A Gringo in Buenos Aires » Food

Send Love BA: Send a Personalized Care Package to Buenos Aires!

Tim Gringo in BA — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:00:39 +0000

This is a guest post by Madi Lang from Send Love BA

Peanut butter, brownies, carrot cake, banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, homemade chicken soup, muffins, cupcakes…. Drooling yet?

Bummer you can’t get them in Buenos Aires, right? Not anymore!

SendLoveBA.com is here to provide you with all of your homemade gringo favorites. The best part? You don’t have to pay a cent! Your parents can order you a care package online at SendLoveBA.com, customize it with you favorite flavors and have it delivered right to your door.

Being abroad can be tough for parents; they miss you and would love to send you some fresh baked goodies in the mail. If they have tried to ship something here to Buenos Aires it probably never arrived, or maybe you had to truck it to Ezeiza or Constitucion to pick it up with a hefty fee. Now, parents can save over $100 USD and not worry about the package arrive late…or never. SendLoveBA.com makes it safe and easy for them to gift you your favorite homemade treats, baked especially for you and tasting just home.

Whether you have a birthday coming up, are feeling homesick, have a cold, or are just craving something besides empanadas and pizza – let your parents know they can order you exactly what the doctor ordered and send them to http://www.sendloveba.com

Join SendLoveBA on facebook to find out about new products and contests!

5 Foods You Might Miss in Buenos Aires and Where to Find Them!

Tim Gringo in BA — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:26:47 +0000

There’s no denying that food is central to our existence, and not just in the sense that you die if you don’t eat it! For many of us, eating great food, talking about food, and bragging to our friends about the amazing restaurant we just discovered forms a large part of our weekly activities. Expat life in general and Buenos Aires in particular can be problematic on this front, because it’s sometimes hard to get your favorite foods here. In fact it’s not unheard of for expats who move here expecting to stay a long time cutting their stay short because of ‘the food issue’ (granted, they’re usually vegetarians).

Without further ado, here are five foods that you might miss while you’re in Buenos Aires, along with some suggestions for how you can get what it is that you want.

#1: Ranch Dressing

For many people, including myself, Ranch Dressing is a religion. We put it on our pizza, salads, french fries, buffalo wings, you name it. You are either a “Ranch Guy/Gal” or you aren’t. Living in Buenos Aires is an obstacle to the worship of this divine product when you can’t find a sacred bottle of Ranch to dump on whatever food item you are currently eating.

While you are not going to find Ranch in any restaurants, it can be found in some of the larger chain super markets across the city. At one of them I found “Paul Newman’s” ranch dressing and I probably payed about 30 pesos for it or more. A general rule of thumb here is any type of food you miss from back home that you can’t find widely available, check out a large supermarket. You can usually find over priced imported foods that aren’t popular with locals, like the common favorite, peanut butter.

#2: Spicy food

For people from the United States, it’s Mexican food. For Australians, it’s South-East Asian food like Thai and Vietnamese. And for English people, it’s Indian.

For Mexican food in Buenos Aires you have a couple of options, but the well-known California Burrito Company (CBC) located at Godoy Cruz 1781 in Palermo is a good choice. CBC is basically a direct rip off of Chipotle even down to the company’s branding and marketing artwork and it is definitely not as tasty, but when you are craving some spicy Mexican food, it is a great option.

Another great Mexican food is La Fabrica Del Taco in Palermo Soho that provides an array of hot sauces to compliment your tacos. The hot ones are definitely hot, so give it a try.

South-east Asian restaurants are not unheard of in Buenos Aires, but they can be disappointing. Maybe that’s not surprising. Every Vietnamese dish, for example, has at least 487 ingredients (trust me; I made a Vietnamese-style salad once about four years ago), and some of them must be hard to get hold of here, half a world away. Luckily, your savior is at hand in the form of Gibraltar, the English style pub Perú 895 in San Telmo. Their Thai green curry is authentically flavored and HOT. And they have beer. Score!

Super-spicy Indian food was always going to be a problem in Buenos Aires due to the Argentine penchant for sweet and salty flavors as opposed to spicy/hot ones. Riding to the rescue however is The Bangalore Pub & Curry House at Humboldt 1416 in Palermo Hollywood. The food is good, maybe not great, but it’ll keep you going until you go somewhere with better Indian food (India, perhaps?). The other option is just to make your own Indian food at home using a jar of curry paste that you’ve smuggled through customs.

Another option is to head to Chinatown in Belgrano. Many stores there sell different imported hot sauces that you might know of from back home. These can provide a great spice to any homemade food you want to make.

#3: Bagels

Is it just a bun with a hole in the middle? No! Authentic bagels are of course boiled rather than baked, and particularly ex-New Yorkers can’t seem to go a day without one. The bagel-free zone that is Buenos Aires became such a problem that there’s now a business devoted entirely to providing expats with all the bagels they can eat, and by all accounts it’s doing well. They’re called El Bagelazo and they deliver bagelly goodness right to your door.

#4: Decent cheese

A French friend recently returned to Buenos Aires after a trip home to France with no less than five different cheeses in his suitcase. Yes, there’s a man who’s missing his cheese. Despite the fact that Argentina is among the top dairy-producing and consuming countries in the world, it’s annoyingly difficult to get a decent bit of fromage here. However, one option is Valenti, which is a premium cheese chain with stores at Feria de Belgrano on Juramento, in Patio Bullrich Mall, and at Soldado de la Independencia 1185. It’s not cheap, but their cheese is undeniably excellent.

#5: A really good baguette

The supermarkets and chinos in Buenos Aires certainly have what look like baguettes, but on closer examination (by eating them) they’re not even close. They’re sort of dry and flaky rather than crusty and fluffy like they should be, and they’re often tasteless as well. Bread. Such a simple pleasure, but annoying when you can’t get the good stuff. L’Epi Boulangerie at Roseti 1769 in Charcarita. It’s a French bakery (maybe the name gave it away), and not only do they have good baguettes, they also have pain au chocolat, and an excellent honey bread.

Empanadas in Buenos Aires…Try to Eat Only One!

Tim Gringo in BA — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:45:56 +0000

Empanadas are a funny thing. I had eaten my fair share of hand-holdable meat pies and pasties before setting foot on the southern part of this fair continent. So the first time someone explained them to me, my reaction was something like “so they’re essentially mincemeat in a bit of pastry…and that’s a national dish? Is this some kind of joke?”

But of course, it’s impossible to live or even travel in Argentina without resorting to the occasional four-or-five-empanada lunch, or two-or-three-empanada snack (not embracing them would seriously limit your convenience food options), and little by little I’ve developed such an affection for them that I can’t go more than two days without one. I’m a convert.

Let’s go back to the start though. What is an empanada?

Empanadas explained

Empanar is a verb meaning “to wrap in bread,” so empanada simply means “wrapped in bread.” The typical Argentine empanada is a pocket of dough (made from flour and lard) with a savory filling, usually including meat. They’re small – you can get through most of them in about 3-4 bites – but quite filling. They can be baked (al horno) or fried (frito). While it’s more common to encounter baked ones, which obviously are healthier, the fried ones are damn tasty (and the odd one won’t kill you!).

In terms of flavors, the common ones in Argentina are ground beef, spicy ground beef, ground chicken, ham and cheese, cheese and onion, tuna, creamed corn and spinach. (In Spanish that’s carne, carne picante, pollo, jamón y queso, queso y cebolla, atún, humita and espinaca.)

If you were wondering, empanadas are something that Argentina and many other countries in South America inherited from Spain and Portugal. In those countries an empanada is a larger pie that is cut into individual portions, but in Spain they also have empanadillas, and these are more like the South American version.

Where to get yours

So where should one buy these doughy little treats? Well first of all there are three chain empanada vendors that you might come across: El Noble Repulgue; Gourmet, and Solo Empanadas. Of those Noble is the best, but also the most expensive, and its empanadas are the smallest. Gourmet gets good reviews but not for its service. Solo Empanadas is the worst of the three – though cheap, its empanadas often have too much onion or are just too juicy.

In addition to the chains, there are of course a million and one independent empanada vendors across the city. One that attracts rave reviews is El Sanjuanino, located five minutes’ walk from Recoleta Cemetary at Posadas 1515, so that might be a good one to try if you’re looking for some that are a cut above the ordinary.

Really though, part of the fun of eating empanadas in Buenos Aires is just trying out random, hole-in-the-wall empanada places and hoping to strike it lucky with some really good ones. Or if you’re really lucky, what’s even better is having a friend or family member who’ll make them for you en casa – like all food, they taste best when they’re made with love!

Empanadas for Delivery in Buenos Aires – Order Online!

Tim Gringo in BA — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:29:25 +0000

One thing that could be difficult when you are in Buenos Aires is trying to get some food delivered to your home when your Spanish isn’t quite up to par yet. Its one thing to try and communicate with your limited Spanish face to face; its a whole other animal trying to speak Spanish on the phone. All you want is a dozen Empanadas delivered to your door but you don’t understand anything the guy is saying on the other end of the phone!!

While the only way you are going to get better at your Spanish is to practice as much as you can and that includes speaking on the phone, some days it just isn’t in you. Thankfully, Empanadas companies like Gourmet have started to include online ordering on their websites.

While only available at a few select locations, online ordering is destined to be the norm at all of Gourmet’s locations. Give it a try!!

The Five Best Cuts of Beef in Argentina

Tim Gringo in BA — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:08:26 +0000

Beef. Buenos Aires. Asados. Parrillas. Beef. Steak. Argentina. Parrilladas. BEEF.

Like the other members of Argentina’s ‘triple threat’ of cultural customs (tango, mate, wine), the words ‘beef’ and ‘Argentina’ form part of the same sentence so often here that you can pretty quickly get sick of hearing about it.

…But not sick of eating it! It’s not like anyone really needs to go over this again, but just in case you’re not living here currently, have never lived here, and this is the first thing you’ve ever read about Argentina, you should know that the beef here is very, very good.

Alright. Let’s talk about the different cuts that are commonly available in this fine country. They are many, but let’s take a look at the Top 5, in ascending order of greatness (according only to the author, feel free to disagree!).

First a few words on terminology though: an asado is the event of a barbeque (except in the case of an asado de tira – see below); a parrilla is both a grill and a restaurant specializing in grilled meat; a parrillada is a platter of different types of meat, and a bife de chorizo has nothing to do with sausage.

#5: Bife de lomo (tenderloin)

This is the cut that most of us order the first time we’re in a parrilla. It’s the most expensive cut, and it’s tender and juicy. However, sometimes the flavor is not particularly thrilling. As an Argentinean friend once said to me, “Bife de lomo is like a beautiful model: nice to look at, but nothing under the surface.” What a model needs under the surface is a good personality, and what a steak needs under the surface is ‘marbling,’ which are the lines of fat running through the meat that dissolve during the cooking process and make it taste good. Lomo doesn’t have enough marbling to please some people.

#4: Entraña (skirt steak)

This is a good option for your third night of carne in a row, when you don’t think you’d be able to get through a full-size lomo or bife de chorizo. A favorite among Argentineans, it’s a thin cut of meat but very flavorful. It’s not as tender as other cuts, so if you order it, be prepared to use your jaw a little.

#3: Asado de tira (short ribs)

The way they serve ribs in Argentina is different from what most of are used to: they’re cut very short. They have a lot of flavor and are usually deliciously crispy, and they’re also very cheap. Yes, some of the pieces you’re served may not have a lot of meat on them, and it’s impossible to eat them without getting bits stuck between your teeth, but for the combination of taste and value, they can’t be beat.

#2:Vacío (flank steak)

This is an interesting cut, and not one that’s often served outside of Argentina/Uruguay. It’s a thin cut of meat from the flank of the animal that’s characterized by a layer of fat on the outside but none on the inside. If cooked properly the exterior fat gets crisp and the inside beautifully tender and juicy. If you haven’t already tried this one, give it a go on your next visit to a parrilla.

#1: Bife de chorizo (sirloin / New York strip)

For many people, myself included, bife de chorizo is the steak they could order day in, day out, and never get sick of. It’s exactly what a steak should be: big; juicy; with some tasty exterior fat; literally dripping with flavor. The only problem with bife de chorizo is that if you order it at a cheap restaurant you’ll generally get a cheap cut, and cheap cuts of bife de chorizo can be very fatty indeed. Order it at La Cabrera (Cabrera 5099, Palermo) or even El Desnivel (Defensa 855, San Telmo) though, and you’ll feel the earth move. Guaranteed.

The 5 Best American Brunch Spots in Buenos Aires

Tim Gringo in BA — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:38:45 +0000

It’s inevitable that living the expat life means foregoing some of the things you ordinarily like to do. Be that as it may, some things are sacrosanct. Reliable broadband is one, and another…is brunch. Sure, the standard combo of tres medialunas and a cup of strong Argentine coffee will get you buzzing, but when the sugar-and-caffeine high ends abruptly a little later you’ll be left wishing you’d had a healthier option instead. Read on for some of the best places to find just that.

1. Bar 6
Armenia 1676
Palermo Soho

Is it a café? Is it a bar? Is it a restaurant? That’s the thing in Buenos Aires: many places are all three. Regardless of categorization, Bar 6 offers a credible brunch in funky faux-industrial surroundings. It’s comfortable as well, particularly if you manage to snare a set of the couches and armchairs that are set around low tables at the front.
Brunch-wise Bar 6 has bagel options, toasted sandwiches (try the open lomo), and a good breakfast that includes the four staples: scrambled eggs; toast; coffee, and juice.
If you’re in the habit of surfing après-brunch (it is a good aid to digestion) you’ll be happy to that know Bar 6 has free Wi-Fi; feel free to take your MacBook along and blog about what you just ate.

2. Olsen
Gorriti 5870
Palermo Hollywood

Olsen is a Scandinavian-styled café/bar treat that’s best enjoyed in summer, when its outdoor patio and garden really comes into its own.
The brunch menu at Olsen is very good, with lox and bagels both making an appearance. The main options all include some variety of salad, an egg-based main dish (omelet or scrambled eggs), a potato pancake, and either meat or fish.
Don’t feel like you have to rush to get to Olsen in time for Sunday brunch: it doesn’t start until 10am and it doesn’t end until 8pm! On the other hand it does get very, very busy on weekends; booking in advance is a good idea.

3. Oui Oui
6068 Nicaragua
Palermo Viejo

Alright, this Palermo Viejo café doesn’t exactly aim to do an American-style brunch (did the name give that away?), but happily it seems that the French unwittingly do a pretty handy version of it anyway. The excellent granola with yoghurt and fruit is perhaps the best choice at Oui Oui, but all of the options that include eggs are also fantastic. The juice is also great, and the coffee is good, if strong.
Oui Oui is cute, quaint and cheery inside, with colorful wooden tables and bunches of dried flowers hanging on the walls. There are some tables outside as well, but not enough: on the weekends there’s often a short wait before you can get a table.

4. Pride Café
Balcarce 869
San Telmo

Brunch and perhaps a spot of daytime cruising are on the menu at the small but much-loved (gay) Pride Café in atmospheric San Telmo. All are welcome, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, and everyone gets to enjoy great salads, sandwiches and organic juices. The smoked salmon bruschetta is particularly good.
The décor inside Pride Café is minimalist-white but a little tatty. If it’s not to your liking, choose a table on the corner outside. Some pleasantly shady spots under a nearby tree make it a nice spot to linger over a jugo de naranja even in the heat of summer.

5. Mark’s Deli and Coffee House
El Salvador 4701
Palermo Soho

Whoever the eponymous Mark might be he obviously knows how to put together a great café, as this Palermo hotspot is one of the best in town. The corner location is bright and airy and filled with customers (local and expat) just about all the time.
The downsides to Mark’s are actually several: it gets a little noisy inside; the service can be slow, and for Buenos Aires it’s not cheap. So why is it so popular? Simply because the food is brilliant: great coffee; muffins; scones, and tons of healthy sandwich and salad options make it an ideal spot for a spot of brunch, whatever time of day you make it there.

Bagels in Buenos Aires

Tim Gringo in BA — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:00:56 +0000

Have you been craving some bagels while in Buenos Aires? Can’t seem to find any of high quality? Look no further to El Bagelazo, a Bagel Delivery service. El Bagelazo delivers to the entire city with 24 hours notice.

Some of the flavors include everything, salt, sesame, ají (spicy), cinnamon raisin, garlic … and many more. You can order bagels, mini-bagels, and special bagel sandwiches.

A dozen bagels costs AR$ 40, and the sandwiches cost anywhere between AR$ 8 and AR$ 18.

Enjoy!!!

Visit their website: http://elbagelazo.blogspot.com/