GASTRONOMY: What to eat in Buenos Aires?
Well, Buenos Aires is a city with a wide variety of dishes. Of course you will find international dishes, but also some great local meals we suggest to taste. It`s a great city to go out and enjoy restaurants, with hundreds of dining options all of high quality and different style. From Arabian, Judish, Armenian foods in the neighborhood of Palermo, to a typical Bife de Chorizo in San Telmo or downtown. If you are looking for something a bit more exotic, there are many options to taste the Japanese sushi, and of course, the traditional French cuisine is based in Recoleta, one of the most exclusive areas of the city. There are also restaurants with Danish and Swedish dishes. The variety in cuisine is unlimited, so reserve time in your program to organize great dinners and enjoy the incredible offer of the gastronomy in Buenos Aires
It`s a list of the must-try dishes in Buenos Aires. Of course, we will include a cup of wine!
ASADO CRIOLLO
A highlight itself. Also called “Asado” or “Asadito”, it`s the typical gastronomic dish for the argentinians. The Asado is a social thing, where people join to taste a great and complete barbecue. The meat is roasted on a grill, which is a barrred structure of iron. It`s usually served with the typical sauce called “Criolla” or “Chimichurri” and different salads and bread. Of course, the Asado has to be accompanied with a good cup of wine, usually the Malbec which is the wine of Argentina. Where do you can enjoy the typical Asado? Well, there are hundred or thousend of restaurants where you can enjoy this excellent argentinian meat. Of course Puerto Madero, the renewed dockside area, is an excellent idea. There are many options there to enjoy a great asado.
CHORIPAN
Although it is part of a good barbecue or Asado Criollo, the “choripan” deserves a separate mention. Why? Because it`s a tradition for the argentinians. It`s basically a sandwich, and the name came from a combination of the words chorizo and pan (bread). The “choripán” consists of chorizo sausage inside a french bread roll. It`s made from either pure pork or a mixture with beef and spices. It’s cooked on a parrilla (grill) and the fattiness melts, giving it a unique flavour. The Chimichurri is present again, and is usually added to the sandwich. It`s a very traditional street food, like the hot dog in USA, usually present during any sport or political event.
PIZZA PORTEÑA
One of the best pizza you can taste around the world, is in Buenos Aires. Of course, the pizza arrived with the italian immigrants at the beginnings of the XX Century, and it`s in the heart of the argentinians. There are many great places to taste incredible pizza. Of course in Corrientes Avenue, you will find some of the most famous pizza restaurants, but there are many. Some of them are: Güerrin, Las Cuartetas, El Cuartito, Banchero. It`s a must-try, don`t forget to make a stop and taste a piece of this incredible pizza porteña!
If you tasted the bife de chorizo, or an asado, and then the pizza porteña, a trip to Buenos Aires is not complete without taste the empanadas. Every region of Argentina has its own special recipe which, with different small touches. The empanadas have become a fast–food staple in Buenos Aires. They can be easily found in little takeaway pizzerías all over the city as well as in many restaurants. A typical Argentine empanada is made with a flour-based dough and some of the most common kinds are Ground beef, cubed beef, chicken, ham and cheese, ham and onion, spinach, and humita (sweet corn with white sauce). The fillings often include other ingredients such as peppers, onions, hard-boiled eggs, and olives. Empanadas can be either baked (Salta-style) or fried (Tucuman-style). Add one of two empanadas to your pizza when you visit Buenos Aires and enjoy this unique typical meal!
MILANESA A LA NAPOLITANA
The “Milanesa” is another very typical dish in Argentina, and it`s part of the diet of the argentinians. The Milanesa Napolitana is a variation on the breaded fried steak called milanesa that is popular in Argentina. Milanesa a la Napolitana does not originate from Milan or Naples; the dish was invented in 1940 at a Buenos Aires restaurant called “Napoles”. But what`s a milanesa a la napolitana, well is similar to veal parmesan, but with local touches. After the steak is breaded and fried, it’s topped with a slice of ham, tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese, and served with french fries. Amazing isn`t it? Another must-try when you visit Buenos Aires
EMPANADA
The empanadas arrived in Argentina from the hands of the colonizers and spread throughout the region, acquiring different characteristics depending on the area in which they are cooked. There are more or less juicy variants, some put boiled potatoes, others eggs, others raisins or olives, but the base is the same, rich beef and a very fresh chopped onion. To cook them, some make them in the oven (common or clay) while others prefer to fry them in a pan.
If we make a list of typical Argentine foods, the empanadas dispute the first place with the barbecue. They can be seen in all provinces, where indigenous ingredients are placed that make them especially delicious. In the city of Buenos Aires, its consumption is very widespread and without a doubt, it is one of the typical foods most enjoyed by the porteño.
FLAN CASERO CON DULCE DE LECHE
No doublt, the “Flan” is the most typical dessert for the argentinians. It`s present in the menu of the most traditional restaurants in the city. This sweet dessert is based on milk and eggs. Buenos Aires residents created their own version by adding to the spanish tradition, whipped cream and their signature dulce de leche. And what`s Dulce de Leche? well, an inimitable caramel-like sauce that’s an icon of the culinary tradition of the country.
MATE
Another tradition is the Mate, very usual in Argentina but also in Uruguay. The mate is a traditional Argentinian drink and consists of a container bulb (called also Mate) and “yerba mate”. This is a plant that comes from Misiones Province which is previously dried and ground for its use. It is a powerful acitivity stimulator. Its preperation consist of putting the weeds within the mate, then pouring hot water to around 70ºC, and then the bulb is introduced and mate is ready to be sucked from it. What is characteristic in this tradition is that the mate is usually shared in a round of several people. Don`t forget to taste this unique traditional drink!
