The Argentine Experience - An Afternoon of Food and Wine

I love food!  Honestly, I think you can tell by just looking at me that I am a lover of rich, hearty, flavorful comfort food.  I was born and raised in the southern United States and grew up with fried chicken, grilled steak, pulled pork barbeque, fluffy biscuits, mac-and-cheese, heck, even our vegetables are cooked in bacon grease.   Food is more than just nourishment for our bodies, it tells a story.  What we eat is part of our history and culture.  In my humble opinion, one of the best ways to connect to a new place is through the local food. 

I’ve done many different types of food tours in the past and they have always been enjoyable and informative.  I get to try things that I otherwise might never have touched.  I get to learn in a fun and engaging way.  I get to meet other travelers (which is a big bonus when typically dining alone).  I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed at any activity that incorporated food.  However, my experience today was truly extraordinary. 

The cuisine in Argentina is my idea of pure food nirvana.  The people here are meat eaters, red wine drinkers, desert lovers, and social diners.  I knew before I even booked my flight to Buenos Aires that some kind of food related activity was going to be part of my itinerary and after spending far too much time scrolling through the numerous options on Viator, I ended up booking the “Argentine Experience:  Immersive 6 Course Menu and Wine Tasting”. 

The venue is in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires.  An area with tree lines streets and a young, hip, millennial sort of vibe.  Think Williamsburg, Brooklyn meets Greenwich Village.  The event started exactly on time as the group was ushered in and directed up a single flight of stairs to an open room where two long tables were set.  There were twelve people at each table.  It was a varied group of participants, couples, friend groups and solo travelers ranging in age from early 20’s up through what I would estimate as mid 60’s.  Most from the United States but there were a few other nationalities present as well.  The experience started with a Malbec based cocktail.  It tasted like red sangria.  Cold, sweet, and refreshing.   We were not initially told the ingredients because it’s more fun to taste and try to figure it out.  It took the efforts of the entire table to identify the five ingredients but with a few hints from our host we eventually managed.

I could go into great detail about every thing that was served, but I’m certainly no food critic, nor would I ever want to be.  Instead, I’ll simply attempt to provide an overview of the experience and some brief information on some of the traditional Argentinian food that was presented. 

We started with a lovely amuse bouche paired with a light Chardonnay.  While we were settling in with the first course we were treated to a lesson on empanadas.  We learned about the various fillings and how to properly fold the pastry based on the specific filling.  Then we each donned a chef’s hat and made our own.  If we had been graded on our assignment, I would have likely gotten a “C”.  I had the right idea but my folds were a little sloppy.   Fortunately, we were given another chance and told to get creative.  Throw out the rules and just design our own.  We were only given five minutes to create our own empanada masterpiece and I panicked when I found out that this was a contest and the cooks in the kitchen were going to judge our efforts.  Spoiler alert:  I didn’t win, but I did get to take home the freshly baked product and while it looked kind of wonky, I heated it up for dinner and it was delicious. 

Our starters were traditional asado, (beef, pork, blood sausage) and provoleta (discs of cheese topped with herbs and grilled), and paired with a light pinot noir made from grapes grown at high elevation.

The main course centered around two distinct types of beef.  A grilled tenderloin with melted butter and beef shank slowly cooked until it was so tender that you cut it with the side of your fork.  The mains were served with a wide selection of side dishes and paired with a full bodied, velvety Malbec.

Desert was a selection of smaller items; none were overly sweat and together created a perfect potion that left me feeling satisfied without being overly full. 

We ended the meal by learning to make mate.  This is an herbal and caffeine infused drink created by the indigenous people of South America.  There are several precise steps required to prepare mate correctly.  During the activity we each prepared our own by following the live demonstration.  However, socially it is common for one individual known as the cebador to prepare the mate which is then passed around.  The cebador will place a thin metal straw called a bombilla into the gourd.  The shape of the straw allows you to drink the tea while filtering out the leaves.  It was stressed that once the straw is placed it is not to be touched by any of the drinkers.  Touching the straw will insult the cebador and ruin the mate.

The drink would definitely be described as bitter but paired with alfajores (shortbread cookies sandwiching dulce de leche and rolled in toasted coconut), it is an enjoyable beverage that aids in digestion and perks you up after a meal.  Overall, the entire meal was amazingly delicious.

The event I attended was hosted by Cande, Frani, and Franco, a delightful trio who kept the group entertained, our wine glasses full and paced the experience to perfection.  More importantly, they told a story and led us on a cultural journey through Argentinian food. They were able to combine organized professionalism with light-hearted fun and kept all participants actively engaged throughout the afternoon. 

A final note about the wine.  The label was D.V. Catena of the Captena Zapata vineyards.  This vineyard was voted number one at the World’s Best Vineyards 2023 award ceremony held in La Rioja, Spain. And now I'm going to have to figure out where I can find this back home.

If you ever find yourself in Buenos Aires, I highly recommend this experience.  Compared to other similar activities I have participated in; this event was twice the value for half the cost making it affordable for most any traveler.  It is offered both in the afternoon and evening and while I booked my tour through Viator, you can also book directly through their website at www.theargentineexperience.com.  You won't be disappointed. Cheers!