Page 286 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Argentina

284  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

The people of Argentina are as passionate all across Argentina, offering a country-
about good food and drink as they are style family barbecue experience. Here,
about life, music, and tango. Their culinary meat is propped up on stakes, roasted
tastes have evolved over the years and now around a fire, and served alfresco. In this
incorporate a variety of world cuisines. The diverse country, it is also possible to grab
definitive dining experience, however, is a quick bite at a chain pizza outlet, enjoy
still to be found at a neighborhood parrilla ethnic cuisines of the Old World, and
(steakhouse). Roadside parrillas are located discover new, creative cooking.

Bars and Confiterías in a self-service buffet and
After the parrilla, the other include grilled meat, pastas,
institution that every barrio and even Chinese food.
must have is a bar. In Argentina, Going up in price, most
this implies a “café-bar” and it middle- and higher-bracket
is a good place for meeting restaurants focus on the 3Ps –
friends and family members. parrilla, pasta, and pizzas.
Besides coffee and juices, Excitingly, the last decade
most café-bars serve toasted has witnessed the emergence
sandwiches, medialunas of Modern Argentinian
(sweet croissants), and liquor. restaurants, where creative
For a more substantial chefs prepare inventive
salad or steak sandwich, head contemporary cuisine using
to a confitería – a larger café indigenous ingredients.
with more tables, longer Modern Argentinian cuisine,
menus, and sadly, often less or Cocina de Autor, is served at
atmosphere. During the last fashionable restaurants in big
A bustling local restaurant, Buenos Aires decade, these classic ancient cities and tourist destinations.
bars and confiterías have been
Parrillas
joined by a wave of dimly lit
Sprinkled throughout the cocktail and wine bars which, Eating Hours
country, parrillas (steakhouses) although ideal for a night out, In Argentina, eating between
are the most popular eating tend to attract a younger 9 and 10pm is normal and
places in Argentina. Typically, crowd of drinkers. between 10pm and midnight
a visit starts off with a plate is completely acceptable. Most
of bites, often tasty mini- Chain Restaurants restaurants close very late while
empanadas (stuffed pastries) confiterías and cafés are open
and a glass of red wine, Global franchises are well dawn to dusk and often round
before moving on to chorizo represented in Argentina, the clock. Lunch and breakfast
(flavorful sausage), provolone and chain burger outlets and are served at the usual times.
cheese, and assorted offal. pizzerias are common. Their
The main meal that follows is local competitors include Prices and Paying
almost always a grilled steak, tenedor libres (free forks) – “all-
accompanied by a side salad. you-can-eat” restaurants that Due to price inflation, the cost
Grilled salmon is often offer a fixed-price menu. Dishes of eating out in Argentina is now
served at parrillas, and some at tenedor libres are spread out nearly on a par with Europe or
offer vegetarian alternatives
as well. The dessert menu
usually consists of fruit, ice
cream, or perhaps a crème
caramel. The main point of
eating at a parrilla is to stretch
out the eating experience and
chat between courses. If a
parrilla is packed, it probably
means it is really good, and
the bustle and the banter is
all part of the general bonhomie
that makes this Argentinian
institution so special. An established and popular parrilla serving grilled meats

284-285_EW_Argentina.indd 284 05/08/16 10:42 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm