Outside cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, there are really just two types of restaurants. The most popular is known as parilla (pronounced pa-RI-ja; it sort of means barbecue). Depending on the restaurant, you either order from a waiter, or pick up your own food, buffet style. Salads and pastas round off the options, but everything is clearly focused on the meat. Not for those who don´t like to see where meat comes from, the cuts are cooked on a huge, flaming, open barbecue. There is a staggering variety of cuts, several of which, disconcertingly, have faces which stare back at you. While eating meat for every meal can be boring and defies most cardiologists recommendations, the upside is that the meat here is fresh, red, juicy and absolutely delicious.

If you don´t want parilla, the only other option is, and I´m not kidding here, hot dog places. The word for hot dog is pancho. (You may remember this was the donkey´s name in V.G. Belgrano). Panchos here are foot-long, boiled and usually served on lettuce and tomato and topped with ketchup, mustard, a few kinds of mayonnaise-based dressings and, sometimes, French fries. Every third food shop seems to be a hot dog stand. One of the most popular chains is called ¨Mr. Dog.¨

Of course, we´ve tried both restaurant types, and even really like one parilla buffet called Onda Libre. But, early on, we agreed we can´t eat there every day, or even more than once a week. Instead, we´ve picnicked from the grocery store, ordered pizza or picked up empanadas from little take-out-only shops. There are also coffee shops and bakeries, which ease the monotony.

There are precious exceptions to parilla and panchos. One great one serves wonderful vegetarian food for lunch. (Although note: like other parts of the world with meat heavy diets, such as Portugal, fish is not considered meat.) The tricky part is, as often happens in the US, many vegetarian options are fried foods or replace meat with too much dairy, which can be just as (or more!) unhealthy when compared to a slab of beef. But, with care, we´ve eaten some tasty and balanced veggie meals.

All in all, I´m looking forward to return to eating in the US. Not because the food is better than other places, but more because it is familiar and in that way comforting. But that´s probably another post.