La Cabrera – Beef Extraordinaire, BA-style

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For those of you already hooked into the Buenos Aires food (read: “beef”) scene, recommending La Cabrera is like suggesting you check out this little place La Scala if you’re into opera—it’s only news if you’re just off the plane. That having been said, if you aren’t already a member of the cult of La Cabrera, come join us. It’s happy in here. One caveat: if you are not a fan of comiendo carne, res, le biftek…stay at home. Have a celery stick or something. But for those of the...

July 29th, 2008 | Brendan | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: argentina, Buenos Aires, eating, La Cabrera

Artisan Chocolate, vol. 1: La Cumbre

... photo) – an Argentinean obsession, a variety of which La Cumbre is known for. Other treats include dulce de leche (see my Feb 23rd post about eating like a local in Costa Rica), and home made liqueurs. As it was a complete accident we found it, I didn’t have my camera but I’ve taken a rough photo of their flyer, as I think it would be worth the walk to go find them! La Casita del Chocolate a.k.a. Jorge y Patri Runciman y 12 de Octubre La Cumbre Salta, Argentina tel (03548) 452693 lat/long:...

July 4th, 2008 | Brendan | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: argentina, chocolate, eating, La Cumbre

Bar 6, Buenos Aires

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“Bar seis” is the kind of place you can hang out in all day. Trust me I’ve done it. A few times. I should start by making it clear that I don’t want to give the impression this is a brunch place—it isn’t particularly. It seems to be just as busy for all meals, and is a great place to warm up with tapas and a drink before other restaurants get going in notoriously late-night BA. However, a good, high-quality brunch is a thing of beauty anywhere; in the land where breakfast generally consists...

June 24th, 2008 | Brendan | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: argentina, Bar 6, Buenos Aires, eating

La Cumbre, Cordoba, Argentina

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Argentineans often sing the praises of the university city of Córdoba, but what they rarely tell you is that the real pleasures of Cordoba lie not within the city itself, but in the rolling hills and lakes of the surrounding countryside. One gem we might not have found had it not been for an Argentinean friend with family ties there was the small town of La Cumbre. 100 km north of Cordoba, La Cumbre is a laid back town of B&B’s, in the Punilla valley (a popular tourist route known for its...

June 4th, 2008 | Brendan | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: argentina, Camino de los Artesanos, City Review, Cordoba, drinking, eating, La Cumbre

El Drugstore, Colonia del Sacramento

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A culinary highlight of Colonia is a dinner at El Drugstore Restaurant. We couldn’t turn down the opportunity to eat inside the antique car parked on the street outside, complete with a little table and a cushion where the driver’s seat should be. Novelty aside, the food was excellent, and from the extremely satisfied feedback from other diners, it seems this is the norm. The wall outside is wallpapered with glowing reviews in several languages, and the menu is extensive, rambling and creative—both...

May 18th, 2008 | Brendan | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: Colonia, eating, El Drugstore, uruguay

Caipirinhas and Cachaça, vol. 1

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Most countries have their own favourite classic cocktail—you know, the kind you’re likely to get offered at every turn. In Peru it’s a Pisco sour. In Cuba it’s the mojito. Probably the closest thing us Canadians have is the Bloody Caesar. (for those non Canadians out there, it’s a Bloody Mary with Clamato instead of tomato juice). In the case of Brazil, it’s the ubiquitous Caipirinha. (kahee-pee-REE-nya) It seems that as soon as they’re stamped your passport you are offered one. Then...

April 20th, 2008 | Brendan | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: Brazil, caipirinha, drinking, eating, Partying

Churrasco – Brazil’s meat on a Stick

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Brazilians like their meat. Hands-down the best way to experience this is to join the force-feeding frenzy that is a Brazilian Churrasco. (Tip: don’t eat for several days beforehand.) Churasco (chuh-HAS-ko), is a style of dining whereby an enormous barbecue with giant swords of rotating meat tries desperately to keep up with a room full of hungry patrons scarfing down flesh like their lives depended on it. The way it works is simple: each diner is issued a small disc, one side of which is green...

April 14th, 2008 | Brendan | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: Brazil, churrasco, eating

Fryjacks & Fritters – Culinary Belize

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When was the last time you saw a Belizean restaurant in a big international city? Yeah that’s what I thought. Belize isn’t exactly known for its cuisine, and sometimes it seems like everything is deep fried. But there are some fun eats to be had, as long as you aren’t too fussy about presentation or trans-fat counts. If you are lucky enough to be here during lobster season, cheap and plentiful lobster tops the list—for as little as ten bucks you can have a fresh lobster dinner; try it in...

March 27th, 2008 | Brendan | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: Belize, conch fritter, eating, fryjack, hot sauce, lobster

Eating Like Local In… Costa Rica, Vol. 3

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... apple tree is something you need to try. Messy and juicy, with big black seeds you don’t eat, only try to eat it where you would be ok eating pineapple—with lots of water around. ...

February 23rd, 2008 | Brendan | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: Costa Rica, eating, food

Eating Like a Local in… Costa Rica (Vol. 2)

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Driving through the towns and mountains of Costa Rica you are likely to be bombarded by mostly unrecognizable food options, first at stoplights, speed bumps or construction stops, and later as you inevitably pass scores of roadside stalls selling local products. Some common (and delicious) options: sliced green mango (in season), dangled in little bags as cars slow down to pay the toll to exit San Jose. Toronja, candied grapefruit also sold in small clear bags, usually hanging above the counter...

January 29th, 2008 | Brendan | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: eating

Eating Like a Local in… Costa Rica (Vol. 1)

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The Soda Most travellers’ introduction to Costa Rica will be its much-maligned capital San Jose. For all its shortcomings, San Jose is actually quite a liveable city, with a decent nightlife and any service you could possibly need. It’s also home to easily the country’s best collection of international restaurants, with everything from sushi to Denny’s. For the purposes of this series, I plan to completely ignore every one of them. I mean really, did you fly 5000 miles to eat at the same...

January 24th, 2008 | Brendan | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: eating