Welcome to Argentina

miércoles, 10 de octubre de 2007

Argentinian Traditional Food

El asado (The Barbecue)

Without doubt, what characterizes us is what we call “asado” (Barbecue). It can be cooked in different ways:Grilled: it uses vegetal charcoal for its baking. Cooking time is around one hour and a half or two. Generally, small cuts to medium are preferred and it is possible to eat it along with achuras (offals) and other cuts like chicken, pig, etc.

A Barbecue can be made al “asador”. In this case a fire is made on the ground or in a fire pit and surrounded by metal crosses of around 1, 30 mts (asadores) that hold the entire carcass of an animal splayed open to receive the heat from the fire. Generally this style is used for cuts of meat of about 10 kg and its baking is made with wood since the metal crosses are placed at 45 degrees on the fire and is the heat of the flame which cooks it. Cooking time is of 5 hours approximately. It is begun to cook on the side of the bones for three hours and a half, after this, it is turned over, to cook the fat side.

Next, we will refer to a list of “achuras” (offal)

Kidneys: They may be sprinkled with rock salt and make them with lemon juice.

Chitterlings: (large intestine), sprinkled with salt or with lemon juice. Barbecue for about 40 minutes or until they look golden brown on each side and crunchy

Sweetbread: (Placed at the beginning of the intestine – at the esophagus of the animals), one of the preferred offals by people and one of the most expensive dishes.

Chorizo: Sausage made out of meat and spicies

Black Pudding or Blood Pudding: Sausage without meat, filled with coagulated blood and spicies.

Chorizo, Sweetbread, Kidneys

“Empanadas” are a common dish served at parties, family reunions, or in national holidays.
Made out of ingredients, wrapped in pastry. These ingredients usually consists on beef, boiled egg, green olive, and even raisins. They might be prepared with cheese, ham and cheese, chicken,

fish, “humita” (sweetcorn) or spinach. Empanadas might be baked, fried, salad or sweet. One of the empanadas with higher reputation in Argentina are the Empanadas from Salta (Province of Salta, Argentina)

Another of our typical food is the “locro” (stew). Typical stew, often served on May 25th (May´s Revolution anniversary)

Yellow corn

Beans
Beef
Chorizo
Bacon
Fat
Onion
Chili Powder
Pumpkin

Other websites of argentinian traditional food
Comidas tipicas
Written by: Fernando Cabrera
Posted by: Fernando Cabrera
Translatión: Lucas Ensinck
Contact us: argentina_tourism@yahoo.com.ar

lunes, 1 de octubre de 2007

Quebrada de Humahuaca

On our first publication we will dedicate to Province of Jujuy, specially to 3 of the most beautiful and wonderful towns of “Quebrada de Humahuaca”: Purmamarca, Tilcara and Humahuaca

Starting from the Province Capital, after riding 65km, we arrive to a city called “Purmamarca” (meaning in Aimara Language “Town of Virgin Land”)

It is a marvellous place, unique all over the country and the region.

Walking by “Florida” street, we arrive to the foot of the denominated “Cerro de los Siete Colores”. (Seven Colours Hill). Their different layers are the result of the marine, lacustrine and fluvial sediments that 600 million years ago were in the area, and after, as a result of tectonic movements, acquired the present location. The best view you can have is from the route, 400 mts of distance.

Exactly behind the hill there is a place called “Paseo de los Colorados”, this name is due to the unbelievable reddish colour of the landscape. As years went by, the rocks and mountains started to shape in different ways, providing the village with the ideal contrast since it delights the senses of all the tourists.

At Main Square around 10.30am , there is a crafts fair where you can get regional products such as pottery, carpets made with looms, ponchos, musical instruments (such as Indian flutes, erques and sikus ) and typical clothes from the Quebrada

Main square

In front of main square we can find the Main Church. Built in 1648, has cardon roofs and mud tiles, with a particular architecture as well as valuable paintings and images from Cuzco inside (from XVII century).

Tilcara

As to make a difference with Purmamarca, speaking from a geographical point of view, Tilcara is a bigger city, this is why, we can find native population. Due to this, there are a lot and different services, museums, craft shops, restaurants, bars and places to spend the night.

Tilcara is located at 2465 meters above sea level and 84 kilometers to the North of San Salvador de Jujuy City, this town brings all its charm and hospitality to tourists. A place that its worth visiting is “Purcará de Tilcara”, these ruins had been rebuilted, and belong originally to inhabitants, it has an strategic location, from here it was possible to have control over the Quebrada. At the top you can have a great view of the Quebrada, with a unique landscape of different colours: different tones of grey and brown, mixed with an intense red.

Pucará de Tilcara map

On main square you can find all kinds of regional products: food, musical instruments and clothing.

The Church was finished on 1865, you can find plastic works of José Armanini, the Coronel Alvarez Prado body rest here, a defensor of “Quebrada de Humahuaca” during the independence war.

Humahuaca

Continuing along Route 9, is situated Huamaca, considerated Historic Capital of the Quebrada, and centre of the carnival. Because of its strategic location (at the middle of the Quebrada) it turns out to be the best place to stay and rest.

Its narrow paved streets with streetlamps and adobe houses make you think time has stopped here. There is a great variety of museums, showing regional products, folkore, painting and sculptures.

Wedding at Purmamarca

Humahuaca crafts fair

Humahuaca has an important main square, where at 12hs at noon you can receive the Solano Saint blessing.

Solano Saint

One of the attractions is the Monument to the Independent Heroes created by Ernesto Soto Avedaño. Placed in Hamahuaca city, for its importance for our national history, because a lot of battles started here in defense of our nationality. It is possible to watch it from the distance and thanks to its altitude, appreciate its amazing beauty.