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Tag Archives: vegetables

An Ode to the Mercado de San Telmo

05 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by Anonymous in buenos aires, travel

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

butcher, food, fruits, groceries, list of fruits and vegetables, Mercado San Telmo, shopping in San Telmo, vegetables

Hunting down groceries in Buenos Aires seemed a little complicated and intimidating at first. While there are large chain supermarkets, they’re not always easily accessible and the freshness/quality levels of certain products can be suspect. But you get used to making several stops on a regular basis. Verdulerías for veggies & fruits, carnicerías for meat, granjerías for poultry, eggs and such, and pescaderías for fish and seafood. Then there are dietéticas for healthy/natural food options like gluten-free products, quinoa, nuts and grains, real vanilla, azucar rubia, etc. And of course the supermercados chinos – locally referred to simply as chinos because (facepalm) they’re usually owned by Asians –  for your basic everyday needs like milk, bread and wine. Yes, basic everyday needs are subjective.

So I’m incredibly grateful for the fact that we live a few blocks from the glorious Mercado de San Telmo, which combines almost all of these options in a raucous space that spans a square block. I don’t think it’s possible for me to overstate my adoration of this place. Most people think of the Mercado as an antiques flea market. Which it is. But it’s so much more.

The selection and quality of the fruits and vegetables here is the absolute best and most reliable I’ve found in the city. Yes, the prices are a bit higher as a result. But you get what you pay for, and if you’re a regular customer you tend to get better deals. Plus, the vendors are super helpful and have infinite patience. My favorite puesto is the one right next to the butcher, because they always give me candy with my change. Yes, I’m easily won over, but they also have fair prices and give receipts so you can keep track of inflation for yourself. If someone doesn’t have an item you’re looking for, chances are you can find it at a nearby stall, so don’t hesitate to shop around. Check out my list of fruits and vegetables in castellano Rioplatense if you find yourself at a loss for words.

The Mercado’s also the best spot I’ve found in San Telmo for chicken, meats and eggs. There are two granjerías that sell a variety of eggs along with whole chickens and your standard breasts, wings, thighs and legs. They also have trocitos de pollo, which I find are excellent for dishes like paella that require small flavorful pieces of dark meat and save you all the bone-removing awkwardness. Plus, these puestos can fill orders for rabbit, duck and turkey.

The main butcher stalls are a sight to behold. On any given day there will be whole pigs hanging out (literally), alongside various hooves, tongues, piles of intestines, and yes, even brains. I gape, briefly consider how I would prepare such a thing, and end up ordering pork chops. But truly, any meat product you can imagine, they’ve got it. From bacon and sausages to filet mignon to liver and innards, just ask and ye shall receive. The carniceros are well-versed in their trade, a blessing for someone who both sucks at math and can’t always articulate exactly what she’s looking for. “Cómo vas a prepararlo? Para cuántas personas? Bueno, sugiero un medio kilo de entraña.” I may not be sure if I’m getting skirt steak or entrails, but it’s part of the adventure.

For those of us who fancy a huge selection of cheeses, cured meats and other picada-type foods, there’s a puesto for that. Again, knowing your measurements is key. But I couldn’t complain about finding myself with a half-kilo of manchego to polish off.

And for a wide variety of spices and grains, there’s a puesto tucked next to one of the entrances on Humberto Primo with stacks of jars full of….everything. Dried herbs and spices, varieties of sugars, flours, nuts, grains, vanilla beans, etc.

If you live in San Telmo and are doing your shopping at Carrefour or Disco, get thee to the Mercado. Even if you’re not from the neighborhood, it’s worth the trip. Avoid Sundays for the best prices and wait times.

MERCADO DE SAN TELMO – between Defensa & Bolivar, and Carlos Calvo & Humberto Primo

¿Cómo se dice…? Fruits and Veggies

23 Monday Jul 2012

Posted by Anonymous in buenos aires, tips & how to's

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Buenos Aires, castellano, english & spanish fruit & vegetable translations, fruits, vegetables

When you love to cook, moving to a country where you don’t speak the language can turn what used to be a simple trip to the grocery store into utter agony. Even after a year, many hundreds of hours of Spanish lessons and daily trips to the mercado, I still do a lot of pointing and asking, “¿Qué es esto?“.

The fact that different Spanish-speaking countries have different names for the same items also complicates things in my brain. You think you’re shopping for aguacates and fresas? Oh noooo, my friend, those are paltas and frutillas in castellano rioplatense. So for any new arrivals or those who are just starting to venture out to the verdulerias, here’s a list of some of the most common fruits, vegetables and herbs you may be attempting to purchase and their corresponding names in the region. For a complete list of kitchen and cooking terminology, check out NOLA Chef’s Kitchen Dictionary.

FRUITS, VEGETABLES & HERBS IN  ENGLISH & SPANISH / FRUTAS, VEGETALES & HIERBAS EN INGLÉS Y CASTELLANO

apple: la manzana

artichoke: el alcaucil

arugula: la rúcula

asparagus: los espárragos

avocado: la palta

banana: la banana

basil: la albahaca

bay leaves: las hojas de laurel

beans: las chauchas

beets: las remolachas

blueberry: el arándano

bok choy: el bok choy

broccoli: el brócoli

brussels sprouts: los repollitos de bruselas

cabbage: el repollo

cabbage (Napa): el repollo japonés

capers: las alcaparras

carrots: la zanahoria

cauliflower: la coliflor

celery: el apio

cherry: la cereza

chickpeas: los garbanzos

cilantro: el cilantro

coconut: el coco

corn: el choclo

cucumber: el pepino

dates: los dátiles

eggplant: la berenjena

endive: la endivia

fig: el higo

garlic: el ajo

ginger: el jengibre

grapefruit: el pomelo

grapes: las uvas

kiwi: el kiwi

leek: el puerro

lemon: el limón

lentils: las lentejas

lettuce: la lechuga

lime: la lima

mango: el mango

mint: la menta

mushrooms: los champiñones, los hongos

onion: la cebolla

onion (red): la cebolla morada

orange: la naranja

orange (mandarine): la mandarina

oregano: el orégano

parsley: el perejil

passion fruit: la maracuyá

peach: el durazno

pear: la pera

peas: las arvejas

pepper (bell varieties: green, red, yellow): el morrón (verde, rojo, amarillo)

pineapple: el ananá

plantain: el plátano

plum: la ciruela

pomegranate: la granada

potato: la papa

pumpkin: la calabaza (also means squash)

prune: la ciruela pasa

radish: el rábano

raspberry: la frambuesa

rosemary: el romero

rhubarb: el ruibarbo

sage: la salvia

shallots: los chalotes

spinach: la espinaca

squash: la calabaza (also means pumpkin)

strawberry: la frutilla

sweet potato: la batata

thyme: el tomillo

tomato (normal): el tomate redondo

tomato (Roma or plum): el tomate perita

tomato (cherry or grape): el tomate cherry

turnip: el nabo

watermelon: la sandía

zucchini (round): zapallito redondo

Okay, what am I missing? What am I saying wrong while the friendly verduleros just humor me? Where did I get the artículos incorrect? Your additions, suggestions and corrections are invited and welcome. Happy healthy shopping!

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