Argentina Eating

Eating

Eating Argentinian breakfast is somewhat light compared to what travellers from English-speaking countries are accustomed to. Hotels typically provide a free buffet consisting of coffee, tea, drinkable yogurt, assorted pastries and toast, fruit, and perhaps cereal. These kinds of breakfasts are also readily available in the many cafes. Lunch is a big meal in Argentina, typically taken in the early afternoon. Lunch is so big because dinner is not until late: 8:30 PM at the earliest, more commonly at 9 PM or even later. Most restaurants do not serve food until then except for pastries or small ham-and-cheese toasted sandwiches (tostados), for afternoon tea between 6 and 8 PM. A few cafes do offer heartier fare all day long, but don't expect anything more substantial than pizza or a milanesa or a lomito (steak sandwiches) outside of normal Argentine mealtimes. Beef is the central component of the Argentine diet, and Argentine beef is world-famous for good reason. Definitely check out Argentine barbecue: asado, sometimes also called parrillada, because it is made on a parrilla, or grill. There is no way around it - foodwise Argentina is virtually synonymous with beef. The beef is some of the best in the world, and there are many different cuts of meat. Lomo (tenderloin) and bife de chorizo are excellent. Having a parrillada dinner is one of the best ways to experience it, preferably with a bottle of wine from Mendoza. In some popular areas, parrilladas are available from small buffets, or sidewalk carts and barbecue trailers. Skewers and steak sandwiches can then be purchased to go. Given that a large portion of Argentines are of Italian and Spanish descent, Italian and Spanish fare is very widespread and of high quality; pizzerias and specialized restaurants are very common. Take note that a convention observed in Argentina is to treat the pasta and sauce as separate items; more than one traveller has found what they thought was cheap pasta only to find that they were not getting any sauce. You will see the pastas for one price and then the sauces for an additional charge. Cafes, bakeries, and ice-cream shops (heladerías) are very popular. Inexpensive and high-quality snacks can be found in most commercial areas, and many have outdoor seating areas. Empanadas (turnovers) containing meats, cheeses, or many other fillings can be bought cheaply from restaurants or lunch counters. Many inexpensive and mid-market restaurants and cafes do not stock any toilet paper or soap in the bathrooms (though some do.) It is a good idea to carry both with you. Most restaurants, including hotel breakfast areas, maintain smoking and no-smoking areas. If smoke bothers you, it is a good idea to check whether your table is on the border of these areas. Drinking Yerba mate (pronounced in two syllables, 'MAH-tae') is a traditional Argentinian tealike drink, prepared in a hollowed-out gourd which is passed around in a social setting and drunk through a metal straw. Though usually drunk hot, mate can also be served cold, usually known as "tereré". Mate contains less caffeine than coffee, but contains other vitamins and minerals that give it a stimulating effect, particularly to those who are not used to it. It is naturally rather bitter, so it's not uncommon to add sugar. The drinking of mate with friends is an important social ritual in Argentina. Argentina is world-renowned for the wines produced in Mendoza. Inexpensive, high-quality wine is readily available throughout Argentina. Many restaurants offer single-serving bottles. Wine-tasting events are common; check around. The many small bodegas (wineries) in Mendoza province also offer tours. Most restaurants serve a broad range of liquors. Beer is offered in draft form in a chopp (small glass) or served in bottles or cans, and is typically a light, easily drinkable lager. The most popular locally made brands of beer are Quilmes, Isenbeck, and Brahma. Widely-available imports include Warsteiner, Heineken, and Budweiser. There are now many small pubs in Buenos Aires that brew beer on premises, but most of these offer a poor quality product compared to what is widely available in parts of the USA and Europe. In the Buenos Aires area, the Buller Brewing Company in Recoleta and the Antares Brewery in La Plata offer excellent handcrafted English/American style ales. Cafes often have fresh-squeezed fruit juices, which is otherwise hard to find. The legal drinking age is officially 18, although most establishments will serve anyone approximately 16 or older.