Buenos Aires Is a So-So Food City
According to Terrence Henry of The Atlantic Food Channel, Buenos Aires leaves much to be desired in terms of food and flavor. He notes that most restaurants use wood-fired grills, which he thinks blanket all foods with similar flavors. He also comments on the lack of variety in the street food available, saying that it is limited to empanadas.
Henry writes:
A great food city is a place that caters to all manner of the food-obsessed: vibrant street food, affordable ethnic and traditional dining, and highly acclaimed (and more important, highly respected by their peers) destination restaurants. It should have a connection to its seasons and soil (or sea, as the case may be). It should be a place that can alternately surprise and comfort, at any budget level.
What, to you, makes a city a "great food city"?
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11 Comments:
Matt from mattbites.com had a different take on this city, posted today: http://mattbites.com/2009/05/31/buenos-aires-round-up/
RunningWithScissors at 8:47PM on 06/01/09
I think you go there to consume gigantic amounts of meat.
eatorama at 12:21AM on 06/02/09
I think it need to have an eating culture, which is defined by the number of restaurants in the city. Further a great food city could have food streets in the city which are typically designed to present the cultural or traditional food. My city has one http://eatntravel.pk/2009/04/11/taka-tak-gawal-mandi-food-street/ but it is already famous for eating places in my country and one of my friend's teacher named it as Pakistan's kitchen http://nabeelzafar.com/2008/11/21/pakistans-kitchen/
Nabeel at 1:47AM on 06/02/09
i dont know, i really enjoyed the hell out of Buenos Aires when i was there. i had the best steak of my life there, was able to cut it with a fork. but yeah, as eatorama says, you go there to eat a lot of meat. good meat, at that.
french tart at 9:59AM on 06/02/09
I've been all over Argentina, and while i wasnt very impressed with Buenos Aires, Mendoza's food was very very good. all local ingredients made perfectly. Even llama carpaccio. But generally in the city its hotdogs and millenesa sandwiches. everyone seems to enjoy white bread with ham, too. also, hot dog pizza.
seikel at 12:55PM on 06/02/09
the problem with food in Buenos Aires, and most of Argentina, is the lack of spices. Even where spices are used, nothing is SPICY - not even a little bit spicy. I am a HUGE spice wimp and I had serious problems with the lack of spice in Buenos Aires food. Steak is delicious, Empanadas are always fun, and the cafe culture is enjoyable, but I could probably pass on the rest of it.
@seikel - milanesas and the sandwiches . . . yeeeeeeeeech
Cebca at 4:48PM on 06/02/09
I am from Buenos Aires but live in the UK and I agree with the article to a certain extent, although in the last few years Buenos Aires is a hell of a lot more diverse in terms of food, culture and people than it was when I was growing up. Traditional food is obviously centered around 'asados' and 'bifes' (the meat, as everybody can attest, is truly divine) and a mix of Italian (mostly) and Spanish influences. Pastas, pizzas and empanadas are of a very high standard and it is true that most of Argentinian food does not use many spices (something I couldn't live without now) but it tends to be well seasones and flavoursome. If you compare it to cities where there is either a strong, distinctive regional food culture or those with a huge array of great, affordable ethnic places, it will certainly seem unexciting but there is so much amazing food available if you know where to go and stay out of the touristy, generic places.
HappyMuncher at 5:56PM on 06/02/09
even with all the mediocer food, the best meals ive had were at vinas del golf south of mendoza. maybe ever. I have photos. its amazing.
seikel at 11:54AM on 06/03/09
Emm...I disagree. I was there about a year ago and I thoroughly enjoyed the sampling of steaks (go to La Cabrera!), dulce de leche, churros, etc. In fact, I'd say the city is pretty sweet. :)
Chew on That at 5:44PM on 06/04/09
I don't necessarily agree with the description.
I think if a place has a unique cuisine then it can still be a food city and not meet the description. Take New Orleans, they don't have to cater to any food obsessed needs. They just have to do what they do.
A city could also do one thing exceptionally well and still make the cut. Austin is a food city even according the the description above, but San Antonio is not. However, even San Antonio's bad Mexican restaurants still make homemade tortillas and have kick ass salsa. I defy you to find a bad breakfast taco there. Perhaps not awesome one, but never ever bad.
You should also never judge a city on one trip or experience.
bingsy at 7:58PM on 06/09/09
This photo of Cafe Delmas is in Paris, on Rue Contrascarpe, why show it in Buenos Aires?
Stacey Snacks at 2:42PM on 06/11/09