An Epicurean Dilemma in Buenos Aires

An interesting situation took place over the past couple weeks concerning an article that caught my eye in the New York Times Travel Magazine about restaurants in the trendy neighborhood of Palermo Viejo in Buenos Aires. The author remarked that the restaurants were "more about the soaring interiors and designer cocktails than the food. It's not that a meal at this type of restaurant is bad, just generic: croquettes with clever fillings, crusted salmon served with a side of puréed something". He went on to almost plead for restaurants "which showcase Argentina's rich culinary history and its bounty", which in turn set off a tirade of opposition amongst expats in Buenos Aires who diligently read their Sunday Times, including one of my favorite restaurant bloggers at SaltShaker. Dan Perlman, the blog's author, felt that the NYT article missed the point of Buenos Aires' restaurant scene. Why did people assume that a country with a culture as strong as Argentina's must be limited to serving only local cuisine successfully?

The NYT author was clearly also a follower of the SaltShaker blog and sent his rebuttal back to Dan, explaining that he had not intended to dismiss creative efforts to introduce other styles into Argentine kitchens, but rather was pointing out options that were most likely to appeal to his audience -- travelers to Argentina. It is true that after extensive travel in a specific area (which can often mimic the lifestyle of an expat) one will eventually grow tired of the local cuisine and seek alternatives - after a few weeks in Thailand I just couldn't put down another green curry for the 25th night in a row! However, if I plan a 1 week trip to Argentina I am going to prepare my arteries for as much steak as they can possibly handle and probably won't take a break for a dinner at the local Thai restaurant.

We've kept these various travel styles in mind when researching our restaurant recommendations for OTR. Although we make sure there is a good selection of 'local cuisine' on the menu, we also have a section for those who need a break from local cuisine.