The Travel Chica

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Eating My Way Through BA Part 1: Making Dinner a Social Event

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Part of my guidebook research forces me to check out restaurants (yep, it’s a tough life).  Some meals are so great that they deserve more than a short paragraph in a book.

Delicious photos must be shared!

So I will have a series of posts during my time here called Eating My Way Through BA.

Welcome to Part 1 of the series.

When I lived in Buenos Aires last year, I quickly discovered that puertas cerradas (closed door restaurants) have some of the best food in the city.  No, they are not all offering traditional Argentine food, but that is why people love these restaurants.  It can be hard to find spicy food, vegetarian food, and flavors from other parts of the world in Buenos Aires.

Plus, dining at a puerta cerrada just makes you feel special.

Last year, I had a few meals at Cocina Sunae, which I love.  It says a lot that I dined there multiple times in a city that has so many restaurant options.

This trip I decided to discover some different puertas cerradas because I HAVE TO.  It’s my job :-)

I chose two to share with you.

Not only is the style of food completely different at these puertas cerradas, the setting and mood are poles apart as well.

Both experiences were great in different ways.

The reviews I write for Part 1 and Part 2 of this series will help you decide with you are in the mood for… or maybe you’ll just have to try both.

Casa Mun

The Setting

Dining at Casa Mun is an event, not just a meal.  The restaurant is no longer operating out of a home anymore, and their new space is very nice, large, and modern with a balcony overlooking the streets of Palermo Soho.

This is a social occasion.

Before dinner starts, everyone is busy enjoying a welcome glass of champagne and conversation.  This is a place to meet people, as well as catch up with some of the regulars who attend.

Guests sit at shared tables, so the conversation doesn’t stop for dinner.

Until Chef Mun comes out to introduce each dish.

The conversation stops briefly as Chef Mun explains how each dish is made and the inspiration for the dish, usually stories from his childhood.

The Food!

The menu changes regularly, and you can always view it online.  But I don’t think t the menu matters much.  From what my friends say, it is always delicious.  Here are the dishes and wines of the night.

“Bento Box” Assortment of Korean Favorites

Served with Rama Negra Sauvignon Blanc.

Imjasutang – Summer Soup of the Korean Royal Family

Chicken, shiitake mushrooms, and egg in chilled broth that is a mixture of ginseng, Chinese herbs, chicken stock, roasted sesame seeds and mustard.

Served with Chungha Sake.

This soup was absolute perfection.  

Such wonderful flavors.  I made sure to get every last drop.

Also, I have never had sake that I liked or could even drink… until Casa Mun.  This stuff is fantastic!

Salmon Nigiri, Rainbow Roll, Spicy Tuna on Pan Fried Crispy Rice

Served with Bodega Patritti Lassia Pinot Noir.

I love good sushi, which is not easy to find in South America.  So this was a real delight.

Also, I tried this wine before at one of the many wine events I attended last year and was very happy for the opportunity to have it again.

Momofuku-Style Pork Buns

Served with Desierto 25/5 Syrah.

I am a little embarrassed to admit that I have not actually eaten pork buns before (at least not that I can remember).  People rave about how good they are, but I really don’t have that much experience eating food from that part of the world.  I certainly enjoyed these and will definitely be looking to try some more.

(Does anyone else find it hard not to laugh when someone says pork buns?)

Frozen Lemon Whip with Fresh Berries & Mint

Served with Malamado Viognier.

A really fresh dessert, and I loved the presentation.  And a bit of chocolate on the side for the addicts like me :-)

The Verdict

Absolutely delicious food.  Awesome restaurant space.  I love have lots of small plates, so you can experience more flavors.  The only room for improvement would be increasing the size of the wine pours.  (Maybe I’m just a wino.)

The experience is best described as a loud dinner party with friends in a cool, trendy setting.  Casa Mun is a great choice if you want a social night out (and a delicious meal of course).   It’s a great start to the night, and you’ll be in the mood to grab a drink with your new friends at one of the trendy Palermo Soho bars nearby.  It is also a place to go if you are flying solo and looking for a group of dinner companions.

Reserve Your Seat!

Check out the Casa Mun website for more information and to reserve your spot at this social dinner event.

Comments

  2. Dear Stephanie, It’s been quite a while that I have commented on your features. This one really makes me hungry. Ijust had breakfast about an hr. ago. Would love to try most of these. No sushi though. Keep up the great articles. Have a beautiful day. We are off to our workout. Love ya, Grandma

  4. Everything looks to die for. My husband will feel on heaven in a place like this. On another topic, have you considered writing a post about the guidebook writing process? What places are you expected to cover? Where do you get recommendations?
    Ruth recently posted..Brazil’s Dusty Azurre: Day 8 (Scene 2)

  6. This looks interesting, like the underground dinner we have in San Francisco, except u guys are in a restaurant.

    Let me know when you are ready to travel and eat some pork buns!! XDD They are good, depending if you like fatty or skinny meat…
    Annie – FootTracker recently posted..The Trail with the Golden View

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