Eating in Buenos Aires
Eating is very important to the Argentines, who love chatting and lively debates over long meals. Despite their love of food, in Argentina you will quickly be spotted as a tourist if you are seen eating in the streets, since this behavior is considered undignified to the local population.
In Buenos Aires dinner is not typically served until after 9 PM. But when the meal arrives it will be well worth the wait, as Argentines take great pride in their culinary skill and you will not be disappointed. There are a massive number of restaurants available and menu options are usually well-rounded, though you would not want to miss the beef, pasta or pizza, which are specialties. (It is customary to tip around 10% at restaurants.)
Bakeries are also common with gorgeous cookies, cakes and breads, and breakfast is commonly a light fare of toast or croissants. And along with their deliciously strong coffee, the city’s multiplicity of cafes also offer a beautiful selection of desserts.
To make your stay in Buenos Aires complete, here are the top 10 must try treats-
1. Beef, most commonly eaten in the form of milanasia (which is a thin cut of meat and lightly breaded)
2. More beef, this time grilled at a parrillada restaurant, which will serve a variety of beef cuts (including tripe, intestines and udders)
3. Empanadas are also a popular choice and are fried and flaky dough filled with different meets or vegetables
4. Pasta and pizza are excellent in Buenos Aires due to the strong Italian heritage
5. Ice cream and chocolate are amazingly creamy and rich
6. Dulce de leche is a common dessert item which is similar to caramel, but much richer
7. Mate is a Paraguayan green tea from leaves related to holly leaves, it is served in a gourd, and it is very common for families or friends in Argentina to sit around together multiple times a day passing the mate gourd
8. Wine is drunk with most meals, and is often cheaper by glass than ordering water, since Argentina has grown into the world’s fifth largest producer of wine, focusing mainly on red wine (since it is a better complement to beef)
9. Quilmes is the most popular beer choice, and is a lager
10. Finally, a medialuna (similar to a croissant) with a shot of espresso coffee at a cafe is the quintessential local Buenos Aires’ breakfast and afternoon snack (remember dinner time is still a long way off)
Tags: Argentina · Buenos Aires
