Man who survived disaster ready to feed Scousers with 'fiery' feasts
Bonita Brazilian BBQ's creative director Paulo Fraval and head chef Sam Atkinson(Image: Bonita Brazillian BBQ)The team behind Bonita Brazilian BBQ is preparing to open the first permanent pitch in Liverpool city centre. The business has traded at markets across the north west and will bring "bold, fiery and soulful flavours of Northeast Brazil" outside St John's Shopping Centre this weekend.Bonita Brazilian BBQ blends the spirit of Brazilian street cooking with restaurant-level cuisine. The menu includes loaded fries, layered with Brazilian barbecue meats and bone marrow, Baião de dois, rice, black eyed beans, caramelised onion, herbs and queijo coalho cheese, and ciabatta sandwiches with Brazilian meats.In 2020, Bonita Brazilian BBQ creator and head chef Sam Atkinson survived the Bow crane collapse in East London - an event that took lives, caused devastation and left physical and emotional scars.After the incident, Sam focused on his love for cooking to forge a routine and sense of self, channelling his darkness into something special. Bonita Brazilian BBQ is a reflection of survival and exists because Sam refused to loose himself to trauma.Bonita Brazilian BBQ's creative director Paulo Fraval and head chef Sam Atkinson(Image: Bonita Brazillian BBQ)The business decided to set up in Liverpool due to a "natural affinity between Brazilian culture and the Scouse spirit". Sam told the ECHO: "Joy is the bridge between Brazil and Liverpool. The people here made us feel at home from our first visit."We love Liverpool and we could not imagine launching our first house anywhere else. We are absolutely buzzing to be opening Bonita Brazilian BBQ at St John’s."Liverpool has the same warmth and energy that we love about Brazil, so it feels like the perfect place for our first permanent home. We’ve put so much into the menu and we can’t wait to start feeding the Liverpudlian community."The team is completed by creative director Paulo Fraval, the force shaping Bonita’s identity that channels the energy of Brazil while celebrating its joyful connection with the UK.Bonita Brazillian BBQ opens this weekend(Image: Bonita Brazillian BBQ)Bonita Brazilian BBQ opens on Saturday, December 6, with taster portions handed out to the first 40 customers. Elsewhere, the site of the former St Johns Market is to be offered out by Liverpool Council in a bid to find new occupiers.It was confirmed back earlier this year the city centre location, which was closed down in a row over unpaid rents last year, will not be reopened as a market again.Last March, traders were locked out of the site over unpaid rents dating back to 2020, totalling around £2.1m. Now the local authority has partnered with Avison Young to put the 90,000sq ft site out for offers.
