Huge dinner made me sleep like a baby (copy from the DNS 2008 blog)

I decided to write a bit about the Argentinian cuisine, particularly about the meal I’ve eaten some days ago. My god. First, I was staying with a family in Buenos Aires (the mother is originally born in Argentinian, but born to Slovenian parents). Second, they were quite “wealthy” family, with a good economic status but very kind, helpful and hospital. We went to see the OPERA PAMPA (1 hour show with traditional and historical aspects of Argentina). It was indeed a great experience, placed on a stadium, with loads of horses and people dancing, singing and performing a rough history of Argentina. We’ve grabbed the car and tried to handle the horrible traffic in Buenos Aires streets (though it is not comparable with Vietnam or India :) , until we arrived to a small street and a restaurant. Dinner?

It was 10 p.m. – far too late to eat dinner (especially after getting used to not eating anything after 7 in the evening). When we arrived to the restaurant, the first thing was all the waiters jumped to us and started to kiss on the cheeks and saying: Ola! Que tal? The other shock came when also the guys went to kiss Ricardo (the father of the family). OK, it is normal, completely normal… :)

Empanadas

When I got used to the thought, Elena and Ricardo started to order this and that (in Spanish) and as I didn’t catch much I still realized they are having some kind of huge eating plans. “But it is like 10 in the night” I said. The looked serious and replied: “Yes, it is kind of late, but you know, we usually eat at 9, so it is fine.” I responded: “Does that happen everyday?” “Yes,” Elena replied. “When do you go to sleep than?” I asked. “Right after the dish-wash.” Hm… And digestion? :)

Anyway, back to cuisine, we had four parts of the meal. First one is called EMPANADAS.

They are usually consist meat (any kind of meat) and they taste very good. One or two and you already feel a little bit crowded in your stomach. But that was far away from the end. Afterwards two types of salads arrived, one with carrot, onion and reddish and the other one with green salad, cucumber and tomato. There was bread with butter served and sweet fried potato. While eating that another small meal arrived, named PROVOLETA.

It is basically grilled cheese, tasting very good, combined with the salads and potato. In that point I thought this will be enough, though I was a little bit sceptic, as I know Argentinians are huge meat eaters.

Provoleta

Of course that was not over. A plate with meat arrived (only beef), though Ricardo and Elena said it not called a “meat plate”. Fatty sausage, blood-sausage, kidneys, intestines .. pretty exciting and challenging. I liked all of them, except intestines. It was too fatty, though it didn’t look as bad as it maybe sounds. After this plate I felt like I cannot eat anything anymore. But of course there came another plate with beef (like ribs and other parts of a cow), locally called Asado (roast, barbecue). A small piece of it was a struggle. When Elena asked me if I want ice-cream (with DULCE DEL LECHE – I have never eaten something so sweet and so good) or a cake, I just politely said my eyes would eat, but my stomach not anymore.

Usually there is white / red wine served with the meal, that I obviously rejected. But a nice, home-made orange juice sounded good and tasted even better.

* Right now I am located at my relatives in Miramar, getting to know my family and having a chilled out time plus preparing the future plans...



Besos,

Ana