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Finding Memorable and Affordable Meals in Buenos Aires

Wednesday, April 24, 2013 12:23

Categories - Food in Buenos Aires - 0 Comments

Having been a food fanatic all my life, it was inevitable that when I came to Buenos Aires to learn Spanish, I sought out the best places to eat for the least amount of money. In general, it is very easy to find affordable and nourishing food anywhere you go in Buenos Aires and the variety is great. At first I wasn’t quite sure where to look in the city so I’ve compiled a short list of my favourite places that I hope you will love. Happy eating!

LAS CABRAS, Fitzroy 1795 Palermo Hollywood

It’s a fantastically atmospheric parrilla-restaurant always filled with locals and well-informed foreigners that, has over the last 7 months become my favourite place to eat. It has a gorgeous outside seating area where the tables are so close together that it’s so easy to start a friendly conversation with the people next to you.

Al fresco dining at cheap parillas in Buenos Aires e1314965500564 Finding Memorable and Affordable Meals in Buenos Aires

Outdoors at Las Cabras

Most of the time I order the Gran Bife Las Cabras to share with one other person. It comes with a huge piece of beef, fried eggs, chips, mashed pumpkin, rice, grilled pepper, onion and grilled provoleta cheese and for just 75 pesos ($US15 approx.) between two people, it’s unbeatable in terms of value.

Finding Memorable and Affordable Meals in Buenos Aires

Gran Bife Las Cabras

It is quite a varied menú and despite that it is officially a parrilla (grill) restaurant, it offers many other options including quesadillas, salads, fish, soup and traditional Argentine tarts and stews. It’s just a beautiful place to enjoy the fresh air and really delicious and satisfying food!

CHAN CHAN, Hipólito Yrigoyen 1390 Microcentro

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Chan Chan

It’s a wonderful little Peruvian restaurant in the centre that is actually extremely well-known amongst all here. Because of the lines, either go early at 8pm or later around 10:30pm. Having fell in love with ceviche and other specialties in Peru a couple of years ago, I was delighted to find such a cheap place to enjoy these things again! Peruvian resturants are quite common already in Buenos Aires, however generally are quite upmarket places with prices to match. Chan Chan is an exception, serving the freshest of seafood, mouth-watering slow-cooked meat, saucy stir-fries, fragrant soups and much more.

Ceviche

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Slow-cooked beef

When I go to eat, I usually don’t spend more than 50 pesos ($US13 approx.) which includes a drink. Another noisy and fun local experience to have while in Buenos Aires!

SINIOR SHAWARMA, Honduras 5328 Palermo Soho

Sinior Shawarma

A fantastic place to enjoy a kebab and other specialties like falafel, borek and baklava, Sinior Shawarma is conveniently located across the road from the popular Kika nightclub. As spicy food is a little difficult to come across in Buenos Aires, it’s such a treat to be able to ask for hot sauce with whatever you like. Yummy and affordable meal deals are available for instance, a kebab with your choice of filling, papas fritas (the best!) and a beer is just 45 pesos ($US11 approx.)

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Kebab Combo

A really friendly and unpretentious place, it’s likely to satisfy your need for some spicy flavours and can also be a great recovery after a big night out.

SARKIS, Thames 1101 Palermo/Villa Crespo

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A waiting line on any given night

A restaurant that I hardly ever avoid mentioning in my blogs, this place is simply incredible. It’s a perfect place to go as a group as the flavoursome Armenian dishes are best to share-just because you will want to taste as much as possible.

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Sarkis

When we go we always order the jambra (delicious red pepper dip), pure de garbanzos (hummus), a mountain of pita bread, the falafel dish that comes with a tasty creamy sauce and salad, tabouleh, feta cheese, at least one porción of the cordero al fierrito completo (grilled lamb and vegetables with a generous porción of natural yogurt) and numerous bottles of wine. For all of this I have never paid more than 115 pesos including tip ($US28 approx.) and it guarantees a full belly until the following day.

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Feast time

EL BELICHO, Salta 11, corner of Rivadavia, Microcentro

This is one of those very many classic Argentine café/restaurant places with very simple decor. If you were to walk past, you probably wouldn’t think much of it. However, it’s quite common I guess anywhere in the world that the simplest of places attract weekly customers and dish up some very good meals. Nothing on the menú is over 40 pesos ($US10 approx.) and everything that is typically Argentine is served. Try one of the eight milanesa options, pasta, stew or of course, something from the grill section. Popular choices from the grill are various cuts of chicken, chorizo sausage or beef. The ½ porción bife de chorizo (sirloin rump) con guarnición is my favourite.

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Bife de Chorizo

Don’t asume that you’ll need the full porción-the half is huge! For just 35 pesos you can choose to have anything from the grill with either mashed potatoes, fried potato or salad. Before the meals come they always provide a bread basket with the most delicious criolla sauce-just try not to fill up on this!

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Salsa Criolla

AUTOSERVICIO RESTAURANTES

This option is your most economical and healthy one. These self-serve restaurants are in abundance in Buenos Aires, particularly in the centre where during the week, are bursting at the seams with workers from nearby offices. They serve dozens of salads, fruits and hot meals including stews, curries, stir fries and meat.

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Autoservicio

How they work is that you simply grab a container to take away or a plate if there is room to eat in the restaurant, then simply load it up with food of your choice and in the end, you pay for the weight of the food. My favourite self-service restaurant in the centre is on Diagonal Norte 1126 (and apparently without a name) where they have an incredible range of veggie options and the freshest produce. Another great place is Spring Restaurant on Guetemala 4450 in Palermo Soho. It’s slightly more expensive than other establishments of its’ type as the actual restaurant is quite lovely and inviting. Many people feel that when they visit Buenos Aires, it’s a mission to find a place that serves green vegetables with their meal so this is a great option for when fresh vegetables are needed!

Enjoy these recommendations and explore more great options in BsAs!

Nightlife in Buenos Aires

Friday, April 5, 2013 12:28

Categories - Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, Clubs - 0 Comments

Whether you are visiting, working or studying Spanish here in Buenos Aires, you are sure to find the right bar or club for you. As Buenos Aires is a city of the night, you can trust that there is always something on every night of the week that can suit many age groups. You can go to a bar really any time you wish, however it is customary here to not go a nightclub (boliche as it is called here) until at least 2am. This is all part of the Porteño experience which also includes a much more civilised drinking behaviour among locals. Unfortunately binge drinking is absolutely rife in Western cultures and it’s lovely to see young people here prioritizing dancing and generally having an awesome time with friends than so much on the drinking.

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BA boliche

Of course there is the infamous Buenos Aires Pub Crawl. I went for the first time last week and had an absolute blast. I was pleasantly surprised by how many locals joined the group as I had a chance to use the Spanish I’ve learnt. There are events run by the company 7 nights a week which are spread among the best barrios of the city.

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Buenos Aires Pub Crawl

Below I’ve compiled a list of awesome places to go from tango bars (milongas), cocktail lounges, small DJ bars to major nightclubs with pulsating floors.

TANGO BARS (milongas)

This is a fantastic way to see the real tango scene in Buenos Aires. Of course, there are many professional tango shows offered to tourists, but I get blown away by the talent, passion and authenticity shown at these places.

La Catedral-especially lively on Tuesday and Friday nights, classes start at 9pm 4006 Sarmiento (Almagro)

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La Cateral

Salon Canning- there are clases and milongas here every night of the week Av. Raul Scalabrini Ortiz 1331 (Palermo)

La Maldita Milonga- my personal favourite because of its’ phenomenal orquestra and milonga, amazing on Monday and Wednesday nights Peru 571 (San Telmo)

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Milongas in Buenos Aires

COCKTAIL LOUNGES

878- The walls are bare-brick and the whole place has the feel of something of a raw and rather illicit vibe. Seriously laid back and very funky. 878 Thames (Villa Crespo)

878

Frank’s Bar- a place to enjoy gorgeous drinks made by skilled barman, enjoy some old school music, see glamorous people and enter using a secret password (don’t worry-you can get it from the internet) Arevalo 1445 (Palermo)

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Frank’s Bar

Olsen- Housed in a former warehouse, this chic Sandinavian bar and restaurant has style in abundance. High-ceilinged and vast, the venue has been decorated in a funky, retro fashion. Gorriti 5870 (Palermo)

Milion- a romantic, converted mansión that is also a restaurant, there’s little better than sweeping down its grand, marble staircase with a cocktail in hand. Parana 1048 (Recoleta)

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Milion

BARS

You Know my Name- a very cool place to be if you’re a music fan of the 80s and 90s. Marcelo T. De Alvear 1540 (Recoleta)

You Know my Name

La Puerta Roja- This is a casual bar – no sweet cocktails or chalkboard wine list here – you’ll be having a cold beer, vodka on the rocks or scotch, straight up. Chacabuco 733 (San Telmo)

Sugar Bar- a very fun ‘sports’ bar that serves great food too. 4619 Costa Rica (Palermo)

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Sugar Bar

La Cigale- hosting local DJs and live bands, it’s best known for its mid-week parties when you’ll find it packed with a crowd of locals, expats and travellers. 22 de Mayo 722 (Microcentro)

Cronico Bar- on Plaza Serrano, a very lively place with awesome drink specials-very chilled. JL Borges 1646 (Palermo)

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Cronico Bar

Antares- an amazing choice of beers, really funky feel. Arevalo 2876 (Las Cañitas)

NIGHT CLUBS

Niceto Club- a great place to enjoy some really entertaining gay shows, very popular and fun. Niceto Vega 5510 (Palermo)

Kika- different music every night of the week, Tuesday is particularly awesome with impressive DJs. Honduras 5339 (Palermo)

Kika

Alsina- The cavernous Alsina nightclub is best known for its Saturday night event, State. With a capacity of 3000 it’s the perfect place for a big night out. Adolfo Alsina 940

Voodoo Motel- On different nights you’ll hear house, electro, techno, cumbia and reggaeton, and some live performances mixed in with DJ sets. Dorrego 1735

Club Severino- Cheap drinks and good music, Club Serverino’s Monday night party is a great way to get your week started. Hipolito Yrigoyen 851

Club Araoz- If you are into Hip-Hop, Lost at Club Araoz on Thursdays is just your place, simply amazing fun! Araoz 2424

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Lost

Obviously what I have listed just doesn’t even scrape the top of the iceberg in terms of bar choices in Buenos Aires, however as a visitor you are sure to have some really fun and memorable times and a great insight into what it takes to party like a Porteño.

Have fun!

Cheap and Easy Meals to Prepare While Travelling

Thursday, March 7, 2013 14:44

Categories - Food in Buenos Aires - 0 Comments

So, something that has honestly been bothering me a few months now is the inevitable weight gain that comes with travelling, living somewhere like Buenos Aires, where I have been studying Spanish. Unfortunately, it is just bound to happen- food businesses including panaderías (bakeries), confiterías (sweets shops), heladerías (ice cream), empanada and pizza joints are just abundant in this city and inconveniently selling cheap bites to travellers on a budget.

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Some of the delights you can buy from a confiteria in the city

Other factors that contribute to weight gain here include bread baskets at every restaurant and the generous waiters who refill them, constant Fernet drinking with newly-made travel friends and the little voice in our heads that says every day ‘I am overseas and I have never felt so free so I am just going to finish this family-sized bar of chocolate on my own and have an ice-cream after lunch too, take that stomach!!’. There is just something about having an insane overseas experience that can sometimes make you say these sorts of things to yourself because you’re away from home where we are limited to daily schedules that generally don’t allow us to be this reckless with food portions and choices.

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Some of the delicious ice-cream found in Buenos Aires

There is another thing to consider though while on the road and it is that sometimes there is simply no option but to eat what is available. If you’re lucky enough to receive food on overnight buses, the meal will usually include a white-breaded sandwich and cookies and while in Bolivia, it is quite normal to receive a dish with both rice, french fries AND bread on the side.

An endearing quality about the average backpacker is the constant search for food that is cheap and in Argentina, that is empanadas, the Latin equivalent of pies or pasties. They are simply everywhere here. Sometimes you come across a great place that offers a whooping 8 varieties which can keep you going back every day for a week, and at 6 pesos each, you can go nuts! At the end of this time though, your stomach will probably be screaming for something a little fresh and healthy.

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Empanadas here can be filled with anything from beef and vegetables to chicken to roquefort cheese and onion.

Henceforth, I have put together 5 simple, cheap and healthy meals that can be prepared in the simplest of hostel kitchens. I’ve stuck to a budget of 20-25 pesos per meal that can sometimes be split into 2 nights’ worth of dinners. You can usually get all of these ingredients from any supermarket or verduleria (which are usually cheaper than supermarkets as their stock is brought in locally.)

CHICKPEA AND VEGETABLE CURRY

1 can chickpeas

1 can diced tomatoes

1 ½ teaspoons curry powder

Spinach leaves

White or Brown rice

Wash rice and cook in a pot. Heat oil in a wok or largish fry pan. Fry chickpeas for 2-3 minutes on high heat until slightly soft. Add tinned tomatoes and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat and add curry powder. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes and at the end, add the spinach so it wilts a little. Serve with rice. (Serves 2)

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Chickpea Curry with Spinach

SPINACH AND CHERRY TOMATO SALAD WITH SEARED BEEF

1 bunch fresh spinach

1 punnet cherry tomatoes

Extra virgin olive oil

1 packet chuck steak or thin filleted steak

Tomato and/or garlic marinade from a bottle

Cut the meat how you like. Pour marinade over it, cover, and leave in the fridge for half an hour. Meanwhile clean your salad components and dry. Once meat is marinated, heat a grill and sear on both sides until cooked to your liking. Arrange meat and salad together and add olive oil to taste.

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Spinach and Cherry Tomato with Seared Beef

GOOD OL’ BURRITOS (my versión)

1 packet beef mince

Burritos or ‘arabic’ style bread

1 green capsicum/pepper

1 onion

2 tomato

1 avocado

First, chop both tomatoes into small chunks. Put half aside for the beef and the other half for the ‘guacamole’. Mash up the avocado to a good consistency and add half the tomatoes. Heat a fry pan and cook the minced beef well, add 2 tablespoons of wáter and the other half of the tomatoes. Wait until wáter is absorbed then put aside. Use the same pan to fry some finely sliced onion and capsicum until soft. When ready to eat, pop the burritos or flat bread in the microwave or oven if you have one and heat to your liking. Assemble food together and enjoy. (Serves 2-3)

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Beef Burrito with peppers and guacamole

SPAGHETTI APOLLO KOTA

1 packet spaghetti

1/3 litre chicken stock (they only have cubes here)

A little cream

1 packet chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 bunch spinach

1 onion

¼ pumpkin or sweet potato (ideally baked but you can pan-fry as well)

If you have an oven, chop the pumpkin or sweet potato into bite-sized pieces and bake for ½ hour. If not sautee in a fry pan until very soft. Prepare pasta in a pot. Fry chicken in a pan until thoroughly cooked, put aside and then cook the onion until it is translucent. Return chicken, reduce heat and add 2 tablespoons cream. Stir and add 1 cup of chicken stock. Add the pumpkin or sweet potato, then 2 more tablespoons of cream and one cup of stock. There should be a nice creamy sauce forming (add more liquid if you think necessary.) Let the sauce simmer for 10-15 mins and at the end, add the spinach leaves until just wilted. Serve over pasta. (Serves 3-4)

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Spaghetti Apollo Kota

STICKY RICE

1 packet brown rice (if cooking for 1 person, ½-1 cup is sufficient)

Peas

Soy sauce (something that is surprisingly sometimes hard to find here in Buenos Aires-you may have to come across a Chinese supermarket for a bottle)

The most elementary of the 5 and surprisingly satisfying! Prepare the rice in one pot and the peas in another. When both cooked, mix together and add a generous amount of soy sauce. Yum!

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Sticky rice with peas

For more information on food in Argentina or learning Spanish in Buenos Aires, click these links!

Tags: healthy, hostel, kitchen, kitchens, spanish, travelling

San Telmo – Un barrio encantador en Buenos Aires

Monday, June 11, 2012 15:30

Categories - Argentina Travel Info, Argentine Customs and Culture, Buenos Aires City Attractions, Concerts, Events, Festivals and Holidays, Food in Buenos Aires - 0 Comments

En Buenos Aires hay un mercado muy famoso por la Plaza de Mayo entre la calle Defensa y la plaza Dorrego. Este Mercado se llama la Feria de San Telmo. Cada domingo va mucha gente de todo el mundo para comprar artesanías, probar algunas comidas típicas o explorar el barrio. Para almorzar hay un lugar muy lindo con música en vivo donde las personas se pueden sentar y relajar. En este lugar se puede comer asado: Choripan, Lomo o beber algo. Durante la noche las calles reflejan un luz adorable también hay una Milonga que se llama “Milonga del Indio”que siempre comienza a las 8 de la noche y está al aire libre.

Markt San Telmo 300x225 San Telmo Un barrio encantador en Buenos Aires

Durante la semana San Telmo también tiene lugares interesantes para visitar. Por ejemplo el Zanjón donde se puede hacer una visita guiada en Español o en Inglés durante una hora. Allí se puede aprender mucho sobre la historia del barrio y del desarrollo de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires con la ayuda de un guía, de pinturas y mapas viejos.

chorizofoto 300x223 San Telmo Un barrio encantador en Buenos Aires

También hay una gran variedad de Iglesias antiguedades, tiendas de moda y anticuarios. En San Telmo se situan Restaurantes y una Farmacia muy atractiva. La Farmacia (Defensa y Alsina) es muy linda con una báscula y óelos en los paredes. Es una buena idea caminar por toda la calle Defensa y muy cerca de dicha calle está la Calle “Pasaje San Lorenzo 380” donde se puede ver la casa minima que es tambien muy común en Buenos Aires.

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Milonga del Indio

San Telmo fue un barrio con una población bastante rica y ahora se pueden ver las riquezas en las calles, con una gran cantidad de museos. Pero después, de la epidemia de fiebre amarilla, la gente adinerada se mudó a otros barrios como por ejemplo Recoleta. Hoy en día la riqueza de San Telmo se presenta de manera más cultural y con gran variedad artística.

farmacia 300x192 San Telmo Un barrio encantador en Buenos Aires

Tags: Food in San Telmo, San Telmo Buenos Aires, San Telmo Market, Shopping in San Telmo, Tango in San Telmo

Celebrating May 25 in Argentina: What to eat?

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 13:00

Categories - Argentine Customs and Culture, Argentine Recipes, Food in Buenos Aires - 0 Comments

El 25 de Mayo se celebra en Argentina el aniversario de la “Revolución de Mayo”, evento que marcó el inicio de la gesta independentista del país, y que dio comienzo al proceso de surgimiento del estado argentino, el cual verá la luz el 9 de julio de 1816, cuando se declaró la Independencia de la nación argentina.

25 de Mayo Celebrating May 25 in Argentina: What to eat?

Los argentinos suelen celebrar esta fecha preparando platos típicos que hacen parte de la tradición argentina, como una forma de exaltar sus valores y reivindicar su cultura.

A continuación te contamos cuáles son los platos tradicionales que suelen servirse en esta fecha, para que vayas pensando lo que vas a comer este Viernes:

LOCRO:
Este tradicional plato a base de maíz, de alto contenido calórico es ideal para esta época en la que empieza a bajar la temperatura; es el plato por excelencia del 25 de Mayo así que si te invitan a pasar este día con una familia argentina seguramente es el plato que te servirán.

EMPANADAS:
En esta celebración no podía faltar uno de los platos más comunes dentro de la cocina típica argentina; las deliciosas empanadas; puedes pedirlas en diferentes presentaciones: fritas o al horno, y puedes encontrarlas con diferentes rellenos: Queso, Cebolla, Carne cortada a cuchillo, caprese, con uvas pasas, con morrones, huevos etc.

TAMALES:
Estos deliciosos envueltos de maíz son un infaltable dentro de la cocina tradicional deñl norte Argentino, se sirven dentro de la hoja que envuelve el maíz (chala).

Los son similares a nuestro siguiente plato:

HUMITAS:
Envuelto hecho también a base de maíz; en el Norte Argentino son famosas las humitas en chala, que se sirven al igual que el tamal envueltas en las chalas del maíz imagenes: empanada y locro: Tomado del blog chocolate y frambuesa.

Tags: 25 de Mayo Argentina, Argentina Independence Day, Comida tradicional argentino, Da de la independencia, Holiday food in Argentina, Traditional Food in Argentina

The Best Alfajor of Argentina: Alfajor Tasting Results

Wednesday, May 2, 2012 14:01

Categories - Food in Buenos Aires - 0 Comments

The Best Alfajor of Argentina: Alfajor tasting results

A passionate subject amongst those who have tried alfajores, we took the search for the best alfajor extremely seriously! We started the search for the best alfajor with the Facebook community and asked for your favourite brand and type of alfajor. It did not take long before a heated discussion began and people started to express their love for alfajors on the Facebook Opinion Poll. The results of the Alfajor Facebook Opinion Poll can be seen below:

Cachafaz
Jorgito
Havanna (http://www.havanna.com.ar/)
Other
Abuela Goya
Milka
Aguila

Having looked at the results of the Facebook Opinion Poll, we wanted to take our research deeper into the tasty world of alfajores, so we decided to have a ‘regrettable’ alfajor tasting to measure if and how much we were subjected to the marketing and the culture. We had a sweet Friday and made a blind tasting of the top brands of our poll: Havanna, Jorgito, Aguila, and Cachafaz with all the BsAs4U team as participants (we have to add that we have a multicultural team which makes our sample very diverse and less influenced by the culture).

The results of the blind alfajor tasting at BsAs4U were as follows:

Cachafaz
Jorgito
Aguila
Havanna (which surprisingly received 0 votes)

We have to say that besides being fun and sweet, it was a very interesting experience as we learned that our opinions were segmented and all of us had a change in thoughts and a change of our favourite alfajor brand after last Friday’s tasting.

Finally, as a conclusion, we are proud to declare the Cachafaz as the best alfajor in Buenos Aires and this is a non paid publicity. But do you know what a Cachafaz is? Lets learn a new lunfardo word…cafachaz, is an adjective to define a crafty or cunning person, and it is even a tango myth, a person considered the best tango dancer, teacher and actor of the late 20´s was known under the nick of El Cachafaz.

So Cachafaz is a word that represents the Argentineans, but how come Havanna became the most famous brand of Argentina? Well, it seems that Havanna Alfajores was the best or at least the best known and for many years identified Argentineans all over the world, but the company was sold. Urban legend says that the first owners of Havanna, after concluding their secrecy clause of the contract, began a new company under the brand of El Cachafaz using with the original recipe used in the traditional Havanna at its very beginning in Mar del Plata. This might also explain why many speak about the similarity of tastes and packages.

For those who have advanced Spanish, here is a video (Spanish) with a deep analysis about the similarities between Havanna and El Cachafaz:

And here is BsAs4U’s alfajor tasting that proves that El Cachafaz was the winner in the 2012 poll and can also be compared with what was supposed to be the only kosher alfajor, a brand called Successo which, is also very similar to the other two in question.

So make sure you don´t fall in the marketing and branding of today’s world and make sure you try the different alfajores for yourself. Let us know which your favourite is and enjoy your own personal quest in search of your favourite alfajor

If you are looking for tours and activities in Buenos Aires during the Autumn, visit our official website

Tags: Alfajor Tasting in Buenos Aires, Alfajores in Buenos Aires, Best Alfajor Brand, Best Alfajor in Buenos Aires, Places to Find the Best Alfajores, Tasting the Best Alfajor

Pleased to meat you!

Friday, April 20, 2012 14:16

Categories - Food in Buenos Aires, Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, Clubs - 0 Comments

That the Argentinians love their meat is a fact. Some of them can not even survive one single day without a juicy piece of steak. One of them is one of my porteño friends. He told me that he had the desire to travel to India, but that he couldn’t, because cows are holy there and he would never ever survive without meat. When I told him that he could stuff himself there with delicious chicken dishes, he looked at me highly insulted and said: Chicken is not meat…it’s chicken!

Let’s see where the roots of this crazy love for meat comes from. The first cows were introduced in Argentina in 1536 by Spanish Conquistadors. From then on beef has played an important role in the Argentinian culture. Gauchos (South American cowboys), who lived in estancias (ranches) on the pampas (outback) used to be the masters of the cattle. They turned the asado (barbeque) into an important national dish. Their knowledge about breeding quality meat and how to prepare it made gave Argentina the position of 2nd biggest consumer and 3rd biggest exporter of beef, after Australia and Brazil. However, from my experience I can give them witout doubts the first position of most delicious meat.

The only way to understand this love for meat, is simply to try it. And oh boy they have good steaks. The quality of the meat here is so good and tender, that it needs no nonsense sauces, just some salt. Sometimes you get some chimichurri, which is a simple mix of spices, which can also come as a salsa. But do not put to much frills on your steak, it is an insult when the meat can not be tasted anymore. The whole vaca (cow) is a part of the menu. If you don’t want to have an undefinable surprise on your plate, it can be usefull to learn some bodyparts by head before ordering in a restaurant. Parts which you can expect on the parilla are ofcourse different kinds of steak (of which lomo and bife de chorizo are excellent choices), sausages, chicken, and for the dare devils kidney, intestines and salivary glands.

Ready to indulge yourself in some Argentinian steak? Here is a list of excellent places in Buenos Aires where you can expect melt-in-your-mouth steaks:

- La Cabrera
- El Trapiche
- Don Julio
- Cabaña de las Lilas

Budget, but gooood!
- Las Cabras
-Chan Chan
- Manolo
- Plaza
- Asturias
- Sarkis
- Status

Linda

Tags: Argentine Cuisine History, Best Steaks in Buenos Aires, Dining Out in Buenos Aires, Food in Buenos Aires, History of Argentine Food

Ethnic and Spicy Food Options in Buenos Aires

Tuesday, April 17, 2012 11:25

Categories - Food in Buenos Aires, Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, Clubs - 0 Comments

Even though Argentina is known for its food culture and delicious food, I hear most of the foreigners living or visiting Buenos Aires, including myself, are missing diversity of the food which traditional Argentinian cuisine doesn’t have, and I guess I don’t even need to mention the lack of spices. If you are one of those who wants to taste a bit of heat in your dish or are simply looking for some playful flavors, I have good news for you; there are options! The Buenos Aires food scene is not all about good meat, empanadas and pizza, as most of the people think it is. There are a variety of ethnic foods in Buenos Aires that can give you a taste of spiciness and even a bit of heat.

First of all, every food lover who passes through Buenos Aires should visit China Town in Belgrano, where you can find a variety of Korean, Thai and of course Chinese cuisine. Most of the China Town restaurants can be considered average to good Asian food, but my recommendation must be Siempre Verde on Arribeños street. It is a very good Taiwanese vegetarian restaurant for the asian food lovers who would prefer to have a touch of heat in their plates. I should also need to mention the good, cheap street food around the neighborhood where you can find a bunch of small shops to have a taste of Chinese fast food. And for the ones who enjoys cooking at home, do not worry, there are couple of big Chinese supermarkets where you can find almost every ingredient you might need.

Ceviche 300x224 Ethnic and Spicy Food Options in Buenos Aires

Another neighborhood with excellent spicy and ethnic food is Abasto, not the shopping mall itself but around it there are lots of small Peruvian restaurants. Some of those restaurants looks even a bit scary from the outside I must say, but don’t judge a book by its cover, there are really good and cheap options. My pick would be one of the nicer options, Mamani on Agüero street, but compared to other restaurants in the city it’s very reasonable. I need to warn you about the portions, because they are huge! My recommendation would be to go with friends to share that deliciousness. Another Peruvian restaurant option is Chan Chan in the Congreso neighborhood, and if you are into Peruvian cuisine, it is a must go place with lovely and cosy atmosphere.

Of course Palermo and Villa Crespo have good options for spicy food, where you can find Middle East/Armenian, Indian and Mexican restaurants. A down part will be the more expensive prices in the touristic areas, but most of the time it worth it. A good example is Sarkis, the best Armenian restaurant in Buenos Aires! It is always packed so I would recommend you to make reservations beforehand.

Chorizo Kabob 300x177 Ethnic and Spicy Food Options in Buenos Aires

On the other hand, Indian food here is not really Indian food, and even if you insist on having your curry spicy, it will not be. However there is an option to have a taste of Indian curry and good beer, called Bangalore in Palermo Hollywood. The place can be defined as a hybrid between an Indian restaurant and Irish pub with creative snacks, imported drinks and good music. In Palermo Soho, Quimbombo is another fun restaurant with Indian influence.

Fabrica Tacos BA 300x200 Ethnic and Spicy Food Options in Buenos Aires

To have a taste of Mexican food, I would recommend you to try Xalapa on El Salvador street. It is not as spicy as it should be, but I would still consider it to be good Mexican food. Finally if you are craving for some tacos, La Fabrica del Taco (Gorriti 5062) is a very fun and good option. They have variety of excellent tacos and interesting Mexican drinks.

Now that you have an idea where to get your fix, you can spice up your stay in Buenos Aires! Enjoy!

Tags: Asian Food Buenos Aires, Ethnic Dining Buenos Aires, Ethnic Food Buenos Aires, Foreign Food Buenos Aires, Picante Comida Buenos Aires, Spicy Food Buenos Aires

Best medialunas in Buenos Aires

Friday, March 16, 2012 14:21

Categories - Food in Buenos Aires, Restaurants, Bars, Cafes, Clubs - 0 Comments

Here at Expanish, we are big fans of these medialunas! Everytime we order them, they are gone in the twinkling of an eye! If you’re looking for really sweet, moist medialunas, covered with a delicious layer of syrup, you need to try them out!

medialunas1 Best medialunas in Buenos Aires

Alimentari

Was founded in 1993 and since then, it has opened many branches around the city, but mostly in the downtown area. If you’re studying at Expanish you have no valid excuses to miss them! So check out their website and see what the closest Alimentari is for you.

Diagonal Norte 892, Microcentro / T 4325-4488

L’épi

Bruno Gillot and Olivier Hanocq are two French chefs that landed in Argentina in 1997 and founded this bakery characterized for its heavenly good breads, croissants and chocolate crunches among other much delicious stuff. They come out from a brick oven that dates back from 1911, so it’s one of the oldest in Buenos Aires. If you like to watch cooking shows, you can watch these magnificent and skillful chefs at their program Bon appètit on El Gourmet channel.

Montevideo 1567, Recoleta / T 4812-1390

Dos Escudos

Famous for its vigilantes and thin white bread sandwiches, you can also find in this traditional bakery one of the best medialunas: sweet on the surface, with a salty touch inside. You can get them to go or stay inside and relax. These medialunas match perfectly a big café con leche! Totally recommended.

Juncal 905, Retiro / 4327-0135
Montevideo 1690, Barrio Norte / T 4812-2517

Pani

At this chic deli, the patisserie is not only beautifully presented but also very tasty. The croissants are no exception, they delight with every bite. You can buy them to go or enjoy sitting down at their nice terrace.

Nicaragua 6044, Palermo / T 4772-6420

El Galeón

Good, buttery medialunas need three requirements: they have to be fluffy inside, crispy on the outside, with the right amount of sweetness. And those of El Galeón, definitely comply with all these conditions.

Santa Fe Avenue esq. Gurruchaga, Palermo / T 4831-0544

Los Molinos

From the same owners of Dos Escudos, this bakery calls itself - with good reason – ‘The Medialunas’ Expertise.” They are prepared with quality ingredients and it’s a classic of Buenos Aires, located in a very beautiful neighborhood. What a perfect excuse to eat medialunas while walking around the city!

Avenida Las Heras 3014, Barrio Norte / T 4805-4329

Domani

Apart from being a really big cafeteria, Domani has excellent medialunas, served together with many options and merienda menus. You decide whether to share them or not, but it’s definitely a must!

Jerónimo Salguero and Castex, Palermo / T 4807-5288 / 5388

Ice Cream in Buenos Aires

Monday, November 14, 2011 14:14

Categories - Food in Buenos Aires - 0 Comments

Anyone who’s spent any time in Buenos Aires will be able to tell you that ice cream plays a key role in Argentina’s food culture. You can hardly walk a block without passing several ‘heladerías’. So here’s a little guide to tell you everything you could possibly need to know about ice cream in Argentina…and this is coming from someone who has done a serious amount of research on the subject!

Firstly, a little background…

The main reason the ice cream here is so incredibly dense and full of flavour is due to the Italian influence there is here. Italy itself is world-renowned for its ‘gelato’, so it’s hardly surprising that this has come across to Argentina.

Ice cream vs. Gelato

Ice cream and gelato are in fact two very different things. Ice cream is made with cream and has air whipped into it, consequently making it firmer and not as intense in flavour whereas gelato is more often made with milk and more eggs, and has no air whipped into it, giving it the smooth creamier, gloopier texture that it we see with the helado here. It is often served at a lower temperature as well, making it softer, but because of its egg and milk composition, it doesn’t melt as quickly as ice cream. Often, you will find that the lower the quality of ice cream, the more airy it is. The ‘helado’ we have here in Argentina is some sort of hybrid of the two…Of course the added bonus of helado versus ice cream is that its lower in fat due to its lack of cream…so you needn’t feel so guilty next time you have the urge for one!

Flavours

In terms of flavours, you will be spoilt for choice…there is literally anything you could possibly imagine – from the thick creamy ones to the lighter fruitier ones. Of course, being in Argentina, there are always several different types of Dulce de Leche, one of my personal favourites is Dulce de Leche granizado which has crunchy bits in it…

To top it all off, some places actually deliver the ice cream…so you don’t even have to move from your sofa to have ice cream…they’ll literally bring it to your door which couldn’t be better!

Where to go…

So just to get you started…here are my top 5 favourite places to go. Let me know of any which you find…I’m always keen to discover new places!

Freddo - a firm favourite – its a chain so can be found all over the city -plus it delivers to your door so what more could you want?
Volta – there are branches of this all over the city, pretty similar to Freddo…
Cadore – Corrientes 1695, Centro – seriously good quality and not too far from Expanish so definitely worth a visit!
Persicco - Juramento 2360, Belgrano – although they’re a chain and so therefore are in numerous locations around Buenos Aires, this one in particular was a dangerous find for me…being so close to where I live, I pay it regular visits!
Tufic – Guatemala 4597, Palermo – located in a great, central place and still amazing quality – the ice cream here is so thick and gooey, you can’t help but love it.
Procopio, Sanchez de Bustamante 2104, Palermo chico – this one is good for the chocolate fan…with about a third of the 30 different flavours on offer here based on chocolate, chocolate lovers will be in heaven!
La Comarca, Juramento 2492, Belgrano – sweet little heladería where the staff are very friendly, and the quality is very high…a good all-rounder!

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