Argentina - Fine Dining Coming to Buenos Aires

Wow, just wow! (http://investba.com/tag/wendys-en-buenos-aires/)

Unbelievable that this culinary magnificence will bring yet another reason to visit Porteñolandia!

Woo hoo. :rolleyes:

I would rather see a decent pizza chain, maybe a nice Chicago-style place...

Great stuff.....more junk food options. ^

Woo hoo. :rolleyes:

I would rather see a decent pizza chain, maybe a nice Chicago-style place...Your wish has been (haha) granted!:
http://investba.com/tag/kfc-in-argentina/

Your wish has been (haha) granted!:
http://investba.com/tag/kfc-in-argentina/

"El Temor De Comer" :eek:

You have all got to be kidding me! Asking for a Wendy's in BsAs is like asking for a Taco Bell in Mexico City or an Au Bon Pain in Paris. Totally illogical! The local options are far better! Can somebody explain the int'l fascination with American-style fast food? If there were a comparable food purity law to the German Beer Purity law (I can't remember the official name), this stuff would be labelled toxic waste.

One example of what American fast food companies are passing of as human consumables? Taco Bell taco meat was found to contain only 36% beef.

BsAs has its own pizza culture/style, enjoy that instead. If you want Chicago-style pizza, I suggest going to Chicago (I won't suggest any because that's a separate thread). Pizzeria Uno is not a substitute.

I LOVE BsAs and would never think of visiting an American import thinking I was getting a better meal than what is available from a local option.

Wow, just wow! (http://investba.com/tag/wendys-en-buenos-aires/)

Unbelievable that this culinary magnificence will bring yet another reason to visit Porteñolandia!

It's for the typical gringos to feel more at home.... :D After all there is a McD and and BK right across from the Obelisco. Why not add a Wendy's too? :)

Cheers....

--J

...BsAs has its own pizza culture/style, enjoy that instead. If you want Chicago-style pizza, I suggest going to Chicago...


The plane trip makes it an expensive meal, don't you think?
Local pizza, pasta and milanesa is fine, and I do occasionally enjoy that culture/style. But there are 4 million places serving the same thing here, and sometimes I want a little variety. So having one or two Chicago pizza places serving a metro area of some 20 million people doesn't seem out of line, or likely to destroy local culture.

There are already plenty of McD here, and they are incredibly popular and successful, no matter how much I personally dislike them. But that's O.K., because nobody is forcing me to go there. Same would be true of a Chicago pizza place. They would only succeed if enough folks like the food.

It's for the typical gringos to feel more at home.... :D After all there is a McD and and BK right across from the Obelisco. Why not add a Wendy's too? :)

Cheers....

--J

It's not for the gringos. McD's are full of locals, who love the place.

The plane trip makes it an expensive meal, don't you think?...

Well, you have a point that makes sense pretty much everywhere except on FT. I don't think I would have eve made such a statement before finding FT!

It's not for the gringos. McD's are full of locals, who love the place.

So I'd rather go to BsAs to get a real Argentine steak dinner. But I do enjoy the occassional visit to an Argentine style restaurant in the US. But they are not reflective of the real thing. The Portenos want a taste of US dining and they're tricked into believing McD's is the place. They be best served sticking with the local options.

It's not for the gringos. McD's are full of locals, who love the place.

I know that ! And unfortunately some of my friends' children have been brainwashed into it. American chains proliferated all over the world to increase market share from the locals.

Yet, I know of many pitiful gringo families that have to take their children to a McD when traveling overseas or they would starve (not a bad idea after all to combat some obesity). In brief, it works both ways.

Most gringos love to 'feel' at home when traveling overseas. That is why they choose familiar names. They bring them comfort.... Very few are daring and adventurous for the new and unknown.

--J

So having one or two Chicago pizza places serving a metro area of some 20 million people doesn't seem out of line, or likely to destroy local culture.

It's bad enough the intake of fat and sodium from eating steaks. Now you want to introduce never ending melted cheese from a Chicago deep dish pizza? :rolleyes: Most of my friends children are become fat thanks to the imported US food chains. Do you work for some cholesterol lowering or heart medicine drug manufacturer? :D

cheers....

--J
PS: I grew up there eating sensible portions of steak just about every day.... Pasta, fish and pizza on weekends.

This is a second, and very strong wave of comebacks and new launches for fast food chains in Argentina. According to what Ive been reading, its not only the first time coming of chains like Wendy's but also the return for a second (or third) try for names like KFC and Pizza Hut.

In my view, the chances of these names making it quite good, given that they are entering the market by the hand of an investment firm that is a seasoned fast food operator, and the same investor group has interest in various brands... this creates important economies of scale.

As for the age old discussion of Taco Bells in Mexico or a Croissant place in France..... folks, globalization, mass market media & advertising works. The new generations are easy "victims" for these mass market companies.... if Starbucks can work in Vienna and Paris, why should a couple of junk food chains not make it in Buenos Aires.

Like it or not... these companies are going to continue to penetrate new markets all over the world and they will more often succeed rather than fail.

So I'd rather go to BsAs to get a real Argentine steak dinner. But I do enjoy the occassional visit to an Argentine style restaurant in the US. But they are not reflective of the real thing. The Portenos want a taste of US dining and they're tricked into believing McD's is the place. They be best served sticking with the local options.

If you lived there, or spent much time there, and eating steak every day or finding that french fries were your staple daily vegetable, you would likely want other options. I think that porteños know that McDs isn't "US Dining" trickery, but believe it or not, if you want to have a quick lunch or bite to eat at other hours of the day, and not make it a drawn out or social experience, then gringo-style fast food may be your best option. These places are also generally well air-conditioned. I spend (in the aggregate) a few weeks a year in BsAs and although I've never eaten gringo-branded fast food there, the "local fare" gets boring after a few days, and sometimes even for a "quick sandwich" at some little mom/pop place, it takes awhile, and in the summer, the temperature may be hotter inside than outside.

I had a friend who was living in Belgrano on a 1 year stint for his wife's work. His kids missed US food and ended up going to McD's on a regular basis. They would ask for extra ketchup packets to take home. This was their only source of American-style ketchup. So when I went down for a visit, number one on the list of things to bring was a large supply of ketchup. I bet TSA took a second look at my checked bags when the x-ray saw 1/2 gallon of ketchup and a quart of pure maple syrup. From what I understand, the family visits to McD's ended with the arrival of my care package. :)

I bet TSA took a second look at my checked bags when the x-ray saw 1/2 gallon of ketchup and a quart of pure maple syrup... :)

You are not alone. I fly into EZE 10-12 times a year, and check a suitcase more than half the time, which is filled with food, sauces, spices, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and other ingredients that can't be found here. I always get the TSA's "we inspected your suitcase" note, but never had a issue.

I had a friend who was living in Belgrano on a 1 year stint for his wife's work. His kids missed US food and ended up going to McD's on a regular basis. They would ask for extra ketchup packets to take home. This was their only source of American-style ketchup. So when I went down for a visit, number one on the list of things to bring was a large supply of ketchup. I bet TSA took a second look at my checked bags when the x-ray saw 1/2 gallon of ketchup and a quart of pure maple syrup. From what I understand, the family visits to McD's ended with the arrival of my care package. :)

Tomato ketchup is readily available in every supermarket....pretty decent stuff it is too. Even Heinz ketchup can be bought in BA although the cost is a bit steep.
Wish they sold Maple Syrup here though.

I had a friend who was living in Belgrano on a 1 year stint for his wife's work. His kids missed US food and ended up going to McD's on a regular basis. They would ask for extra ketchup packets to take home. This was their only source of American-style ketchup. So when I went down for a visit, number one on the list of things to bring was a large supply of ketchup. I bet TSA took a second look at my checked bags when the x-ray saw 1/2 gallon of ketchup and a quart of pure maple syrup. From what I understand, the family visits to McD's ended with the arrival of my care package. :)

I dont want to scold anybody here... but these folks you know dont get around a lot.... you can find Heinz or other US brand ketchup all over Buenos Aires. Maple Syrup is harder to find, but its not impossible. Having to go to the golden arches to get proper ketchup is well... a little "original".... :D

You are not alone. I fly into EZE 10-12 times a year, and check a suitcase more than half the time, which is filled with food, sauces, spices, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and other ingredients that can't be found here. I always get the TSA's "we inspected your suitcase" note, but never had a issue.

Peanut Butter can be found at Jumbo, Disco and other Gourmet/Deli store througout town. Of course, as Hiddy correctly points out you will pay a premium... and since you travel so much it makes sense to bring it down... however, its good to know that you have a fall-back position if needed.

Check Chinatown for hard to get "gringo" stuff also... they will have things from time to time and at better prices than Jumbo or the large retailers.

Funny how on Chowhound in the SF Bay Area someone is looking for products imported from la Argentina :D

I dont want to scold anybody here... but these folks you know dont get around a lot.... you can find Heinz or other US brand ketchup all over Buenos Aires. Maple Syrup is harder to find, but its not impossible. Having to go to the golden arches to get proper ketchup is well... a little "original".... :D

BsAs was actually an excellent place to initiate children to foreign travel and food! For the most part there are very few green vegetables! Everything else is meat and potatoes, pasta, pizza, chicken milanese (sp?). As I like to call it - the beige food diet. Kids are fine with employing Reagan's vegetable concept - ketchup. If you recall, Pres. Reagan stated ketchup could be considered a/the vegetable in school lunches for American school children.:eek: IIRC.

Funny how on Chowhound in the SF Bay Area someone is looking for products imported from la Argentina :D

:D ^

For the most part there are very few green vegetables!

....? In which city is this...? If you agree that salads contain green vegetables then I can assure you that you will have at least one salad option in every EZE restaurant menu.

Perhaps what you missed are a list of veggie sides that are common in the US... that is true, its not the norm in Buenos Aires restaurants to see a side of corn or spinach or asparragus actually listed on the menu... but you just need to order it... :D ^

BsAs was actually an excellent place to initiate children to foreign travel and food! For the most part there are very few green vegetables! Everything else is meat and potatoes, pasta, pizza, chicken milanese (sp?).

Few vegetables? Where did yo get that from? Even when I take my friends to Pippo we have a blast eating veggies there with our meat !

You can find a wide assortment of vegetables in just about every restaurant in Bs. As. I know first hand. I eat a lot of them !

cheers....,

--J

Peanut Butter can be found at Jumbo, Disco and other Gourmet/Deli store througout town. Of course, as Hiddy correctly points out you will pay a premium... and since you travel so much it makes sense to bring it down... however, its good to know that you have a fall-back position if needed.

Check Chinatown for hard to get "gringo" stuff also... they will have things from time to time and at better prices than Jumbo or the large retailers.

Yeah, I know you can get some stuff here. But I have a lot of brand-specific friends and family. For example, if you must have Ghirardelli 60% choc chips, nothing here can substitute. So even if it can be had locally, if I have room in the suitcase, it is half the price of buying it here.

Yes... Ghirardelli chips are one of a kind, its hard to find a substitute unless you make your own chocolate from scratch... ^

Few vegetables? Where did yo get that from? Even when I take my friends to Pippo we have a blast eating veggies there with our meat !


Pippo.... ah, my old University days. I confess that my school buddies and I went back to Pippo about 2 years ago and left the place after having a horrible meal. Mind you, I dont demand much more than a 'economy class' eatery but what we were served was just very very poor quality. Have you been back recently, and if so, how was it...?

Pippo.... ah, my old University days. I confess that my school buddies and I went back to Pippo about 2 years ago and left the place after having a horrible meal. Mind you, I dont demand much more than a 'economy class' eatery but what we were served was just very very poor quality. Have you been back recently, and if so, how was it...?

Last time I went was early december 2010. I go to the one on Montevideo. I usually take my gringo tourist friends from NYC who want to experience an everyday workers' meal. The place was packed. Some of the waiters are the same from 20+ years ago. I remember some of the faces. We ate quite well. They loved the whole experience. No pretensions; no expectations. Just a lot of fun and good food. I always go there at least once every 6 weeks or so (when I'm in town). I may have had, maybe one bad meal in dozens. I also try to take them to neighborhood 'parrillas' as opposed to the usual tourist traps. Surprisingly, or maybe not, all of them always want to go back there for more....

Cheers,

--J

Thanks for the report... I guess I have to go back and give it another chance.

Few vegetables? Where did yo get that from? Even when I take my friends to Pippo we have a blast eating veggies there with our meat !

You can find a wide assortment of vegetables in just about every restaurant in Bs. As. I know first hand. I eat a lot of them !

cheers....,

--J

This just may give me the motivation to make it to Cow Do this year. My recollection of BsAs is clearly not in alignment with reality. My recollection is the absence of veggies, except for salads. Not that I'm complaining. Is it common for the more tourist oriented restaurants to have only salads?

As stated above, if you dont see a veggie dish on the menu, just ask for what you want. In 99% of all instances, your server will be able to deliver what you want... unless you ask for something like fresh asparragus when its not the season you will almost surely be accomodated.

Are we talking salad veggies or hot veggies here?

If the latter then I have to agree....in my experience seeing hot veg side dishes is a rarity. In fact I've never seen one yet in a restaurant or in a locals home.

Here are examples of hot veggie dishes that are Argentine favorites....

- papas a la crema
- esparragos gratinados
- vegetales a la parrilla
- coliflor con salsa blanca
- espinacas a la crema
- bastones de acelga en milanesa

Many very popular argentine meals include hearty veggie sides... perhaps the most famous is Puchero, which includes a huge variety of hot veggie side dishes.

BTW, I dont think that another chain, a true pillar of American Fine Dining has been mentioned here... SUBWAY. I think that it ranks up there, right next to Chef Boyardee in US Culinary tradition.... :eek: :p

Subway has been in Argentina for a couple of years now... no idea how they are doing but they seem to still be in business.

Related note... I see that the young team of CBC (California Burrito Company) have opened a store in Unicenter Shopping Mall. Ive noticed their stand to be operating at half capacity and having only modest lines at times when the food court is jam-packed. Not a good sign me thinks....

I see.........apart from the papas I've never seen any of those on a menu here I have to say. Never seen the wife making them either. :D

Hiddy... you, as a grilling man, should be able to tackle the vegetales a la parrilla, or....??????????

:p

Hiddy... you, as a grilling man, should be able to tackle the vegetales a la parrilla, or....??????????

:p

I can't be bothered faffing about with vegetables on the parrilla apart from a baked potato now and again. :D
Probably the biggest change in my diet since coming here has been the lack of hot vegetable dishes to accompany a meat or chicken dish. I blame the wife for this change in my eating habits as she finds it a bit strange to eat meat or chicken with a couple of hot veg dishes and gravy for some reason.

Here are examples of hot veggie dishes that are Argentine favorites....

- papas a la crema
- esparragos gratinados
- vegetales a la parrilla
- coliflor con salsa blanca
- espinacas a la crema
- bastones de acelga en milanesa
Y puré de calabaza.

Let's not forget the zapallito....I hate it but my tortoise loves them.

Y puré de calabaza.

Yes..... and also the mixto version.... :D

And of course, there is the Argentine version of Poutine..... Revuelto Gramajo!!! :D

http://recetasdeargentina.com.ar/revuelto-gramajo/

Here are examples of hot veggie dishes that are Argentine favorites....

- papas a la crema
- esparragos gratinados
- vegetales a la parrilla
- coliflor con salsa blanca
- espinacas a la crema
- bastones de acelga en milanesa

Many very popular argentine meals include hearty veggie sides... perhaps the most famous is Puchero, which includes a huge variety of hot veggie side dishes.

I hate to be negative but with cheese, cream or white sauce they do not count as vegetables for me. The Cariocas also want their vegetables to look white for some bizarre reason, but simple, fresh, steamed vegetables are findable in both countries, so serious vegetable eaters can be satisfied also.

Just as Americans in Brazil invested Bob's there seem to be no end of fast food inventions everywhere including Argentina. That is sad.

The only fast food option from the region that I can tolerate is from Pardo's, a Peruvian chain.

Im with jbcarioca in my love for steamed veggies.... nothing like steaming (not too much, leave the stuff al-dente) some broccoli, asparragus and carrots, sprinkle with extra virgin olive oil, add some sea salt and listo !!!!! ^ ^

Ah yes, please serve with a side of Ojo de Bife.... muchas gracias !!!!

Im with jbcarioca in my love for steamed veggies.... nothing like steaming (not too much, leave the stuff al-dente) some broccoli, asparragus and carrots, sprinkle with extra virgin olive oil, add some sea salt and listo !!!!! ^ ^

Ah yes, please serve with a side of Ojo de Bife.... muchas gracias !!!!

Not too keen on the asparagus so I'll swap that for some cauliflower or some Brussel sprouts. Served with some roast beef, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and of course gravy. A nice winter dish. ^

Wirelessly posted (Nokia N97 / Palm TX: Mozilla/5.0 (SymbianOS/9.4; Series60/5.0 NokiaN97-3/22.2.110; Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1) AppleWebKit/525 (KHTML, like Gecko) BrowserNG/7.1.4)

The real question is.... how much longer till we get Krispie Creme and, more importantly, Cinnabon to arrive here in EZE.....???

Wirelessly posted (Nokia N97 / Palm TX: Mozilla/5.0 (SymbianOS/9.4; Series60/5.0 NokiaN97-3/22.2.110; Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1) AppleWebKit/525 (KHTML, like Gecko) BrowserNG/7.1.4)

The real question is.... how much longer till we get Krispie Creme and, more importantly, Cinnabon to arrive here in EZE.....???

Well you might get Krispie Creme - which would be like getting a Shannel purse or a Rolecks watch :D

Actually, KK went down (partially) in flames due to gross overexpansion. I think Cinnabon would do better in La Patria.

Well you might get Krispie Creme - which would be like getting a Shannel purse or a Rolecks watch :D

Actually, KK went down (partially) in flames due to gross overexpansion. I think Cinnabon would do better in La Patria.

So are you dissing my rolecks? Or my spouses Shannel? We paid good money for those in Delhi, at least US$10 for the two as I recall, and now you are making som,e disparaging comment. I just do not understand.

So are you dissing my rolecks? Or my spouses Shannel? We paid good money for those in Delhi, at least US$10 for the two as I recall, and now you are making som,e disparaging comment. I just do not understand.

Yes I am ^^^ :p And you understand, completely!

OK.... so I got the spelling wrong, get of my spheres !!!! :mad:

Did they have to file for CH11...??? I was not informed.

Not too keen on the asparagus so I'll swap that for some cauliflower or some Brussel sprouts. Served with some roast beef, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and of course gravy. A nice winter dish. ^

I will also have Brussel Sprouts and CFlower.... maybe also add some wild Andean mini potatoes and baby eggplants !!! ^

Yorkshire pudding.... :p Isnt that some kind of dog food...? :rolleyes:

Gravy... ah, yes, thats the 'sauce' you guys up North have to put on your meats to give it some flavour, right....? Sorry, not familiar with such things in this neck of the woods.

Wow, just wow! (http://investba.com/tag/wendys-en-buenos-aires/)

Unbelievable that this culinary magnificence will bring yet another reason to visit Porteñolandia! :confused:

Fixed it for you. ;)

BTW, I dont think that another chain, a true pillar of American Fine Dining has been mentioned here... SUBWAY. I think that it ranks up there, right next to Chef Boyardee in US Culinary tradition.... :eek: :p

Subway has been in Argentina for a couple of years now... no idea how they are doing but they seem to still be in business.

Related note... I see that the young team of CBC (California Burrito Company) have opened a store in Unicenter Shopping Mall. Ive noticed their stand to be operating at half capacity and having only modest lines at times when the food court is jam-packed. Not a good sign me thinks....

Mrs. Italy and I have seen Subways in the UK, Italy, Antigua, France, Innsbruck, Munich and Frankfort, all of them busy.

With that said, we didn't travel to Italy to eat American or German or Chinese or . . .

And before we get flamed, yes, we know excellent foreign food restaurants can be found outside their native home. :D

Just make sure Mrs. Italy98 joins you in coming down for the next Cow Do... :D ^