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Tag Archives: travel

My Favorite Argentine Wine: Pulenta Estate Gran Cabernet Franc

14 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by Anonymous in argentina, mendoza, tips & how to's, travel

≈ Comments Off on My Favorite Argentine Wine: Pulenta Estate Gran Cabernet Franc

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Argentina, argentine wine, Cabernet Franc, favorites, Mendoza, red wine, tourist attraction, travel, wine, wine tasting

With our precious case of vino at Pulenta Estate winery in Mendoza.

With our precious case of vino at Pulenta Estate winery in Mendoza.

Malbec is typically Argentine wine’s claim to fame. But my favorite is a varietal I’d never even heard of before: Cabernet Franc. Although I’ve “tasted” (drank) a lot of wine over the years, I certainly wouldn’t consider myself a wine connoisseur or snob; I’m way too cheap for that. But I know enough that when I feel the need to remark on the deliciousness of every sip, it’s something special.

We discovered this red gem on a wine tasting tour in Mendoza last year, where one of the stops was Pulenta Estate. From the moment we were introduced to the Gran Cabernet Franc, both Gaspar and I were obsessed. So much so that we stopped by the winery on our way from Buenos Aires to the Chilean coast, just to pick up a case. What strikes you from the start is the fragrance of red pepper, which seems so odd but is actually really subtle and delicious. The taste is smooth, spicy and buttery. It’s a wine that demands to be savored.

Pulenta Estate Collage

According to the tasting notes on Pulenta Estate’s website, “This wine offers a deep red-purple colour, with an intense aroma of red pepper, eucalyptus and spices. Once in the mouth, it is sweet and pleasant due to the presence of round, ripe and soft tannins. Its 12 month aging in new French oak barrels grants it an elegant and long finish.”

You know, if that means anything to you. My tasting notes simply read: delicious!

If you’re in Buenos Aires, you can order Pulenta Estate Gran Cabernet Franc 2009 from Grand Cru. In other cities/countries, check their website for locations/distributors. I’ve already emailed the USA distributors to determine how I can get my hands on some once we’re back! If you’re lucky enough to be traveling to Mendoza, definitely check it out in person, plunk down the cash for a case…and give it to me.

Photo from Pulenta Estate website.

Photo from Pulenta Estate website.

PULENTA ESTATE WINERY – Ruta Provincial 86. Km 6,5. Alto Agrelo. Luján de Cuyo. Mendoza. Argentina.

Dining Out in Buenos Aires: Useful Words & Phrases

07 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by Anonymous in argentina, buenos aires, etiquette, restaurants, tips & how to's, travel

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Argentina, Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires restaurant, castellano, dining out, español, food, how to order at a restaurant, restaurants, Rioplatense Spanish, tourists, translation, travel, useful words and phrases

Menus at Hierbabuena

For longer than I care to admit, I had a debilitating fear of ordering for myself at restaurants in Buenos Aires. My self-consciousness about my Spanish was overwhelming, prompting me to overthink every potential interaction and required response to the point that by the time the server arrived at the table I was completely tongue-tied.

Thankfully, those days are behind me, but the memory of my self-consciousness prompted me to put together this list of helpful words and phrases for beginners, so you can dine out in Buenos Aires with confidence.

First, some background to prepare you for the experience.

  • Many restaurants close down in the late afternoon. They may be open for lunch from noon until 4pm, then re-open at 8pm for dinner. Yes, that’s right my North American friends, be prepared to eat later than you’re used to.
  • Tipping 10% is customary. Many restaurants will charge a “cubierto” service charge – this is not the tip! It’s basically the cost of getting a table at their restaurant, or maybe the basket of bread? I’ve never really been clear on that.
  • Service is generally slow, if not otherwise atrocious. Don’t take it personally, it’s not you. Just sit back, relax, and try to enjoy the wait for your menu, your drinks, your food, and the bill. Make sure you’ve got plenty of time.
  • Many restaurants and cafés do not accept credit cards.

If all you can remember is “Vino, por favor!” you’re good to go. But just in case, here are some other words and phrases that may come in handy. This is by no means exhaustive, but covers the basics to get food in your belly. And keep in mind that some of the terms may be specific to Argentina or Rioplatense Spanish.

USEFUL PHRASES FOR DINING OUT IN BUENOS AIRES

“Excuse me…” = “Perdón…”

“A table for two, please.” = “Una mesa para dos personas, por favor.”

“What do you recommend?” = “Qué aconsejás?”

“I’d like to order ____.” = “Te pido ___ por favor.” Literal translation is “I ask you for ____ please”, which I know sounds super awkward to us Yanks, but it is what it is.

“Can I order food to go?” = “Puedo pedir para llevar?”

“Can I take the leftovers?” = “Puedo llevar las sobras?” But don’t be surprised if they look at you like you’re crazy or don’t have anything to package it in. This is not a common practice.

“The bill, please.” = “La cuenta, por favor.”

“Are credit cards accepted?” = “Se aceptan tarjetas de crédito?”

Have no fear! Order with confidence.

USEFUL VOCABULARY WORDS FOR DINING OUT IN BUENOS AIRES

appetizers: entradas

beer: una cerveza, un chopp (draft beer), un porrón (bottled beer), un litro (large liter bottle of beer to share…or not, no judgement)

the bill: la cuenta

chicken: pollo, suprema (chicken breast)

coffee: café, café con leche (coffee with milk)

dessert: postre

entrée: plato principal

fish: pescado; the most common are merluza (hake), lenguado (sole), and salmón rosado or blanco (pink or white salmon)

fork: tenedor

ham: jamón, jamón cocido (cooked, sliced ham), jamón crudo (dry-cured ham)

ice: hielo

juice: jugo

knife: cuchillo

menu: la carta

ground pepper: pimienta negra molida

napkin: servilleta

pork: cerdo, bondiola (pork shoulder), chorizo (pork sausage)

potatoes: papas, papas fritas (fries) puré de papas (mashed potatoes)

rice: arroz

salad: ensalada

salt: sal

seafood: mariscos

server: mozo/a

silverware/cutlery: cubiertos

soda: gaseosa

soup: sopa

spoon: cuchara

steak / meat: carne (check out this post from Wander Argentina for a list of all the various cuts); to request meat cooked rare: vuelta y vuelta, medium rare: jugoso, medium: al punto, well done: bien cocido. Rest assured, it will arrive at the table more well done than you’d wanted.

sugar: azúcar

tea: té

vegetarian: vegetariano

water: agua con gas (sparkling water), agua sin gas (still bottled water)

wine: vino, vino tinto (red wine), vino blanco (white wine), una copa de vino (a glass of wine), una botella de vino (a bottle of wine)

 

El Sótano de los Quesos: The Cheese Cellar

23 Thursday Aug 2012

Posted by Anonymous in restaurants, travel

≈ Comments Off on El Sótano de los Quesos: The Cheese Cellar

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cheese, cheese cellar, Colón, El Sótano de los Quesos, Entre Rios, travel

After a failed attempt to reach Uruguay this past weekend, we unexpectedly spent a few days in Colón, Argentina. (Long story, don’t ask). While the weekend overall didn’t exactly go as planned, we definitely lucked out as far as the location in which we were briefly stranded. Colón is a charming historic town on the western shore of the Río Uruguay, with a mix of quaint shops, riverside restaurants and thriving nightlife.

On our search for the bright side, we stumbled across El Sótano de los Quesos (The Cheese Cellar) with its sunny patio overlooking the river. After ordering up a lunch of delicious picadas, fresh bread and a refreshing fruity licuado, I scoped out el sótano. 

As soon as you duck into the stone cellar, you’re met with piles of fresh cheeses, salame, bondiola and bread. Shelves are lined with homemade flavored oils and marmalade, jars of preserved meats, fresh honey, and pickled veggies. One corner is dedicated to fresh milks, yogurt and ricotta. A small alcove in the back is stocked with homemade wines, craft brews and artisanal liqueurs.

Pategras and provolone are available in abundance, with some mounds of provolone already seasoned with oregano and ready for the parilla, provoleta-style.  I was also delighted to find non-standard fare like mermelada de tomate (tomato jam) and pickled venison.

If you’re ever in Colón (hopefully by your own free will) it’s definitely worth spending a lazy afternoon by the river, and picking up some artisanal treats to take home.

EL SÓTANO DE LOS QUESOS – En el Puerto de Colón Entre Rios

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