Steaking-out Our Quarry
Let it evolve from here.
What got me thinking about this was the juxtaposition of:
1. the incredibly wonderful little Porteño places where I've eaten the world's finest beef in surroundings that made me glad to have been born let alone having emigrated and...
2. the similar stories in the world press that go on to describe dinner checks of upwards of $75 USD for two.
Somewhere therein lies the rub...in that it rubs me the wrong way for reasons I don't fully understand.
It can't be that I'm a bargain-hunter; I'm not and I never have been. It could be that when I read how much they paid the realization strikes me that they must have been in the wrong place! That has been compounded recently with experiences in restaurants where none of the diners speak Castellano. That sounds like a wonderful meal but it just ain't right.
Entonces. Toward sharing the real and unique birthright of this place and people which is the finest carne at local middle-class prices which makes it more enjoyable more often...I propose that we share amongst ourselves and even, since we are charitable folk, among the plague of FOREIGNERS! that crowd us more and more the comforts and pleasures of real Argentine beef eating as it has ever been before it is no more.
Things are changing very quickly. Yet even today's new arrivals are lucky to be here and now in this regard and we hope it remains so.
Naturally, when one knows of a special place, there is the fear of ruining it a la "nobody goes there anymore...it's too crowded." Another concern is that by spreading the word we might drive a sweet little boliche del barrio out of the reach of the neighbors.
I don't think there is very much danger of that, though. The vast majority of visitors of whatever permanence won't be interested in the places that I want to describe here and if we drive a little trade to some neighborhood joints, it might just help preserve them.
The rest of our horde that really does want to know and experience what it is to live in this wonderfully carnivorous place deserve some help. If their motives be pure! If their hearts be true!
Like I said, let it evolve from here...
I'm thinking that a somewhat regularly affordable din-din for two city-dwellers should probably cost no more than, say, $75 pesos. Extra points for everything above and beyond buen bife y vino de la casa y ensalada y pan y...algo al lado. That should include a respectable propina.
We should feel free to inject our own personal prejudices of whatever kind such as dining or not dining under banks of florescent lighting or inattentive service or whatever bugs your preference for a dinner experience. All the while keeping in mind that the world press doesn't know what they are talking about when they lazily recommend places at NYC and London prices and that they do no service to those that would like to know what a pleasure it is to live here.
Gimme your thoughts.
Mike
What got me thinking about this was the juxtaposition of:
1. the incredibly wonderful little Porteño places where I've eaten the world's finest beef in surroundings that made me glad to have been born let alone having emigrated and...
2. the similar stories in the world press that go on to describe dinner checks of upwards of $75 USD for two.
Somewhere therein lies the rub...in that it rubs me the wrong way for reasons I don't fully understand.
It can't be that I'm a bargain-hunter; I'm not and I never have been. It could be that when I read how much they paid the realization strikes me that they must have been in the wrong place! That has been compounded recently with experiences in restaurants where none of the diners speak Castellano. That sounds like a wonderful meal but it just ain't right.
Entonces. Toward sharing the real and unique birthright of this place and people which is the finest carne at local middle-class prices which makes it more enjoyable more often...I propose that we share amongst ourselves and even, since we are charitable folk, among the plague of FOREIGNERS! that crowd us more and more the comforts and pleasures of real Argentine beef eating as it has ever been before it is no more.
Things are changing very quickly. Yet even today's new arrivals are lucky to be here and now in this regard and we hope it remains so.
Naturally, when one knows of a special place, there is the fear of ruining it a la "nobody goes there anymore...it's too crowded." Another concern is that by spreading the word we might drive a sweet little boliche del barrio out of the reach of the neighbors.
I don't think there is very much danger of that, though. The vast majority of visitors of whatever permanence won't be interested in the places that I want to describe here and if we drive a little trade to some neighborhood joints, it might just help preserve them.
The rest of our horde that really does want to know and experience what it is to live in this wonderfully carnivorous place deserve some help. If their motives be pure! If their hearts be true!
Like I said, let it evolve from here...
I'm thinking that a somewhat regularly affordable din-din for two city-dwellers should probably cost no more than, say, $75 pesos. Extra points for everything above and beyond buen bife y vino de la casa y ensalada y pan y...algo al lado. That should include a respectable propina.
We should feel free to inject our own personal prejudices of whatever kind such as dining or not dining under banks of florescent lighting or inattentive service or whatever bugs your preference for a dinner experience. All the while keeping in mind that the world press doesn't know what they are talking about when they lazily recommend places at NYC and London prices and that they do no service to those that would like to know what a pleasure it is to live here.
Gimme your thoughts.
Mike
posted by yanqui mike at 14:18
3 Comments:
Costanera Sur (steps from Puerto Madero and years-light in beauty and wilderness); behind the "Museo de Calcos" close to "Las Nereidas" fountain also known as La estatua de Lola Mora. Great open parrilla! Ask for Bondiola, you won´t regreat.
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En Costanera Sur (cerquita de Puerto Madero pero a años-luz en belleza); detras del Museo de Calcos, vecino a la Estatua de Lola Mora. Un Parrillón genial! Pidan bondiola, está de rechupete.
This requires a kind of safari in itself. Is great for greeting good bye in a special way to anybody leaving the country for good. It´s called "El Mangrullo" and is on the way to Ezeiza. (Autopista Ezeiza km 21. Signs everywhere, half way to the airport) Plan for extra time there.
My favorite:
"La Escondida", Arcos 3200 Núñez (corner of Campos Salles). Ask for the house Ojo de Bife steak or parrillada, you won´t regret. Wonderful for a sunny day outdoors lunch.
(esquina Campos Salles). El ojo de bife La Escondida es barbaro, la parrillada clásica inolvidable y salad bar muy bueno. Es especial para comer afuera en dias con solcito.
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