Cook the Book: 'Seven Fires'

Posted by The Serious Eats Team, June 15, 2009 at 1:45 PM

Francis Mallmann is South America's most famous chef. He's a TV star and owner of several restaurants in Argentina and Uruguay. Mallmann was classically trained in French cuisine and opened his first restaurant, at 19, in the upscale beach resort of Punta del Este, Uruguay. Mallmann was so successful that he could afford to shut down the restaurant in the off season and travel to Europe to train with Michelin-starred chefs. After 20 years of South American–inspired nouvelle cuisine, Mallmann "tired of making French food for wealthy Argentines." He ditched the stocks and sauces and returned to his roots.

Mallmann embraced the cooking techniques that he grew up with, wood fires and cast iron pots. These basic tools paired with Argentine meats and produce comprise the cuisine that Mallmann calls Nuevo Andean. Seven Fires, co-written by Peter Kaminsky, is more than a guide to Argentine grilling. It's a love letter to Argentina, with all of its natural bounty and beauty. The recipes showcase the international influences that have shaped Argentine cuisine, from the Native Americans to the Spanish, Italian, German, and Irish.

Mallman is a fan of the taste of burnt. He uses primal, wood-fired cooking techniques for all of the recipes in Seven Fires. What are the seven fires? They are the cooking methods that Mallmann uses for all of the recipes, here are the definitions:

Parilla: A cast iron barbecue grate set over hot coals. Hibachis and kettle grills are examples
Chapa: A flat piece of cast iron set over a fire. Similar to a griddle
Infiernillo: Two fires with a cooking level between them. Literally translated to "small inferno."
Horno de Barro: A wood-fired oven
Rescoldo: A method of cooking by covering the ingredients with hot embers and warm ashes
Asador: A method of cooking whole animals, typically pig, goat, and lamb, which are butterflied and fastened with wires to an iron cross with two cross pieces
Caldero: A large cast iron kettle or Dutch oven

If you don't have the inclination to build a big fire in your backyard, Mallmann gives indoor alternatives for all of the recipes in Seven Fires. Every day this week we will be highlighting a recipe from the book. Get ready for some Argentine classics, Beef and Potato Pie and Empanadas, and some wonderful summer grilling ideas, such as Braided Beef and Peached Pork.. —Caroline Russock

Win 'Seven Fires'

Thanks to the good folks at Artisan Books, we are giving away five (5) copies of Seven Fires this week. All you have to do is tell us about your favorite South American dish in the comments section below.

Five (5) people will be chosen at random among the eligible comments below. We're sorry, but entry is only open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Comments will close Monday, June 22 at noon ET. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply.

Comments are Closed.

Tags: Argentine, contests, Cook the Book, Francis Mallmann, grilling, Seven Fires

Comments are closed: 310 Comments:

chimichurri steak with beans and rice

ssultan23 at 2:10PM on 06/15/09

i love chimichurri on a charcoal-grilled steak. one of my favorite ways to eat it is a wrap sandwich with thinly sliced steak, chimichurri, and some greens.

french tart at 2:10PM on 06/15/09

I lived in Argentina for a year during high school, and my absolute favorite thing off the grill was a sausage -- called chorizo but very much like a bratwurst -- on a torn off piece of baguette. So simple but oh so good.

ride&cook at 2:11PM on 06/15/09

I love the Brazilian steak house.

arbeck at 2:11PM on 06/15/09

Chimichurri sauce on anything and everything: steak, chicken, salmon, fried eggs and chorizo. I've also used it as a sauce for a steak, caramelized onion, and feta pizza.

jenniley at 2:14PM on 06/15/09

feijoada. please give me feijoada! multiple bits of pork. AND beef. AND beans. a HUGE bowl and some rice? c'mon. that's the bee's knees and then some.

kitchengeeking at 2:18PM on 06/15/09

My favorite South American meal is alpaca steak. So delicious when made well!

stevideter at 2:21PM on 06/15/09

peruvian pollo a la brasa

semarr at 2:26PM on 06/15/09

empanadas are the best. especially when they can be ordered like garlic knots at the pizzeria

rosasharne at 2:27PM on 06/15/09

tira de asado at Las Cholas in Buenos Aires...AHHHHH so good

z911empire at 2:28PM on 06/15/09

A Lomito Sandwich. I first had this dish at restaurant in the Palermo neighborhood of Beunos Aires at a small restaurant run by three older women. The sandwich consisted of grilled flat bread, a layer of grilled sirloin, topped with a layer of ham, topped with a layer of cheese, and then finally finished off with a fried egg and some lettuce. It came with three different kinds of sauces and was one of the most amazing things I ate on my trip to Argentina.

jsheehan at 2:31PM on 06/15/09

Empanadas.

tankwatkins at 2:31PM on 06/15/09

do caipirinhas count?? besides that, you can't beat steak with chimichurri!

katief at 2:37PM on 06/15/09

I second feijoada.

Brettsy at 2:45PM on 06/15/09

i would say chipa, those delish round breads made of cheese!

cecileeseven at 2:46PM on 06/15/09

Feijoda, yucca and plantains (not sure if they are south american thought).

gusgus18 at 2:46PM on 06/15/09

Empanadas, I suppose! Any and every filling, please...

TheKitchenette at 2:47PM on 06/15/09

As mundane as it may be nowadays, I do love a good chimichurri sauce on a great ribeye.

dadekian at 2:49PM on 06/15/09

My Colombian friend's mom once made me a sudado, with beef, yucca, morcilla and a bunch of other amazing ingredients. To this day I have had nothing like it. I wish I could make it!

djwackfriz at 2:53PM on 06/15/09

Feijoada & Caipirinhas

pickled at 2:57PM on 06/15/09

Lomo, empanadas, paradilla, mate, and pizza with arugula. Chivitas and pastel de choclo too, although those aren't Argentine.

arjava at 3:01PM on 06/15/09

Chrizo ... cooked any way with anything. I love the flavor.

jenniferjweber at 3:05PM on 06/15/09

I adore chimichurri with steak!

cupcakemuffin at 3:08PM on 06/15/09

Flank or skirt with chimichurri. The best way to prepare those cuts.

egads04 at 3:11PM on 06/15/09

I had a friend whose mom was Peruvian and she made this dried pork stuff. I don't know what it was but it was good!

arm1970 at 3:11PM on 06/15/09

I love empanadas!

Peasantwench at 3:16PM on 06/15/09

Really well made rice and beans is stellar... ideally with some veggies in there too.

sahmad550 at 3:24PM on 06/15/09

I was right off the plane, after a 13 hour flight in Rio De Janeiro, and my first experience wasn't really a dish but it was perfect. I had a couple pao de quejio rolls, soft gooey cheesy and the best first meal off the plane in Brasil. In the following weeks I had some of the best fried pastilles filled with different meats and cheeses. Some of the best pizza I have ever had... thin crust great sausage and covered in the most amazing chili oil and hot sauce, and endless Bbq at the Charascuria below our apartment.

radioface at 3:24PM on 06/15/09

depending on who's doing the dividing of continents up, this is either central or south american, but i've lately been really digging the pupusas from this tiny place in my neighborhood. cheap and delicious.

ephraim at 3:33PM on 06/15/09

Arepas with black beans plus the sauce that the Caracas Arepas Bar in NY makes. I swear, it must have drugs in it.

snackpig at 3:43PM on 06/15/09

Chiles rellenos, chorizo, burritos, anything! I went to a Salvadorian restaurant one time and had the most delicious flank steak tacos. There is also a great Cuban restaurant near my grandparent's home that makes delicious fried plantains and beans.

jnf130 at 3:55PM on 06/15/09

Llama burgers!!!! oh yeah

de3montecarlo at 3:59PM on 06/15/09

arepas!

celestevan at 4:12PM on 06/15/09

Empanadas of any variety!

miette at 4:13PM on 06/15/09

Definitely matambre.

jonkeane at 4:14PM on 06/15/09

It can only be empanadas...

aburke at 4:25PM on 06/15/09

As a Peruvian, my mother's recipe for lomo saltado is my favorite dish with anticuchos as a runner up.

enamorar at 4:27PM on 06/15/09

Chimichurri ....one of the world's greatest sauces, errr condiment

thegoch at 4:50PM on 06/15/09

Tostones! I love plantains!

annabanannas at 4:57PM on 06/15/09

Empanadas are pretty amazing.

cochon at 4:59PM on 06/15/09

locro con aguacate (with a little popcorn on top? yes.)

agricola at 5:00PM on 06/15/09

choclo con queso on the streets of Cuzco

shandon at 5:04PM on 06/15/09

FEIJOADA

No Thyme To Cook at 5:08PM on 06/15/09

llama's

onepercent99 at 5:15PM on 06/15/09

Empanadas or chimichurri on grilled flank steak. Yum!

Vanderbecca at 5:16PM on 06/15/09

empanadas and tostones

drew13000 at 5:18PM on 06/15/09

yucca fries :)

briteyellowness at 5:26PM on 06/15/09

arepas

kimbodian at 5:37PM on 06/15/09

Empanadas! And plantains! Perhaps even empanadas stuffed with plantains!

foodchemistry at 5:39PM on 06/15/09

Ceviche. I'd love to spend time sampling every variety I can find in Peru.

lisal at 5:44PM on 06/15/09

chimichurri on steak or grilled veggies.

bobcatsteph3 at 5:48PM on 06/15/09

i haven't had much south american food, but i do love empanadas!

mrsbao at 5:52PM on 06/15/09

Steak & plantains!

bellwethr at 5:59PM on 06/15/09

Any kind of empanadas.

blueskyman at 6:02PM on 06/15/09

Don't have any --- YET!

toptoad at 6:03PM on 06/15/09

chimichurri on almost anything.

Michael Z at 6:21PM on 06/15/09

Empanadas!

cuttingedge at 6:24PM on 06/15/09

Chimichurri and caipirnhas.

finsbigfan at 6:34PM on 06/15/09

empanadas.

mango at 6:45PM on 06/15/09

Any roast meat that a Fogo de Chao Gaucho is carving off the skewer onto my plate!

AliceBlue at 6:59PM on 06/15/09

Empanadas.

swampyankee at 7:10PM on 06/15/09

I'm really fond of the picanha at the local Brazillian barbecue, but Argentina's chimichurri really makes everything better. :D

bansidhe at 7:20PM on 06/15/09

I have the inclination to build a big fire in my backyard. I want to roast a whole lamb or goat.

christopher at 7:24PM on 06/15/09

Peruvian ceviche, preceded by a Pisco sour (or two or three)!

Mizbee at 7:33PM on 06/15/09

I don't think I've ever had South American food. :-(

MeganCochran at 7:35PM on 06/15/09

Alpaca. Such an interesting (and tasty) animal.

alphazack at 7:57PM on 06/15/09

Chimichurri is always good. Seems like a lot of people agree :)

little orange straw at 7:57PM on 06/15/09

FEIJOADA

elysek at 8:58PM on 06/15/09

a local restaurant makes a skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, with a side of sweet potato fries, and it is excellent. Hmm... I think I'm going to go!

LiveFreeOrDine at 9:11PM on 06/15/09

brazilian barbecue in small quantities.. mmmm
also... am i the only one really amused by the fact that chimichurri was originally made by and named for an Irishman?

engmcmuffin at 9:12PM on 06/15/09

chimichurri on a perfectly grilled juicy steak

kathyvegas at 9:38PM on 06/15/09

Chicken empanadas..... mmmmmmmm

loefflea at 9:38PM on 06/15/09

I love the peruvian Lomo Salteado and also papa rellena.

vdeliz at 9:44PM on 06/15/09

tamales

nmp164 at 9:44PM on 06/15/09

churrasco! & some chimichurri

_greenbean at 9:51PM on 06/15/09

Arepas with goat cheese and avocado!

omnomnom at 10:00PM on 06/15/09

chimichurri steak, rice n beans

fetacrackwhore at 10:18PM on 06/15/09

Chimichuri on flank steak.

robbie at 10:43PM on 06/15/09

arepas

andrearode at 10:53PM on 06/15/09

Arepas with cheese!

madball911 at 10:56PM on 06/15/09

empanadas

lourdes at 11:16PM on 06/15/09

Churrasco!

saschala at 11:36PM on 06/15/09

choripan!

BaguettenBrie at 11:36PM on 06/15/09

Ceviche. Alpaca. Lucuma anything.

firni at 11:45PM on 06/15/09

Ceviche from Limon Restaurant in San Francisco
actually, anything from Limon restaurant!

gorzd at 11:49PM on 06/15/09

i love feasting on a nice parillada with an assortment of meats and sausages...mmm...morcilla!

QK224 at 11:49PM on 06/15/09

Ceviche.

pjracz10 at 11:54PM on 06/15/09

Any grilled meat with chimichurri.

jvanhoy at 12:08AM on 06/16/09

grilled ribeye, chimichurri, malbec

armstwa at 12:09AM on 06/16/09

Another vote for civiche.

Remander at 12:26AM on 06/16/09

Saltenas (Or saltenyas, because I can't make a tilde, which in no way detracts from the food's deliciousness!)

marinelm at 12:33AM on 06/16/09

Grilled skirt steak with chimichurri.

tcjanes at 12:34AM on 06/16/09

Empanadas

edinat at 12:45AM on 06/16/09

Fritanga and Pernil and arepas from Colombia.

lamora at 1:35AM on 06/16/09

Definitely a grilled hangar or bavette steak with chimichurri.

foggymary at 2:48AM on 06/16/09

tonight for dinner we grilled lamb with chimichurri, lengua tacos with pico de guillo from the garden, and smoky bbq prawns- not to mention a bunch of salads, veggies, grilled fruits, etc. and my bf's amazing version of caipirhanas with strawberries and cucumbers. I'd have to say one of the best meals ever!

oregonpinot at 3:41AM on 06/16/09

empanadas de morocho!

marsel at 5:58AM on 06/16/09

ceviche, empanadas, plantains, steak

ashtonsh at 7:46AM on 06/16/09

I'm a fan of a nice grilled steak with Chimichurri, but I suppose I can't name a true favorite, because I haven't tasted half of what is being mentioned here.

velcerick at 8:16AM on 06/16/09

Can't beat a big hunk of properly grilled steak.

sidebernie at 8:19AM on 06/16/09

I loves me some empandadas!

DuncanHusky at 8:30AM on 06/16/09

Good steak, chimichurri, avocado salad. It doesn't get much better.

Stufsocker at 8:41AM on 06/16/09

Probably Empanadas, I'm easy to please.

cdziuba at 8:42AM on 06/16/09

Living in Chile, I love all kinds of S. American favorites: humitas (sweet corn tamales scented with basil); porotos granados (cranberry bean stew with corn and pumpkin); the empanadas from fried with cheese or seafood to baked with a meaty filling; ceviche; grilled Patagonian lamb chops or a steak; all the condiments like chimchurri (Arg), pebre (Chile), salsa criolla (Uruguay); everything Peruvian from Ají de Gallina (a creamy chicken dish with turmeric and walnuts) to tiradito (fish carpaccio laced with chili and lime), lomo saltado (beef sauteed with onions, french fries and soy sauce); or Brazilian staples like feijoada, a sweettart passion fruit juice; or in the northeast near Recife, this sundried beef (carne do sol) that they shred and eat with beans and rice. A delicious continent!

lizcaskey at 8:49AM on 06/16/09

Another vote for empanadas here

madeas at 9:11AM on 06/16/09

Used to order a dish called Fish al vapor at a local Brazilian restaurant that has been long closed. I think it just means steamed fish, but it was a filet stewed in a tomato saffron broth with potatoes, tomatoes, onions and a yellow rice. We have been trying to duplicate it ever since and have come kind of close.

lucylucy at 9:17AM on 06/16/09

Ceviche. With a pisco sour.

Pupster at 9:33AM on 06/16/09

I love south american food, and have recently discovered how much I love manioc (cassava/yucca). I had some fabulous manioc gnocchi while in Brazil.

amymreisman at 9:34AM on 06/16/09

Tres Leches cake

PeanutButter at 9:40AM on 06/16/09

Flank steak w/chimmichurri

1stmakearoux at 9:42AM on 06/16/09

Empandadas,I can't get enough!

dove1960 at 10:11AM on 06/16/09

I once lived in Venezuela, and have not yet found fried yucca like that served in a little pizzeria in our small town. They were so good, and served with a spicy relish as a side dish to the parrillada. So, so good.

lambowner at 10:14AM on 06/16/09

I likes me some chimichurri over a charcoal grilled flank steak. Yum!

beano at 10:23AM on 06/16/09

cuy soup - that is, guinea pig soup with barely. Ecuador has amazing soups :)

csbrown at 10:24AM on 06/16/09

Empanadas!

CheesePlease at 10:54AM on 06/16/09

Stuffed Flank steak, any steak with chimichurri and the potato dishes are so good.

sarash at 10:59AM on 06/16/09

Empanadas...but the columbian ones with cornmeal instead of flour.

jcrisco at 11:23AM on 06/16/09

empanadas

sandy89 at 11:27AM on 06/16/09

I know I've had some good authentic South American food....I dated a Colombian guy on and off for a few years and he took me to some of his favorite South American restaurants...but I can't honestly remember what I ate there (something with chicken? Rice?) I guess the food isn't what I remember about that relationship ;)

hayleythecaker at 11:31AM on 06/16/09

At a (now shuttered) Peruvian restaurant in Chicago, and with then undeveloped tastes, I encountered a very basic dish of plantains, beans, and a sort of runny sour cream. Absolutely transformational.

Rhetor at 11:33AM on 06/16/09

I love lomo saltado.

EatWisconsin at 11:39AM on 06/16/09

Shrimp Ceviche!

RitaM4 at 11:47AM on 06/16/09

Arepas and chimichurri, not together of course!

cptexas at 11:58AM on 06/16/09

chimichurri skirt steak ....its just that sauce! i can slather it on anything!

sassysprite at 12:17PM on 06/16/09

Cheese bread. Can't remember the Brazilian name for it, but it's addictive if it's warm from the oven. At room temperature, it's nothing special ....

yentamary at 12:24PM on 06/16/09

Halea de Mariscos from this amazing Peruvian place in New Rochelle - my first real exposure to South American food, and I love it!

Erisgrom at 12:40PM on 06/16/09

another vote for empanadas here

psychsarah at 12:42PM on 06/16/09

dulce de leche

marahochman at 12:51PM on 06/16/09

mmmm arepas

mixedberries at 1:08PM on 06/16/09

great argentinian/brasilian beef. yum

momtimestwo at 1:12PM on 06/16/09

Empanadas

llama at 1:13PM on 06/16/09

Dulce de leche

aharste at 1:15PM on 06/16/09

Having grown up in Argentina, here are my two favorites:

- provoleta: an inch-thick slab of provolone cheese that's thrown on a super-hot grill and charred on both sides, leaving the insides soft and gooey. It's then liberally covered in oregano, and sometimes served with things like fire-roasted red peppers or ham on top.

- fugazzeta: it's a kind of white pizza pie with nothing but cheese, caramelized onions, and oregano. Like provoleta, it's sometimes served with ham on top, but it's not needed, :-).

If I could only pick one, however, it would be provoleta.

l_neiman at 1:17PM on 06/16/09

Has to be empanadas :)

emeraldreverie at 1:20PM on 06/16/09

yum...empanadas....

nichole at 1:24PM on 06/16/09

I really like steak and chimichurri sauce. So simple, yet so delicious.

WetIII at 1:25PM on 06/16/09

feijoada for me, please

omnivore at 1:40PM on 06/16/09

I love chimichurri sauce on any type of grilled meat and sweet empanadas with farmers cheese raisins and spices.

Lotuscheek at 1:47PM on 06/16/09

I adore empanadas- any and all fillings. And I had a sandwich once that a friend of mine from Argentina made. It had cheese and ham and some other stuff, but it also had a fried egg on top of the other fillings. It was amazing!

myownplace at 1:47PM on 06/16/09

I don't remember what it's called, but it has a lot of different kinds of grilled seafood...calamari, shrimp, cod, etc. mixed with rice.

toastworthy at 1:53PM on 06/16/09

Chorizo!

Chilisoup1 at 1:56PM on 06/16/09

empanadas!

laur_uic at 1:56PM on 06/16/09

arepas

bigfatmouth at 1:56PM on 06/16/09

My very favorite South American 'dish' was a woman named Loraina. She had jet black hair that hung perfectly down her back. She could dance and move like no other woman I've ever met. Dark eyes and a smile that flashed and blinded you, or cut you to ribbons. We danced and laughed into the evening and next morning. Oh - and she could cook as well. Uh, what was that she cooked? Oh yeah...a pop tart.

SeattleCB at 2:04PM on 06/16/09

Empanadas!!

jammin83 at 2:14PM on 06/16/09

chimichurri too

mepolo at 2:21PM on 06/16/09

empanadas!

bisbee at 2:27PM on 06/16/09

Ceviche!

amaLosAngeles at 2:32PM on 06/16/09

Papas Rellenas are the best!

socalbebe at 2:43PM on 06/16/09

Choripan from a street vendor w/ chimichurri and onion. Yum!

dtgville at 2:54PM on 06/16/09

Arepas (because I think the empanadas I like aren't the Argentinean version).

cyberroo at 2:57PM on 06/16/09

Pupusas, they are finally getting popular in this country!

tgrabler at 3:00PM on 06/16/09

Ever since I saw Robert Rodriguez's short piece on how to cook it on the "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" DVD I've been a fan of pork pibil. Awesome cooking lesson for a classic dish

tamidon at 3:03PM on 06/16/09

Love dining on these....foods speak volumes about our cultures....don't just eat....listen as well....the experience of enjoying the foods will be more meaningful.
Humitas (South American Corn Tamale) serves as a savory delish foil to South American meats....see link below for the recipe...you can substitute the oil called for in the recipe with manteca....imparts great flavor....
http://southamericanfood.about.com/od/appetizersfirstcourses/r/humitas.htm

For a slightly sweet variation with raisins and cinnamon....
Huminitas from Bolivia....see link below
http://www.ma.iup.edu/Pueblo/latino_cultures/recipes.html#argentina

Enjoy!

Butters07 at 3:32PM on 06/16/09

Whatever fried platanos are called. Yum.

OldHippie at 3:53PM on 06/16/09

Empanadas filled with chicken and tomatoes. mmm.

tonks442 at 4:03PM on 06/16/09

chicken or pork saltenas. They are Bolivian I believe. Like empanadas but with a sweeter dough.

porkydickens at 4:21PM on 06/16/09

Empanadas!

sfgoo at 4:49PM on 06/16/09

So far, empanadas, but I'm excited to try something new!

aconger at 4:49PM on 06/16/09

pandebono: cassava-flour cheese bread from colombia!

malecki at 4:57PM on 06/16/09

Man oh man, that Peached Pork w/rosemary sounds AMAZING! More, more! This is a food area I'm sadly unaware of - til now.

kathall at 5:56PM on 06/16/09

feijoada

bobdobalane at 5:58PM on 06/16/09

chimichurri on churrasco

sharlynn at 6:17PM on 06/16/09

im a simple guy so i LOVE the Agrnetine chese dish Provoleta. sharp provolone cheese with olive oil and garlic softened over a parilla!! yum!!

hoff_83 at 6:31PM on 06/16/09

Empanadas!

crabhands at 6:52PM on 06/16/09

I don't know what it was called but it was a Guatemalan dish with pork and some sort of mole. Melt in your mouth good.

yankeesgal at 6:54PM on 06/16/09

chipa

agordon10 at 7:41PM on 06/16/09

We used to eat at a small family owned Peruvian restaurant when we lived in CA and I loved everything I tried. Don't remember the names of any of it but sure would like to eat some of it again.

southerncooker at 7:45PM on 06/16/09

i love plaintain sandwichs - when you squish them flat the long ways to make big pancake shaped circles and grill them up like that!!

crownthequeen at 7:47PM on 06/16/09

There was a lovely dish from Brazil involving plantains, beans and cheese on a corn cake... but that was a whole lifetime ago... right now chimichurri is a staple at our house.

shalomblack at 8:10PM on 06/16/09

Empanadas or tamales are my favorite!

Hurdler4eva at 8:39PM on 06/16/09

Without a doubt my favorite South American dish is the strong flavored Brasilerio feijoada

jh70095 at 9:01PM on 06/16/09

media lunas for breakfast & a nice cut of grilled argentinian grass fed beef w/ chimichurri sauce

maomau at 9:11PM on 06/16/09

dulce de leche, churros, chorizo, empanadas, ceviche...

katfood at 10:08PM on 06/16/09

Cuy. Seriously. It's good.

ghinson at 10:40PM on 06/16/09

empanadas are the bomb scooter7018@aol.com

scooter7018 at 10:50PM on 06/16/09

pozole!! ole!

lamac at 11:20PM on 06/16/09

My favorite Argentinean food of all time is Vitel Toné! Forget the presents, the tree and merriment; the only thing I look forward to during Christmas is sitting down to a delicious plate of Vitel Toné and warm baguette. Thing slices of cooked meat covered in that tangy mayonnaise... mmmm!

There's also nothing better than warm pan criollo with dulce de leche accompanied with mate.

malenaiscool at 11:58PM on 06/16/09

Leche Nevada - a dessert we had in Chile

sgiraffe at 12:30AM on 06/17/09

papusas or papoosas? what ever they are called they are delicious

multilol at 2:40AM on 06/17/09

Empanadas or chimichurri

sdeas at 4:16AM on 06/17/09

Empanadas.

architeuthis at 5:13AM on 06/17/09

I like empanadas too, and grilled veggies & black beans.

meredycat at 6:00AM on 06/17/09

I am unfamiliar with this cuisine, but empanadas sound delicious. Guess I need this book to educate myself.

clc408 at 6:32AM on 06/17/09

pollo a la brasa

TOMFARL at 8:50AM on 06/17/09

i'd love to try these

1mmentor at 9:01AM on 06/17/09

Chimichurri!

solidgoldmacher at 9:14AM on 06/17/09

empanadas - yum!

Thanks for the giveaway!

js2222 at 9:35AM on 06/17/09

bacalao croquettes on the beach in Rio. with a beer.

tralala at 10:12AM on 06/17/09

Torta cubano

TNFarmer at 10:17AM on 06/17/09

Empanadas are so good!

hungrylikethewolf at 11:19AM on 06/17/09

chimichurri and empanadas

biojean at 12:44PM on 06/17/09

Chimichurri skirt steak!

iyamapotato at 12:45PM on 06/17/09

fried plantains !!

npfldmom at 1:27PM on 06/17/09

A toss up between plantains and chimichurri steak.

kuromu at 1:31PM on 06/17/09

Empanadas are definitely my favorite choice!

Mrblueskies at 1:31PM on 06/17/09

Empanadas, especially when they're made by Ruben in NYC.

meganfra at 1:32PM on 06/17/09

probably fried plantains, but i also loved the arroz con pollo in Uruguay

au_dmr at 1:32PM on 06/17/09

.....have enjoyed some lovely South African wines...need some wonderful recipes to compliment!!

pjlein at 1:34PM on 06/17/09

Empanadas...and any charred meat served at a Brazilian steak house. Yum!!

cafire at 1:42PM on 06/17/09

Alfajores. If that doesn't count (and I've eaten these in numbers embarrassing enough to count as a meal), chimichurri steak or a solid rendition of rice and beans.

annerska at 1:44PM on 06/17/09

Steak milanesa - pounded, breaded, fried. Can be toppoed with chimichuri. Comfort food!

breego at 1:45PM on 06/17/09

Sadly, I can only comment on chimichuri. I wish I have experienced more.

jaspevacek at 1:56PM on 06/17/09

Don't have one, that's why I need to win the book!

csmith7811 at 2:02PM on 06/17/09

empanadas

dopira at 2:06PM on 06/17/09

ceviche, and I would like to try alfajores

prunesaregood at 2:33PM on 06/17/09

Molleja con limon. y tambien choripan con chimichurri y mayonesa casera.

andacagar at 2:34PM on 06/17/09

Steak with chimichurri, dulce de leche

Lippy at 2:37PM on 06/17/09

any meat. and pao de queijo!

megannesta at 2:46PM on 06/17/09

Arepas!

travers at 2:51PM on 06/17/09

Saltado de Pescado

papagena665 at 2:53PM on 06/17/09

Arepas

bessfour at 3:16PM on 06/17/09

Definitely Brazilian steak house - cant beat the variety of meats available all at once

Hank Hank at 3:31PM on 06/17/09

Steak with chilean pebre sauce.

gratefulted at 3:31PM on 06/17/09

empanadas and fried plantains

PoignantTuna at 3:37PM on 06/17/09

empanadas!

zina1017 at 3:43PM on 06/17/09

Grilled Steak and empanadas

ajbetz at 4:06PM on 06/17/09

ceviche, with toasted giant corn.

dikaryon at 4:14PM on 06/17/09

i made my first feijoada the other day and it tasted just like I remembered it! It's so delicious!

r1silver at 4:21PM on 06/17/09

Empanadas!

LIDARKSIDE at 4:37PM on 06/17/09

No favorite, but I'd sure like to try some of these dishes.

Sunnyvale at 5:02PM on 06/17/09

combo platter at a Colombian place- plantains, chicharon, rice and beans, and lots of green chimichurrie sauce

winkyj at 5:24PM on 06/17/09

empanadas and arepas!

RhondaB at 5:36PM on 06/17/09

Without a doubt, it's Peruvian pollo a la brasa. El Pollo Rico in the DC area is one of my absolute favorite meals period.

fuzzy510 at 5:36PM on 06/17/09

I'm a big fan of simple black beans and rice. Not sure if Pernil qualifies but I love that too.

mkelhar at 5:39PM on 06/17/09

Empanadas!

etirv at 6:18PM on 06/17/09

Empanadas and grilled steak with chimichurri

mysal at 6:52PM on 06/17/09

Personally my favorite south american dish is Mofongo, smashed plantains with fried out pork fat, usually filled with shrimp or chicken DELICIOUS.
2nd favorite would be Arepas of course.

drewjsph02 at 7:03PM on 06/17/09

chimichurri with arracherra. Yummy

robertm73 at 7:12PM on 06/17/09

Everything everyone said here I think. If I had to name one I guess it would be empanadas since they are so versatile. NMy favorite is beef, olives, raisins...

LoriA at 7:46PM on 06/17/09

I love Beef Milanesa as much as my own mother.

ColeMEvans at 9:05PM on 06/17/09

I lived in Bolivia, so Saltena is going to be my fav dish from South America. It's just something that you just can't get anywhere else.

EijiShinrow at 9:20PM on 06/17/09

Argentinian BBQ with chimichurri and empanadas!

bajjmayer at 9:34PM on 06/17/09

empanadas are the best..

allelect at 9:48PM on 06/17/09

fried Plaintains

drala625 at 11:25PM on 06/17/09

"burnt ricotta salata, tomatoes and olives!" i'm already enjoying this book!

addphoeb at 11:32PM on 06/17/09

chimichurri steak

chromiumman at 11:58PM on 06/17/09

Ceviche. Fried Plantains with garlic. Pisco Sours. I can't decide—all of them together!

Tactful_Cactus at 1:23AM on 06/18/09

Alfajores and just a simple grilled steak--medium rare, of course

cpallas at 3:05AM on 06/18/09

Mantioc root and beans. Simple but great food in Peru

mcferret at 7:41AM on 06/18/09

A friend from Cordoba, Argentina introduced me to locro, typically served on May 25th the May Revolution. His version is made with pumpkin and lots of pork. Here's the recipe in Spanish http://tinyurl.com/m94kor

jsharpell at 9:52AM on 06/18/09

Empanadas. Sweet and/or savory plantains. Yumtastic.

homoonah at 10:28AM on 06/18/09

I'd have to say empanadas, but only because it's the other real South American dish I've had. I should change that, huh?

AsTheNight at 11:05AM on 06/18/09

Oh, simple...a nice piece of grilled skirt steak with lots of chimichurri. I could eat it every day.

geekandahalf at 1:06PM on 06/18/09

we make empanada with a whole whet dough casing and they are good - but their grilled beef is wonderful too.

suegsf at 1:22PM on 06/18/09

I don't remember the name of the dish. A Brazilian stew of skate served with rice and drizzled with a hot pepper oil. My friend's mom made it and I ate so much of it, I was slightly mortified, but Luiz' mom appreciated my appetite even if Luiz wouldn't let me live it down.

Of course, chimichurri. Caldo verde.

wookie at 1:26PM on 06/18/09

It's very simple, but I love black beans and plantains.

ChiaLynn at 2:03PM on 06/18/09

Mariscos saltado.

Bria at 2:06PM on 06/18/09

Not sure what it's called but I was at a Honduran restaurtant here in Dallas and they had this incredible pork dish. Lightly fried on a bed of hominey grits with some plantains and some sort of breadfruit type veggie. All I know is that it was incredible and I've had it twice more.

dozertx at 2:44PM on 06/18/09

I've had so little South American food I don't have a favorite- but they sure make some tasty wines!

thatgrrl at 2:56PM on 06/18/09

i love empanadas too!!

buffaloplease at 2:57PM on 06/18/09

I can't remember what I had the one and only time I was at a Peruvian restaurant here in San Jose, but I remember someone at the table had a soda called "Inca Kola". I think it was pretty sweet.

jlsmei at 3:24PM on 06/18/09

do tostones count? mmm

cdcdcd at 3:47PM on 06/18/09

My secret is that even though I've lived there, Peruvian food is all in all nothing special. That said, papas a la huancaina is deliciosa!

Carly705 at 3:52PM on 06/18/09

Arepas De Pabellon (shredded beef, black beans, cheese, and sweet plantains). Amazing!

pdubbs at 4:44PM on 06/18/09

Arepas De Papellon (shredded beef, black beans, cheese, and sweet plantains). Amazing!

pdubbs at 4:45PM on 06/18/09

Empanadas sound great to me!

barbarawr at 5:46PM on 06/18/09

chimichurri sauce

bluebird at 6:30PM on 06/18/09

The soft pancakes with fresh corn kernels in them - I forget what they're called.

idlefood at 8:15PM on 06/18/09

feijoada - I have been experimenting with it - but havent managed to really capture the true essence yet!

gharris at 9:38PM on 06/18/09

I too love feijoada, also (deep fried) Bolinho de chuva either sweet or salty.

eluckstead at 10:02PM on 06/18/09

blackened fish tacos ... mmmmmm

Deeberry at 11:53PM on 06/18/09

Anything made with Argentine beef....anything I tell you.

wmoss at 1:01AM on 06/19/09

Ceviche

idahomom at 9:21AM on 06/19/09

dulce de leche, chimichurri

KB in Toledo at 1:44PM on 06/19/09

Empanada or Arepas!

Luby26 at 1:58PM on 06/19/09

any thing involving plantains. delicious!!!!

MeganBeth at 2:08PM on 06/19/09

When my daughter was young, we had a young lady from Venezuela staying with us. She wanted to learn English and she took care of my daughter while I worked. Once in a while she'd have arepas waiting for us when I arrived home from work. So delicious. Just simple, topped with cheese and butter. I can still taste them....wish I could make them like she did.

old_desert_rat at 2:16PM on 06/19/09

hands down - chimichurri sauce on just about anything. My husband calls it liquid gold when I make it.

akjuhala at 2:34PM on 06/19/09

Arepas

peregrinatio at 2:50PM on 06/19/09

Empanadas,empanadas, empanadas!

silvermike at 3:28PM on 06/19/09

Arepas for me too please! And chimichurri

anado at 5:18PM on 06/19/09

arepas, yucca, empanadas . . .

applesnfacon at 8:33PM on 06/19/09

Chimichurri!

IndyGal at 8:39PM on 06/19/09

rice and beans and beans and rice.

jervell at 10:35PM on 06/19/09

Chipa

linmoe@sympatico.ca

danosor at 11:36PM on 06/19/09

I love Pupusas, though I have only had them once.

elangomatt at 12:27AM on 06/20/09

Add another to the empanada column.

auntagatha at 8:18AM on 06/20/09

I was in BA and Mendoza in May and we went to the Feria de Matadores outside of BA on a Sunday afternoon, listening to the music, checking out the hundreds of crafts and eating/drinking something amazing every 10 feet -- dulche de leche crepes -- thick and sweet mounds of the caramel goodness being slathered onto a 30-second old crepe made while you watch -- will always mark my taste-memory of that day.

A close second -- Malbec ice cream -- only in Mendoza!

jstrelitz at 9:40AM on 06/20/09

Saltenas in Bolivia - empanada-like pastry filled with chicken or beef stew. The shell is brushed with egg and hard - I think its made with gelatin to help it set up. Since the filling is so soupy, most first-timers take a big bite and end up with most of the contents down their shirts. While eating out-of-hand can be done, the neatest way is to take a spoon, break a corner off, scoop out and eat the contents, and finish off with the shell. They are sold as mid-morning snacks in cafes and off street carts.

LetThemEatQueso at 12:22PM on 06/20/09

I once tried an empanada that contained chicken and chili peppers-it was spicy and delicious!

susanchester at 1:06PM on 06/20/09

Hunks of delicious beef wood-fire grilled mid-rare slathered with chimmichurri on grilled country bread. Mmm

maxpork at 2:18PM on 06/20/09

Any kind of empanada!

stevesteve8383 at 2:49PM on 06/20/09

Argentine mixed grill, Pizza with palm hearts, Steak Milanesa, barbecued Provoleta cheese, and empanadas. Awesome!

Wolfertfan at 4:31PM on 06/20/09

I would say I really don't know any but I like black beans and rice if that counts!
kngmckellar@hotmail.com

kngmckellar at 4:47PM on 06/20/09

count me in the empanada list - we have an amazing little takeaway place in my city - yummy!

spike at 5:06PM on 06/20/09

Doesn't get much better than chimichurri steak. The best!

rilabby at 6:05PM on 06/20/09

Love empanadas.

slcrose at 6:16PM on 06/20/09

Causa-it's a delicious Peruvian dish made with seasoned potatoes and chicken or crab, I'm a seafood fan so I usually make it with crab and it goes pretty quickly around here!

Jessilyn82 at 6:42PM on 06/20/09

I'd say Chimichurri steak.

bgcchs@yahoo.com

charmandluck at 8:06PM on 06/20/09

Brazilian feijoada

le_avion at 11:20PM on 06/20/09

Empenadas!

ajbetz at 1:33AM on 06/21/09

My favorite South American meal is alpaca steak.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

wwe11 at 9:20AM on 06/21/09

Lorenzo Lamas!

saturdaynightfever at 5:29PM on 06/21/09

Empanadas for me, too. Yummy.

Nesie at 5:47PM on 06/21/09

Classic Taco

ilikecitylights at 5:54PM on 06/21/09

Hard to beat steak with a good chimichurri. Empanadas with chimichurri come in a close second. Buenos Aires home cooking can be a culinary adventure because of the cultural diversity of the city.

bassetgal at 6:15PM on 06/21/09

I went to a Brazilian BBQ place once, having heard how awesome the whole experience was. I was looking forward to some beef, cut off the roast at the table and all the side dishes. Unfortunately, we arrived between lunch and dinner, and had to order something from the regular menu. I think I had a half decent chicken sandwich and fries or something. Real let down.

brennaboo at 2:05AM on 06/22/09

Empanadas fo sho

bobfole at 2:10AM on 06/22/09

chimichurri with anything

salty at 3:16AM on 06/22/09

Everywhere I read this days or when watching food shows on TV it is "chimichurri".

ArmadilloPepper at 9:10AM on 06/22/09

another vote for empanadas!

weebb33 at 9:17AM on 06/22/09

Empanadas are my absolute favorite.

jettaway75 at 9:58AM on 06/22/09

I love arepas, morcilla & empanadas.