The Travel Chica

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Eating My Way Through BA Part 2: Argentine Food and Middle-Eastern Flavors

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In part 1 of the Eating My Way Through BA series, I introduced you to the puerta cerrada Casa Mun.

Next I introduce you to Paladar, another excellent puerta cerrada experience.  The style of food is completely different, as well as the mood and setting.

Paladar

The Setting

Set inside a Villa Crespo home, Chef Pablo and his sommelier wife Ivana have really gone all out to produce an intimate, romantic setting.  “Romantic Red” is how I would describe the décor.  It is very dark with splashes of light casting a red glow throughout the dining area.

There is pleasant background music, and it stays quiet, keeping that sense of intimacy. The dishes are not presented to the group but rather individually explained at each table, many times by Pablo or Ivana.  Although it is low-key, they are both very friendly and take the time to chat with each guest.

(Note:  Most of my photos will have a red hue because I have no clue how to get around that other than using flash.  And I really don’t like to use flash. If anyone would like to share some photography tips for a setting like this, I would greatly appreciate it.)

The Food!

Fresh-Baked Bread with Chunky Hummus Dip

Pablo loves to bake fresh bread.  This was perhaps the best bread basket I have ever been served, and it gave the dining room that wonderful bakery smell at the beginning of dinner.  I especially enjoyed the Paraguayan cheese bread, which was new to me.

Croquet Pork and Spices with Spicy Plum Emulsion

Served with a Malbec Rose sparkling wine (with a tiny rose in it of course).

Loved this cute and tasty starter.

Chilled Carrot Soup

Soup of carrots, leeks, and ginger with tarragon oil.

Served with Fond de Cave Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon.

There seems to be a theme of awesome soups in my latest dining experiences.  This was a very savory dish.

Chicken Roulade and Mashed Aubergines

Chicken roulade stuffed with roasted peppers and nuts, mashed smoked aubergines, pickled chickpeas, and Tahini sauce.

Served with Fond de Cave Reserve Malbec.

This was a hearty dish with unique flavors.  I could really taste the middle-eastern influence.  I was getting full half-way through this but couldn’t stop eating it.

Chocolate Ganache with Pears

Served with Trapiche Profuse (similar to a port).

This chocolate ganache may be the greatest chocolate dessert I have ever eaten.

Seriously.  It was that good. 

I was stuffed at this point but could not leave a drop of it on the plate.

I wobbled out of there a happy girl!

The Verdict

Pablo seeks to use fresh, traditional Argentine ingredients combined with middle-eastern and southeast Asian flavors.  And he does it well.  I enjoyed the unique flavors added to traditional dishes.  You still get that comfort-food effect with a fine-dining experience.  Excellent wine pairings and generous pours.  This intimate space is minimalist and elegant.

Paladar is great for couples and friends who want a low-key dinner in a nice setting.  As a solo diner, I felt comfortable eating on the couch looking at the candle-lit fireplace and browsing through the Buenos Aires books and magazines on the coffee table.

Reserve Your Table!

Paladar is no new-kid-on-the-block.  They have been around for 3 years!  The clientele is mostly local, but travelers do sometimes discover this puerta cerrada.  Check out the Paladar website for more information and to make a reservation.  They are planning to add a Peruvian sushi menu on Thursdays, so keep an eye out for that too.

And please tell Pablo and Ivana I said hello!

 

Comments

  4. Yum! That chocolate dessert made my mouth water! Buenos Aires has great food. I had the best steak dinner ever there on my trip in October.

  7. I love Argentina, so many places, so many things to do there! But I’m not so into Middle Eastern cuisine.. I find most of it a way too spicy or has a different taste I’m not so crazy about.

  8. Chocolate with pears? Hmm that’s new but I pretty much love anything with chocolate. Your photos are still amazing don’t worry!

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