More lessons in Argentine culture

I learned some interesting new words in my informal Spanish class this morning. I can’t really use most of them, but if I’m ever stuck in traffic in Buenos Aires at rush hour I’ll have a much better idea of what people are yelling at each other.

I also partook more of the mate this time [see also my post on last time]. I’m beginning to see now how one can acquire a taste for the stuff. Mis amigas also served us galletitas, or cookies, with oatmeal and raisins. I couldn’t find the specific cookies online, but I did find an Argentine recipe site that includes lots of cookies in the breakfast section (desayuno). Actually, I think it’s all either cookies or other sweets. Awhile back an Argentine friend told me he eats cookies for breakfast and I was like cookies? For breakfast?? Well, come to think of it, I don’t know why this is any different from having donuts for breakfast, or scones or muffins or pancakes. My Argentine hosts also put sugar in their mate, which I understand is not universal. Here’s more on mate as it is consumed in Argentina.

A few years ago when I was first exploring Spanish and Latin American food (I hosted a couple of Spanish food and film fiestas at my house), I bought a cookbook called Argentina Cooks! It’s actually as much a travel guide as a cookbook. I never cooked anything from it, but I learned about the various regions of this huge country, settled by a wide range of Europeans who each brought with them their own special dishes. Now that I have it off the shelf, I really have to try the Banana Empanadas…

3:12:39 PM      trackback []