List 1—Favorite Foods in Buenos Aires

[Updated Sunday, November 7]

SCONES FROM COTO SUPERMARKET—Yes, the bakery in COTO supermarket makes the best scones I have ever tasted. The ones with nuts are the best.

PALMERITAS—These are bite-sized pastries made out of something like filo dough, I think. When done right, they are light and flaky, with a sugar topping. My favorite late night snack with tea.

CHORIPAN—mmmmm...delicious beef and pork spicy sausage on a french roll with salsa criolla or salsa chimichurri.

PARILLA—not a food exactly, but a national obsession. A parilla is a grill, or barbecue, and here that means that they are grilling up some of the best beef in the world. Bife de chorizo, asado, matambre, it's all good; and if you're the adventurous type, try the "achuras"—the funky stuff—kidneys, intestines, tongue, blood sausage, etc.

HELADOS—Buenos Aires is also reknowned for it's ice cream. My personal favorite is an upscale chain called Persicco...but, there are heladerias (ice cream shops) on every block (really) of the main avenue in my neighborhood, so I still have some delicious exploring to do. Favorite flavors? Chocolate con almendras, chocolate semiamargo, chocolate Persicco (see a pattern?), frutilla a la crema, crema mascarpone, café...

FIAMBRES—Sort of a general name for deli meats and cheeses. Our favorite place to eat them is a restuarant called Casa de Queso that has also has wines and beer on tap.

STRUDEL DE MANZANA—It's just an apple strudel, but it's perfection. Yes, there are panaderias (bakeries) on every block as well, but we found this one that makes the BEST apple strudels.

FRESH PASTA—There are lots of pasta shops where you can buy FRESH pasta of all kinds, including ravioles. They also sell a variety of sauces to go along with them, or you can just make your own at home.

UN SUBMARINO—My favorite drink to go along with some "churros" at a cafe. A "submarino" is a cup of steamed milk served with a little chocolate bar on the side. You dunk the chocolate bar into the cup (hence the "submarine") and stir it up for delicious hot chocolate!

EMPANADAS—In Mexico empanadas are generally sweet, where as here empanadas are generally meat filled. (It's kind of funny because here in Argentina "tortas" refers to sweet pastries, where as in Mexico they generally refer to a meat filled sandwich of sorts.) Empanadas are ubiquitous here. They are common at most general restaurants, pizzerias and cafes. There are chains that sell nothing but empanadas and they sell them by the dozen. Quality ranges greatly, but the best ones are delicioius. So far the best I have tried (outside of the homemade ones by the mother of a friend of Susana's) are from a dank little neighborhood restaurant a couple blocks from Susana's house.

KOREAN FOOD—This might seem confusing to those of you who don't already know that my girlfriend is Korean. But yes, I have been expanding my horizons of Korean food experience beyond the ubiquitous Korean BBQ in LA (I know there's a lot more in LA, and I had gone beyond bul-kogi and the other grilled meats, but I've really learned even more stuff here).
This might actually get it's own separate list soon, but there is one thing that I have to say right off: I would be dying in Buenos Aires if it were not for all the Korean food I am eating. Why? Sure the food is delicious, but where it really saves me is that it is SPICY. Argentine food does not use any chile, so there are times when I am just aching for something picante, and that's where Korean food often hits the spot perfectly. And yes, my little apartment always has rice and always has a tupperware of kimchi in the fridge....