15.07 - Day 26 - Buenos Aires, ARG

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Thursday 15th July 2010

After a morning of shopping for presents on Avenue Florida – for others, also me, it’s a day centred around food and drink. The best sort of day then. Calsica y Moderna is deemed to far away for lunch on consecutive days so we pick another Menu Ejectivo this time at Capiteles. Following a successful lucky dip choice the day before I again choose Calabaza (pumpkin) with steak. It’s a steak with half a pumpkin baked with mozzarella. Very tasty. 

As the solitary pancake for dessert is not deemed enough we head to the venerable institution that is El Vesuvio for helado. Super Sambayon (Irish whisky cream?) and Chocolate Vesuvio (dark chocolate Ferrero Rocher). We decide some places live more on reputation and tradition than flavour and quality. 1902 it was founded and maybe the recipe hasn’t changed since. 

Undeterred, well it still tasted good just not up with our elite expectations; less smooth, we go to Café Tortoni an even older establishment – opening its doors in 1858. I plump for a Submarine – mug of hot milk accompanied by a submarine shaped bar of chocolate: Do-It-Yourself Hot Chocolate. Very civilised in a venue perfect for the sepia setting on the camera.

Back to PAX Hostel to change and pick up a cheeky empanada or two from “Look”; an open plan bakery next door – best empanadas yet in South America. Flaky pastry with a spicier, tastier filling than usual. That said the Saltena from La Paz still ahead in the snacking competition, just.

In a déjà vu evening to the previous it’s back to Dylan – Kiwi and Passionfruit and Manjar Blanco. Excellent choice especially as I had no idea that Maracuya would turn out to be passionfruit.

Some more Happy Hour Quilmes pints at Gibraltar bar finishes off our evening. Sadly the 12 bed dorm back to PAX Hostel does its worst – in the form of two drunken 19 year old English kids. Alcohol fuelled shouting and vomiting (in the only toilet…).