Top 5 Mendoza Food & Drink: A Delicious Review
Mendoza, Argentina is, in a way, like your dream vacation destination if, that is, you have any interest in outstanding food and, naturally, incredible wine. You get both in abundance, a little bit. It’s more than that, though. The entire culture celebrates good eating and drinking. Picking just five food and drink experiences basically felt a bit like choosing my favorite star in the sky – nearly impossible. But, okay, after much deliberation, here’s a list of the food and drink moments that absolutely sing to me. Very worth sharing, too. This list, actually, gives you an interesting sample of just what Mendoza’s gastronomic offerings contain. Let’s get to it.
1. Savoring the Legendary Argentine Asado
So, the Argentine Asado… it’s almost less of a meal and more of a cultural experience. A truly great one. In many places, you know, barbecue is just barbecue, basically. But in Argentina, and particularly in Mendoza, it’s basically a sacred ritual. Picture this, basically: slow-cooked meats over an open flame, a little. We are talking cuts like bife de chorizo (sirloin steak) and entraña (skirt steak), apparently, that melt the moment they come into contact with your tongue, and all infused with this smokey, rich flavor that only time and skill will provide. You find it almost everywhere, too. The asado at 1884 Restaurante, a Francis Mallmann spot, that could be worth a slight trip all on its own.
And if you are like your average traveler, then you may want to take things a bit further and head to a local finca (estate), where the asado is often a family affair. Often. In these locations, you can get a little peek at traditional cooking methods, and taste this absolutely stunning variety of regional delicacies all with the Andes looming in the distance. So, very beautiful, it seems! Remember to try the chimichurri. Really! It’s a sauce made with herbs, garlic, and vinegar; in a way it serves as the perfect counterpart to the richness of the meat. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Mendoza Asado Experiences)
2. Exploring the World of Malbec Wine
Oh, yeah. You can’t talk about Mendoza without immediately thinking of Malbec wine, too. It might be a rule. It is the region’s flagship grape, in that case. In a way, its success comes from the high altitude and sunny climate in that spot; it might create basically the perfect environment in which to nurture such extraordinary grapes, arguably. Visiting a vineyard, and more specifically taking some sort of guided tour there, isn’t just something to do. I mean, it’s pretty amazing in some respects. That said, it’s something of an immersion into a wine-making tradition like your favorite old family recipe. At places like Catena Zapata and Achával-Ferrer, the guides are really happy to talk you through from the history of the vines to those super-subtle notes you detect in each glass, too. Very impressive stuff.
Then you could also get creative. You know, you can easily choose a bike wine tour to, like, lazily move your way around different bodegas at your own pace; could be awesome! As a matter of fact, many wineries even offer unique blending sessions in that they invite people to craft their own Malbec mix. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Mendoza Malbec Wine Tours)
3. Indulging in Empanadas Mendocinas
So, you have probably sampled an empanada at some point, yet the empanadas mendocinas definitely have their own distinctive touch. So good. These aren’t just pastries stuffed with meat and something else; these pastries are so representative of Mendoza’s rustic cooking traditions. Typically, that sort of pastry is filled with ground beef, onions, hard-boiled eggs, and just a handful of local spices that definitely bring a delicious kind of zing, in fact. The empanadas are often baked in clay ovens in that they pick up that incredible smoky taste I mentioned, kinda like how grandma used to make them. Or at least, that’s how I would have liked grandma to make them! Finding good empanadas in Mendoza might not be that hard; there are, naturally, literally hundreds of places to sample this, just a bit, iconic treat.
Visit a local market and watch families arguing, playfully of course, over secret family recipes; that said, everyone’s recipe might be “the best,” even if some recipes taste almost identical, but you will probably find your own personal favorite at some point. Very charming. And if you are willing to experience your hand at being a cook, you can totally participate in an empanada-making class, and after it ends, eat every last thing that you and the instructors made! It seems worth it, actually. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Empanada Cooking Class Mendoza)
4. Discovering Olive Oil at a Local Farm
Argentina might be particularly known for its meats and wines, basically. You might think of little else when imagining your average Argentinian landscape. The high quality of its olive oil, seemingly, can be quite the delightful thing to notice, or should I say, quite the welcome surprise. With so many olive groves situated right at the foot of the Andes Mountains, well the region produces, in fact, an olive oil that offers such distinct flavors that really tell the history of that particular region, at the end of the day. Very few tourists realize this, it’s almost odd.
So, touring a local olive farm is really a great way to understand what that process of production can offer, as well as providing, potentially, a lovely way to compare those subtle differences within particular olive varieties, really. At Pasrai Olive Oil, or maybe Laur, tours let you view the process from crop to press; some do a bit more than that, it seems, even educating tourists about this region’s olive cultivation practices too. Oh, very eco-friendly, apparently. Plus, really. the opportunity to sample different oils along some homemade bread, and local cheeses and meats, basically makes for an engaging afternoon thing to do in general! See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Mendoza Olive Oil Tour)
5. Enjoying Alfajores with a Twist
Okay, so the alfajor has become some kind of well-loved treat. In general, there may be other items you may find familiar or know of when talking Argentinian and Mendozan culture. Actually, that is pretty common in Latin American dessert assortments. At its simplest, or arguably at the version you most often see, an alfajor usually is simply two little, sweet biscuits that are bonded by dulce de leche, arguably. Quite delicious! That really is like a caramel spread. This version sometimes may get coated in chocolate or just a smattering of powdered sugar, too. Oh yes.
What makes the Mendoza kind of alfajores worth singling out might come from that incorporation of local ingredients. A local touch! Many bakeries, apparently, put the local Malbec into the dulce de leche or might utilize regional nuts or fruit preserves for some extra flavors. Just that, actually, adds something interesting. A good start is Entrepans, which really does serve many artisan alfajores that definitely feature that distinctive Mendozan identity, you will not regret going there in most cases! Find some for souvenirs. It is what I do, anyway! See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Alfajores Mendoza Buy Now)
