1. The Havana Merengue Alfajor
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Choripan
What is it? Choripan
Okay, but what IS it? Chorizo, a thick and fatty sausage, served as a sandwich on crusty white bread. I chose to top mine with roasted eggplant, marinated onion, purple cabbage, green herbs in oil, and olive mayonnaise.
What circumstances led to this extremely classy hot dog? The amazing, incredible Leon took me to enjoy this for Easter morning breakfast. I watched a grandpa teach his grandson how to ride a bicycle while he told me about the architectural history of Argentina. We had to change tables because the smoke from the grill was too strong at the first, but at the second, pollen from the cattails kept trying to land in my 7-Up. It was perfect. Try as I might, though, I couldn't finish the whole thing!
Where can I find some? This particular Choripan came from a street vendor in Puerto Madero, one of (if not the) most expensive areas in Buenos Aires. According to Leon, each cubic square foot of space costs $4500.
If Puerto Madero is that expensive, how much did the food cost? Fear not! Though Puerto Madero IS very expensive, you can enjoy a gourmet choripan of your very own for around $5.00USD.
Hostel Barbecued Chicken
What is it? Hostel Barbecued Chicken
Okay, but what IS it? Chicken marinated in cream, mustard, and garlic, barbecued on a homemade grill constructed from half of a barrel.
Where can I get some? I gorged myself on this feast in Mendoza, Argentina at the Savigliano Hostel.
How much did it cost? I was in charge of buying the salad, which cost approximately $2.00USD. Everything else was free.
Empanada Mendocinas
What is it? Empanadas Mendocinas
Okay, but what IS it? A baked, turnover-like pastry stuffed with a variety of fillings. This one, in the traditional style of Mendoza, contained ground beef, onions, olives, and hard boiled eggs. On the side is a lovely, improvised-plastic-bottle-glass of Malbec, the most famous wine of the Mendoza region.
What circumstances led to this meaty goodness? I meant to spend the day hiking in the Andes, I really did. But a late morning, a long bus ride, and a healthy dose of laziness found me spending the afternoon at a hot springs in the foothills instead. I enjoyed this empanada and wine with some friends along the side of the road while we watched a group of rock climbers practice on the brick legs of a bridge.
Where can I find some? Empanadas are insanely popular all over Latin America and can be found, among other places, at: street stalls, cafes, pizzerias, super markets, gas stations and subway stations. But, for the Mendoza-style empanada, you'll probably have the best luck in Mendoza, Argentina (who woulda guessed?)
How much did it cost? $5.00USD for 6 empanadas.
Sopapilla con Pebre
What is it? Sopapilla con Pebre
Okay, but what IS it? For all my US readers: this is NOT dessert! A Chilean sopapilla is deep-fried dough made from flour, water, and pumpkin. It comes with a variety of toppings, but I like pebre: a spicy sauce made from tomatoes, onions, lots of garlic, and spices.
What circumstances led to so much deep-fried deliciousness? Dancing always works up an appetite, especially when you can't tango to save your life. After a pisco sour (hard alcohol made from grapes mixed with lemon and sugar), a terremoto (white wine and herb liquor with pineapple ice cream on top), and a full night of warding off lecherous old men practicing their English with pick-up lines, the lovely Susanna and I stopped at street stall at 2:00AM for some much-needed nourishment. It was raining. A lot.
Where can I find some? At almost any street stall in Santiago, Chile.
How much did it cost? $0.20USD per sopapilla. I recommend buying at least two. They're delicious.
Mote con Huesillos
What is it? Mote con Huesillos
Okay, but what IS it? First, dried peaches are cooked with sugar, cinnamon, and water to make a sweet, tea-like liquid. This nectar, along with the whole dried peaches, is then poured on top of cooked barley, and the whole concoction is eaten with a spoon. In some ways, it's like the Chilean version of bubble tea - a drink that you also have to chew.
What circumstances led to this drink... snack... thing? Hostels often need to be fumigated; this is just a fact of life. And when fumigation day comes, all of the hostel patrons are forced out into the street for a few hours. On one such day, I found myself doing some forced sightseeing in Santiago, Chile. Attracted by a commotion in the center of the plaza I was walking through, I attempted to get a better look, only to be pulled by the street performer in question into the middle of the crowd. For the next 45 minutes, I was "saved" from a "burning building" by a series of men who were forced to carry me, princess-style, across the plaza. At the end, I received a free copy of the performer's DVD: Loco Freddy 2, El Beso de Gringo, or in English: Crazy Freddy 2, the kiss of the foreigner/white person. Parched by my ordeal (after all, I WAS stuck in a "burning building" for nearly 45 minutes) I bought this from a street vendor.
Where can I get some? All over Chile during the summer, and apparently into the fall as well
How much did it cost? I don't remember, but I don't think it was more than $2.00USD.
Cappucino Freddo
What is it? Cappucino Freddo
Okay, but what IS it? I didn't catch the exact ingredients, but it's some combination of coffee and dulce de leche ice cream blended together into a milkshake, then topped with whipped cream and shaved chocolate. (Dulce de leche, for the uninitiated, is a thick, creamy, caramel-like sauce very popular across Latin America. The main difference between dulce de leche and caramel is that while caramel is made by simply heating sugar, dulce de leche is made mostly with milk. To call it caramel is not only inaccurate but, to the die-hard fans, downright offensive.)
What circumstances led to such a marvelous drink? (What I thought was) my last day in Buenos Aires left me distressed and badly in need of some sweet, sweet comfort. After spending several hours buying souvenirs - At Walmart, of all places - I came across this gem. The five minutes it took me to slurp down my glass of heaven saw me in a state of total nirvana, my mind completely clear of all worry or despair. The following hour saw me in a dark state of depression when I realized the cruel irony that I didn't know this drink existed until the day I had to leave Buenos Aires.
Where can I find some? At any Freddo, one of the most popular ice cream chains in Argentina.
How much did it cost? Around $5.00USD. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Shut your face for even asking.
Bife de Chorizo
What is it? Bife de Chorizo con Chimichurri
Okay, but what IS it? Sirloin steak. Not pictured is the chimichurri, a sauce made with oil, garlic, lots of vinegar, and a whole bunch of dried herbs. I could drink the stuff.
What circumstances led to such a marvelous piece of meat? After spending a gray afternoon in the touristy areas of La Boca - that oft photographed historic neighborhood full of brightly painted homes and, more recently, slightly offensive caricatures of Italian immigrants - Olga and I decided to keep with our stereotypical tourist afternoon and go to a touristy restaurant for some touristy steak. Tourist.
Where can I find some? I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but it was somewhere in the San Telmo district of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
How much did it cost? Around $20.00 USD for the whole thing, but since we split it, it came to $10.00 each.
What's this all about then?
I've been failing, miserably, at keeping a blog on this trip.
I see amazing things everyday. I talk to amazing people. I hear amazing music. I eat amazing food. And then, when I sit down at my computer to tell you all about it, my fingers freeze. I don't know what to say. How do I distinguish the interesting from the mundane? How do I do justice to my experiences?
Meanwhile, you - my family and friends - are assuredly wondering what the heck I'm up to day after day.
Suddenly, inspiration!
What am I passionate about? What do I think about all the time? And what do people LOVE to look at?
Food, of course!
It is my intention to not only use this blog to share photos and (where applicable) recipes, but also to give you, my readers, glimpses into my travels by sharing the context in which I enjoyed my food. Given enough time and motivation, I may even use this as a forum to delve into deeper issues of nutrition, agriculture, community, and access to resources around the world.
Why the name, Yo Tengo Hambre? Well, I'm in a Spanish-speaking country right now, and I'm hungry.
I see amazing things everyday. I talk to amazing people. I hear amazing music. I eat amazing food. And then, when I sit down at my computer to tell you all about it, my fingers freeze. I don't know what to say. How do I distinguish the interesting from the mundane? How do I do justice to my experiences?
Meanwhile, you - my family and friends - are assuredly wondering what the heck I'm up to day after day.
Suddenly, inspiration!
What am I passionate about? What do I think about all the time? And what do people LOVE to look at?
Food, of course!
It is my intention to not only use this blog to share photos and (where applicable) recipes, but also to give you, my readers, glimpses into my travels by sharing the context in which I enjoyed my food. Given enough time and motivation, I may even use this as a forum to delve into deeper issues of nutrition, agriculture, community, and access to resources around the world.
Why the name, Yo Tengo Hambre? Well, I'm in a Spanish-speaking country right now, and I'm hungry.
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