choose your local Fazenda.Are you accepting walk-ins?
We are now accepting walk-ins once again.How can I make a reservation?
You can make a reservation via our website or by contacting your local Fazenda by clicking on Locations.Do I need to pay a deposit for my reservation?
We might require card details for some reservations. Your card will not be charged upon booking and your details will be securely processed by Stripe.If you no longer wish to keep your reservation, please let us know with as much notice as possible. Should you cancel your reservation or reduce the booking size less than 24 hours before your reservation date and time, a charge of £10.00 per guest will be processed.
Can I have drinks at the bar?
Absolutely, and reservations are not needed in advance for our bar areas.Are Christmas reservations available?
They are indeed, via our reservations page.