Viva Chicken Marks Hispanic Heritage Month by Sharing How a $200 Journey, a 60-Year Family Recipe and More Than Five Million Rotisserie Chickens Are Carrying Peruvian Heritage Forward
Charlotte, NC (RestaurantNews.com) Hispanic Heritage Month began today and will be celebrated through October 15. Viva Chicken celebrates Hispanic heritage every day, with every meal. For co-founder Chef Bruno Macchiavello, that story began long before Viva Chicken opened its first restaurant in Charlotte 13 years ago. It began in Peru, with a family recipe passed from one generation to the next.
“From my grandmother’s hands, to my mother’s, to mine,” Macchiavello recalls in a new video sharing the story behind Viva Chicken and the Peruvian heritage that continues to define it. Macchiavello came to America with $200 and that family recipe. He couldn’t pack the country itself. “I couldn’t bring Peru with me, so I brought the fire.”
That fire became Viva Chicken.
Today, the Charlotte-born restaurant brand has served more than five million rotisserie chickens. And for Macchiavello, each one carries something far more personal than a recipe; he says, “Every chicken we serve has a little piece of home.”
At the center of Viva Chicken is Pollo a la Brasa, the charcoal-fired rotisserie chicken deeply rooted in Peruvian food culture. But the larger story is how food can carry heritage beyond borders and introduce a culture to people who may never have experienced it before.
For Viva Chicken, Hispanic Heritage Month isn’t a time to begin celebrating its heritage, but a national moment to share the heritage it celebrates every day.
“Bruno’s story is so meaningful to Viva because it wasn’t created for the brand – it helped create the brand,” said Sharyn Knight, director of marketing for Viva Chicken. “The family recipe, the memories behind it and the way Bruno has carried both forward give Viva something deeply personal and authentically ours. Sixty years of family history is difficult to duplicate, and it comes through in the food and in who we are.”
At the heart of Viva Chicken is its signature Pollo a la Brasa – fresh, all-natural chicken marinated for more than 24 hours in a traditional Peruvian spice blend, then slow-roasted over open flames in custom charcoal rotisserie ovens. The result is juicy, flavorful chicken paired with fresh, made-daily sides and signature sauces inspired by generations of Peruvian cooking.
Throughout the year, Viva Chicken’s customizable catering options, featuring fresh ingredients and wholesome, vibrant produce prepped daily, bring Peruvian rotisserie chicken and more to any event, delighting guests during holidays, parties and beyond. Viva Chicken’s customizable eGift Cards allow guests to send the gift of Viva Chicken year-round.
Viva Chicken’s Insider reward system allows guests to earn points toward rewards, including a birthday treat and free Viva Chicken, while receiving early access to specials and exclusive offers. Prospective team members may find opportunities on Viva Chicken’s LinkedIn. At the same time, we encourage all current and future fans of Viva Chicken to stay up to date on Facebook and Instagram.
About VIVA Chicken
VIVA Chicken is a fast-casual charcoal-fired rotisserie joint specializing in authentic Peruvian Pollo a la Brasa. Serving the hottest, freshest chicken, VIVA offers a distinctive, flavorful menu, inspired recipes, and a vibrant, inviting atmosphere. Since opening in 2013, co-founders Chef Bruno Macchiavello and Randy Garcia have grown the company by sharing their passion and staying a homegrown business that cares about its employees, guests and community. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, VIVA Chicken has 15 restaurants across the Carolinas and Utah, with more planned.
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