Leeds Brazilian restaurant giving out free Christmas dinner for the homeless

The owner of a popular Leeds restaurant hopes he will lead by example as he hosts a Christmas Dinner for the homeless.
Left: Zack Issak, owner of Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill with Michael Chow, right.Left: Zack Issak, owner of Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill with Michael Chow, right.
Left: Zack Issak, owner of Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill with Michael Chow, right.

Zack Issak, 42, who owns Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill restaurants, has teamed up with homeless charity, Emmanus Leeds, to put on a free Christmas meal for those in need.

The Brazillian restaurant on St Peter's Square will prepare a Christmas menu with a South American flavour on Christmas Day.

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Guests will be given a full meal and hot and cold non-alcoholic drinks for free as well as gifts donated by the community.

Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Brazilian restaurant on St Peter's Square.Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Brazilian restaurant on St Peter's Square.
Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Brazilian restaurant on St Peter's Square.

The meal is aimed at people who are homeless or in temporary accommodation and have nobody to spend Christmas with.

They hope to serve up to 150 people who are in need over the festive period.

The restaurant will be serving two sittings on Christmas Day, which takes place on Tuesday this year.

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The first sitting will be from 6pm until 7.30pm. The second sitting will be from 7.30pm until 9pm.

Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Brazilian restaurant on St Peter's Square.Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Brazilian restaurant on St Peter's Square.
Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Brazilian restaurant on St Peter's Square.

Both sittings will serve 75 people each time and during the time guests will be able to have a meal of unlimited meat and sides

Zack Issak, who lives in Wakefield, said it was important for him to give back to the local community.

Mr Issak said: "The community have given me so much love and support, they have made me who I am today. This is my way of giving back to those people and especially to those who don’t have anything.

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"Christmas is all about family and getting together over a good meal. Homeless people don’t have that so this his is all about recreating that family atmosphere.

Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Brazilian restaurant on St Peter's Square.Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Brazilian restaurant on St Peter's Square.
Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Brazilian restaurant on St Peter's Square.

"I hope that what we’re doing at Estabulo will inspire businesses to do something similar next year, then the year after maybe a couple more places will do it.

"I hope I lead by example and eventually there will be a time when no one will be sat out in the street on Christmas."

Estabulo is known for it's traditional Brazillian Gaúcho’s traditional of cooking which involves skewering and slowly cooking meats on an open flame.

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The meat is then served to guests at the table where they can eat as much or as little as they like.

Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Brazilian restaurant on St Peter's Square.Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Brazilian restaurant on St Peter's Square.
Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Brazilian restaurant on St Peter's Square.

The Christmas day menu will offer Brazillian steak Picanha, rump steak, chicken thighs, pork sausages and lamb. Alongside it will serve salad, breads, garlic mushrooms, rice and a Brazilian Black Bean stew.

Estabulo also has venues in Leeds The Light, Wakefield, Beverley, Harrogate, Barnsley and Darlington.