The Travel Chica

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Eating My Way Through BA Part 9: Cocina de Influencias

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I have started writing about my new (slightly scary) adventures in Bolivia, but there is still more good stuff to share from the BA food scene.

And I have saved my favorites for last.

Paraje Arévalo: The Vibe

Paraje Arévalo has an simple yet elegant decor with a few antique pieces and a black-and-white checkered tile floor subtly adding character and coziness.  The restaurant has a great corner spot with big windows letting in lots of natural light and perfect for a solo diner to watch the street traffic outside.

Paraje Arévalo: Cocina de Influencias

I did not know what to expect from Paraje Arévalo.  In fact, after eating here, I am still not sure how to describe their food other than surprisingly delicious, elegant combinations of simple ingredients.

Owners Estefanía and Matías describe their cuisine as cocina de influences (influences cuisine), meaning that all of their life experiences from how they were raised (Italian, Greek) to where they have worked around the world goes into the creativity of their dishes.

I hope my photos have done this tasting menu experience justice.

Spiced Prawn Soup with Scallions, Jalapeno, and Ginger

 

In Argentina, “spicy” means mild.

I know because I am very sensitive to spicy food, and even I miss having that little kick in some dishes.  This one definitely had it (but not too much for me to handle), and the shrimp was perfect.

Chicken Liver Parfait with Pickled Apples, Curried Almonds, and Croutons

 

Chicken, liver, and parfait are not three words that scream delicious to me, but Paraje Arevalo has opened my mind.

The flavors of this inventive plate were perfectly balanced.  The pickled applies (really, who thinks of things like this?) were a great touch.  Even something as simple as croutons were obviously made with just as much care as everything else that went into this dish.

Poached Egg with Cornmeal Puree and Roasted Corn Salsa

 

The simple elements used here make it seem effortless to make something so creative and satisfying.

If only that were true.

White Salmon with Quinoa Tortilla and Roasted Butternut Squash

At first this did not seem that creative.

Each part was delicious of course, but I realized the brilliance behind this dish when I combined all three elements made from simple and fresh ingredients into one bite.

I must try to and re-create this one at home.

Moist Chocolate Cake with Carrot Foam and Algarroba Crumble

The dark chocolate cake had the texture of a thick mousse, so needless to say, it was AMAZING!

The light, slightly sweet carrot foam was the perfect thing to cut the richness of the chocolate.

I am a sucker for any chocolate dessert, but this is definitely one of the WOW desserts I have had in my life.

The Verdict

This is a must-do dining experience in Buenos Aires, especially because it is a bit of a hidden gem on the north side of Palermo Hollywood at Arévalo 1502.

I went for lunch, and you can choose from a couple of different tasting menus.  I would like to visit again for dinner with the option of a larger tasting menu with wine pairings.  I had an excellent Malbec with my meal.  Paraje Arévalo has a small, expertly-selected wine list that they change frequently, and some people come here just to try their specialty bottles.  Reservations are recommended for dinner.

Since you have not had the good fortune of actually tasting these dishes, from the photos and the descriptions, what do you think is the most interesting and delicious?

 

Living in or visiting Buenos Aires?

Check out my previous posts in the Eating My Way Through BA series for tips on excellent dining experiences.


Comments

  1. Being a foodie, BA is very appealing to me. International influences and local ingredients are to me the best combination when it comes to gastronomy. Even hidden away in the mountains here in San Cristobal de las Casas, French and Italian influences mixed with ancient traditional local ingredients create an amazing fusion.
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  2. You really have great time in your vacation. Eating various cuisines in a certain place is the ideal thing to do when having a vacation. As what you did, you really eat delicious foods and it is really great at your part. Me too, when I was on a vacation, I made it sure not to miss eating delicious foods on the place.
    Christine Balch recently posted..Get the facts-Phentemine 375

  5. I am a sucker for restaurants that have chalkboard menus. Fun! Also, I’m intrigued by the carrot foam with the chocolate cake. I had carrot souffle as a side at a Southern cafe yesterday, and it tasted like dessert and Thanksgiving dinner all rolled into one!
    Camels & Chocolate recently posted..Photo Friday: Anaheim, California

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