Argentina is not just home to quiet towns, colorful landscapes, historic monuments, and beautiful women. Buenos Aires, the capital of this South American paradise, offers some of the best “kitchens” in South America. A food tour of Buenos Aires’ local restaurants, from the upscale places to budget cafes, will introduce the visiting tourist to the highly prized Argentine beef known for its flavor and tenderness.
Following are two restaurant samplers from the many choices that await you in Buenos Aires.
Casa Coupage
The barrio (neighborhood) of Palermo is the site of the Parque Tres de Febrero, the largest green area in the city of Buenos Aires that was inspired by the Bois de Boulogne in Paris and the Prater in Vienna. The Poets’ Garden, close to the boating lake, is adorned with bronze busts of renowned poets like William Shakespeare.
The National Museum of Decorative Arts, a spectacular palatial home, lies at Palermo Chico (north-eastern edge). Here you will find the wealthiest with their mansions set in broad private parks. The Museum of Latin American Art can be found between Barrio Parque and the Paseo Alcorta shopping center.
A tour of Palermo is like a date you hope will never end. Casa Coupage, a lovely private residence-turned-restaurant that hosts two dinners every week (with maximum of 15 diners and 4 tables each night only), will welcome you to the impressive Argentine culinary world. When Chef Martin Lukesch isn’t busy preparing fantastic modern Argentine dishes, Casa Coupage is transformed into a private catering workroom.
Sommelier Santiago Mymicopulo picks excellent wine pairings with each course. This should be perfect for phenomenal must-order delights like the veal cutlet with garlic, mashed potatoes and mushroom dust, and the rabbit confit with a carrot and citrus salad.
Find Casa Coupage at Soler 5518, Palermo, Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, 1425. Restaurant reservations would be essential.
Pippo
San Nicols (the Centro) shares most of the Buenos Aires and national government structure and is home to Buenos Aires’ financial sector. It is also the site of the GalerÃas PacÃfico, a national historic monument and is now one of Buenos Aires’ plushest downtown malls. The bowels of the mall used to be the prison cell of rebels caught during the dictatorship. The dungeon walls still bear the desperate markings made by its long-dead prisoners.
Pippo, a classic known for its down-to-earth cooking, is an upscale seventy-year-old restaurant in the Corrientes theater district of Centro. The place derives its charm from the old wooden tables that complement its no-nonsense interior design. The casual atmosphere, efficient service and large servings of parrilla (mixed grill) are perfect ingredients for a memorable lunch. Some of the most popular home-made pasta choices here include the ravioli and tallarines. The estofado (beef stew) is beautifully prepared. The Pippo sauce is to die for. Finish the meal with an unforgettable flan topped with dulce de leche.
Find Pippo at Paran- 356, Centro, Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, 1017.
