Many students from around the globe flock to Buenos Aires in order to experience it´s eclectic mix of European influences, combined with its Latin American flair. At times, this combination, of such a European city and roots, can be difficult to grasp, given its location in the heart of South America. For our Mente night, we decided to go to some experts in the history and culinary culture that are the foundations of this magnificent country.
We chose the Argentine experience as our guides into cultural explanations ranging from the history of empanadas, to understanding the hand gestures of taxi drivers, or waiters in restaurants. Not only did the Argentine fulfill the craving for cultural knowledge, but they also combined the argentine traditional eats with an international twist, offering foreigners a taste of the flavors sorely missed from their home countries.
The friendly staff welcomed us with a tasty drink in the bar to get the evening started where staff and students alike, mingled and met before heading upstairs to the finely furnished dining area for the dinner itself. Each table was given a guide and a brief history of empanadas, how to make them, and the reasons that they were traditionally eaten. The guides then took us through the typical ways of making the empanadas, and how empanada shapes were differentiated depending on flavor so that the students would be able to understand why some empanadas were square whilst others were half moon shaped. As each student, struggled and mangled, some perfecting the ways of the outside curled edges of empanadas, we learned that practice really does make perfect. Making a pretty empanada was not an easy feat.
As we all ate our wonky empanadas as in addition to our own novelty, art inspired empanadas, accompanied by delicious veggies doused in chimichuri sauce, we were given a cultural demonstration. Teaming with an enormous population of Italian immigrants, the hand gestures that Italians are famous for were not lost on the boat ride across the Atlantic. Any foreigner visiting Buenos Aires will not be spared the eccentric hand- waving expressions that they would likely find in Italy. We were quizzed on the various hand gestures that were common in Argentine culture, proving the point, that even if you cannot speak a lick of Spanish, you can still speak to an Argentine.
With full bellies, and good company, we ended the night nothing better than homemade alfajores and like any good argentine social gathering- Mate. With the bitter and the sweet, a new sense of cultural awareness, the students, coordinators and guides, meandered down to bar to enjoy excellent cocktails, of riveting variety and tastes.
If you would like to know more about culinary experiences in Buenos Aires, check out culinary schools and cooking programs in Buenos Aires.
