The Cooking Diva Blog: Original Tropical Creations by Chef Melissa De Leon

Places to Visit in Buenos Aires: The Butcher Shop

Check out "A Tasty Video from Argentina: How to make empanadas"

Argentina is well known internationally for the incomparable quality of their beef. During my last trip to Buenos Aires I had the opportunity to visit a butcher shop and they were so kind as to show me the facilities, inspect the different meat cuts and interview the man in charge.

It was there were I took this short video. It is in Spanish, so you will have a chance to practice this beautiful language. If it seems a little dark, its only because we were in the fridge were they store the meat. If you do not see me, it is because I was holding the camera! But, by now I guess you are getting used to hearing my voice. My friends and relatives laugh because they noticed an unusual accent in my voice...I pick up accents right away, so after a couple of days in Argentina, I was dancing with words...the way they do it.

One very important fact I learned that day is that all the beef they eat comes from caws 4-5 years old. The tenderness of the meat is a product of the diet and not because of the age of the animal. It is forbidden by law to eat veal, what makes me wonder how tender and delicate that meat would be.

The piece of meat held by the young butcher in the second photo is known as "Matambre." A literal translation means "hunger killer." It is cooked in water for long hours until tender and then it is rolled like a jelly-roll and stuffed with veggies. The result is a beautiful roll, colorful, with a mild flavor. It is sold already prepared at the supermarkets and delicatessens.

Have a delicious week!
Chef M
Tags: argentina, food blogs, cookingdiva, cooking, panama, recipes, food & drink, food, chef melissa

by Chef Melissa - CookingDiva · November 27, 2006 · 09:32 AM
Permalink · Comments (12) · TrackBack (0) · Categories: Adventures with Wine · Ethnic Cuisine: from Latin America · Food & Drink · Wine pairing

Excelente! Me quedé con ganas de ver más... y el bife de chorizo, la colita de cuadril, la entraña...que deliciosa debe ser esa carne en Argentina. ;)

Comment by: Elena Hernández • Nov 27, 2006 6:29:16 PM

Elena!!! Yo tambien me quedé con las ganas de tomar el full video. Bueno, ni modo...tengo que regresar!!! :)
Un abrazo,
M

Comment by: melissa • Nov 27, 2006 7:03:49 PM

I hope you remember to bring back a couple of steaks for me.

Comment by: Don Ray • Nov 28, 2006 8:43:05 AM

Lindas fotos Meli!!!!,
besitos

Comment by: andreina • Nov 28, 2006 10:53:34 AM

Gracias Andreina!!!...por cierto, cada vez que visito tu blog me quedo con ganas de probar alguna de tus creaciones. Ya verás que algún día te visito...Un abrazo,
M

Comment by: melissa • Nov 28, 2006 2:59:14 PM

Meliii, pues yo feliz, ojala de verdad puedas venir pronto, te estaremos esperando para cocinarte cosas ricas...!!!

Comment by: andreina • Nov 30, 2006 8:11:52 AM

Saludos Melissa te escribo en esta ocasión para que me cuentes un poco de lo del menú de la esperanza me encantaría participar plis dime que tengo que hacer
mil gracias
Tomàs Fernândez

Un abrazo!

http://tomasnomas.blogspot.com

Comment by: Tomàs Fernàndez • Dec 1, 2006 12:03:18 AM

Hola Tomás! gracias por tu interés en participar de este evento. Hoy publicaré la invitación y descripción del evento en Español. Un abrazo,
M

Comment by: melissa • Dec 1, 2006 8:51:23 AM

Every time I see one of your videos I get more and more sad that I don't even remotely understand Spanish. What do they feed the cattle to make them so tender then?

I laughed when I read about your habit of picking up accents. I have a bad habit of doing that when talking to people, particularly British people.

Comment by: Nerissa • Dec 4, 2006 12:20:44 AM

Hola Melissa,
Espero que andes bien y te acuerdes de mi de la Bodega Carrau en Motevideo donde hicimos una cata vertical de Amat, me encantaría recibir tus comentarios de esta degustación y que te parecieron las distintas cosechas ya me gustron mucho tus comentarios y como estoy armando la revista Vino y Crianza de la Bodega , creo estaría muy bueno escribir las opiniones ajenas a la gente que trabaja en la bodega, fue un placer conocerte y felicitaciones por tu web es excelente !! Espero noticas tuyas, Margarita Carrau

Comment by: margarita carau • Dec 5, 2006 8:08:07 AM

Hola Melissa,
My husband is from Argentina and I went home with him to visit his family last June and the beef there is out of this world. One of the best I ever tasted. Not to mentioned the Empanadas. I will stop at every Empanadas shop to buy some :) His sister must have think I am crazy.

Comment by: Gertrude • Dec 6, 2006 8:24:36 AM

Melissa = this is too much. I remember the steaks from Panama and now you are presenting us with more meat from Argentina - torture. I am going to the market now in Granada to buy myself ta huge T-bone cut!

Comment by: sokari • Dec 7, 2006 7:46:05 AM