Argentina Food and Wine Guide
A guide to eating and drinking in Argentina
Hot of the presses is Argentina Food and Wine: A Guide for Tourists and Residents. Here we review this all-inclusive guide from the land of Che
Argentina Food and Wine: A Guide for Tourists and Residents
Many have already discovered Argentina as a food lover's paradise for about twenty percent of the cost it should be. Abundant tales of a low currency equaling thick steaks and bottles of wine for a few dollars hit North America several years ago.
Rarely will I review a guidebook in this column (not even my own which is forthcoming), but the new Food and Drink in Argentina: A Guide for Tourists and Residents is well deserved. Co-author Dereck Foster has been the Buenos Aires Herald's Food and Wine editor for several decades and does a very good job of making the book an all-comprehensive guide. The English language book describes all things related to eating in Argentina from traditional dishes, a glossary of terms, and a guide to restaurants, shopping in markets, dining out, recipes, photos, and wine.
Quite useful are the sections on beef, which have diagrams labeling the different parts of the cow, in both English and Spanish. Also the comparison beef cut charts of Argentine, British, American, and French cuts are quite handy. The recipes are quite good as well and include dishes such as Puchero and Pastel de Papas, sauces like Chimichuri and Escabeche, and desserts such as flan.
Having lived in South America and being one to drink, I found few options to explore the world of wine from that continent. The majority of what is served there comes from either Chile or Argentina. The wine section of the book is a good introduction to Argentinian wine. It doesn't get too in-depth, but is a great place to start if you are curious about the types of vintages, wineries, varieties, history, and growing regions. There's even a small section on Yerba Mate, a type of tea drank that is popular in Argentina and Uruguay.
It's a small book; just 128 pages and will even fit in your jacket pocket. It wouldn't be a bad companion for any trip to Argentina. Look for it at Amazon.com.
