There have been all too many posts about sailing technology on this blog. The entertainment value of the pros and cons of water pumps has its limits for most of our readers. We, like many people, enjoy traveling and discovering different food. We both enjoy trying new recipes; however, I prefer it if Gail acts as my taste tester. Bit regal of me!
Argentine Food from Two Fish on Vimeo.
It is early days for a blog post on Argentine cuisine, but here is a list of highs and lows in San Fernando…
de lo Roy Cafe
Best: Cafe lo de Roy. We had salads with chicken and brie and they were perfect. Dressings ranged from lemon juice to the usual oil and vinegar and a garlic potion. The service is great, as it is a family business. Sons, daughters, brother-in-laws and such are making sure your time on the sunny patio results in a fantastic lunch. The place exudes a home-like feeling, with a nice dose of humble, which is the perfect combination for a traveler far from home. (Located on Primera Junta near Gaboto, San Isidro). Note to self: spotted nearby was a very nice looking fruit and vegetable store.
Runner up: The Yacht Club Argentino (YCA) requires you to be with a member to get access, but if you do get in, it has a great feeling and a nice light lunch. On a particularly chilly day, we were given a tasty lentil soup amuse-bouche. The walls are covered with great sailing shots from Optimists to big boats and the clients seem to be the connected businessmen of Buenos Aires. Do not fill up on the bread, as the main course should be enough to keep you fueled for an afternoon tour of the factory.
High score: Dutch Cafe near the Marina Nueva station serves a nice salad with your choice of salmon or chicken on top. Coffee folk: do order a Cortado after your meal. Dutch Cafe is closed on Mondays, but on other days you have a good chance of sighting upper management of 40 Degrees Sud (boat builder). The river view from the patio on summer days is a real bonus. Address: Arias 2400 Telephone: 4746-7044
Havanna Coffee House
Medium High: Havanna is a coffee chain, so this is not a
Cortado with the trimmings
diamond in the rough. However, they have a great way of serving their coffee – you get the coffee, a small glass of water, a small glass of fresh orange juice and an Alfajore, a traditional Argentine sandwich cookie with dulce de leche. The ones at Havanna are dipped in chocolate. What a civilized way to live. I am a bit concerned that Gail has developed a bit of a Havanna habit. Other Argentinean places serve coffee like this; when are the Americans going to learn? BTW, Gail drinks coffee but I got the same perks with a tea.
Medium: Hotel Jacaranda serves an efficient and simple breakfast, included with the room. Hits what I consider the high points. OJ, tea, corn flakes, fruit, and some eggs if you ask nicely. As dinner time rolls around (8pm) you will notice two things: the TV is left on, pumping out the latest Argentine news and the Americans (that would be us) are already seated. The TV was engaging since the upcoming elections in Argentina are important.
Pompeii Restaurant
Low: Downtown San Fernando is limited on a Sunday night and you most likely will end up at Pompeii. Not great pizza, breaded chicken with lots of cheese and chop suey that is left in the wok too long. Gail thinks it is not as bad as I make it out to be. Tip #1: the salad bar section of the menu means you order a custom mix from your waiter and he brings it. Not a bad salad. Tip #2: Pompeii offers free beer at certain times of the day. Unfortunately, the offer is a bit random so you will have to try your luck.
Lowest: The Sports Bar in San Fernando serves a Caesar Salad that is about 30% mozzarella cheese and 20% croutons. In some of the guide books, they have mentioned that vegetables and salads are not really an Argentine tradition. So, to be fair, we may be poor food critics since steaks are not our thing. Sorry Argentina to judge you on your salads. Tied for lowest on the salad scale was a restaurant that Gail wanted to try. From a distance it had a sign with Bio-organic on it. Combine that with the fact that someone told us it was a vegetarian place and our hopes were high. However, upon arriving, we realized they sell Deli meats and little else. Oh well. Until we splash, when in SF, we’ll stick to our top picks.
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