The first thing that comes to the mind of the traveller that has chosen Argentina as his (or her) destination is probably a tender cut of prime beef, probably accompanied by a delicious chimichurri steak sauce. However, one must not lose sight of the fact, when speaking of Argentinean food, that there is a vernacular cuisine, which has been influenced by Italian, Spanish, English and German food, in other words, we are speaking of a great diversity here.

To eat well is one of the pleasures of the Porteño inhabitants of Buenos Aires and gastronomy is a main topic at social gatherings as well as during ones free time. The Porteño cuisine is characterised both by the above mentioned international influence, as well as the variety and quality of the ingredients used in its preparation, not to mention the impressive number of restaurants and eating places that offer local delicacies, at all levels of prices, and thus affordable to most peoples pockets.

Those restaurants that specialise in barbecued meat are called "Parrilladas" and they come in different categories. Some places offer what is called a free menu, where you can eat as much as you can hold for 8 pesos to sophisticated steak houses with accordingly high prices. It is a simple plate to prepare: the meat is roasted on charcoal pit or a barbecue grill. All you need to go with it is bread, French fries, salads. Do not to forget to try the garlic based, parsley and other greens chimichurri sauce to put on the meat. All this polished off with a bottle of excellent Argentinean red wine, which is so justly famed.

Local ready to eat meals are called "minutas" and you can get them in bars and in restaurants. The most popular ones are the so-called "milanesas" (breaded steaks) with French fries and the "empanadas" (pastry dough filled with meat, olives, hard boiled egg and spices.), pizzas, cold plates (salads), different kinds of pasta, etc.

For dessert the custom is to eat a fresh fruit, ice cream or flan with a creamy sweet boiled milk toffee called dulce de leche. We suggest you try the last mentioned since it is very typical and quite delicious.

In Buenos Aires there are innumerable restaurants that serve food from different countries and cultures. Typical food from other countries grew roots and became popularised as local, due to the b influence by immigrants coming from Europe, Asia and other Latin American countries.

There are infinite varieties of ethnic cuisine: amongst others Italian, Spanish, Japanese, French, Nordic, Mexican, Chinese, Arabic, Turkish and Armenian, etc. There are also vegetarian and aphrodisiac food places.

And lastly, do not forget to try in some Porteño home, since it is very seldom found in bars or restaurants, the national drink par excellence, the Mate. It is similar to tae and is traditionally drunk at home or among friends. It can be drunk at any time during the day, by yourself or in company, with the peculiarity that everyone drinks out of the same mate gourd, using the same bombilla straw. If you have the opportunity to visit a family at home and you are offered a drink of mate, do not refuse; take at least a sip as a gesture of courtesy.