Steaks and Ceviche

The football season over, Portenos have move on to planning their January flight from the city. With my own departure now squarely in sight (I return to Brooklyn a week from Saturday) I'm hitting the home stretch, running out of meals, and there are still many restaurants to be tried.

This week has included trips to Parillas ranging from the old school, and delicious, El Portugues (left), the equally old school and equally delicious El Trapiche to the more modern and slightly less delicious, but still good, Miranda. I've eaten many different cuts of the cow here, but the focus has been on the Lomo (Tenderloin), Bife de Chorizo (Sirloin), Ojo de Bife (Rib-eye). When I've strayed from these three staples it's been towards the parts of the cow that we don't generally get the opportunity to partake in in the states. The Parilla also does put other animals on the grill, and at various times lamb, chicken, and pork have made cameos at our table. The one dish I haven't tried yet, but certainly will, is the duck confit on the grill. Yeah that's right, I said it. Duck confit on the grill.

Much of the cooking in the Palermo area is modern, and a number of restaurants in BsAs claim Peruvian influence in their kitchens. One of those that fits in both those catagories is called Zadvarie DOC. I haven't seen this place pop up in any guide books yet, but based on the quality of the food, it most certainly will. I ate lunch there and had the chef's menu of the day. (On the chalkboard at left) It started with a grain salad and continued with fettuccine served with bok choy, portobello mushrooms. The food is modern without a doubt, but everything was successful. Their specialties include Ceviche and modern versions of classic Peruvian dishes. I'll report on these after my return trip.

The week included a trip to Vietnam, complete with a monsoon. Friday night, in need of a break from the steaks we ehaded to a place called Green Bamboo in Palermo Hollywood. Consistent with the neighborhood the inside was design heavy, filled with folk art. We sat at the bar while we waited for our table and the Belgian bartender served up a fine negroni. Drumm drank something girlie, you'd have to ask him about that. (Update: It was some drink that included Mango & Tequila) Once we were seated we delved into th Vietnamese inspired menu. A couple nondescript starters (I think it was a fried squid dish and spring rolls) preceded the main course. Drumm had marinated pork ribs, that were succulent, and I had a heap of duck called Vit Quay with was duck sauteed with shitake mushrooms and ginger. Very tasty. While we were eating the skies opened and rain flooded the streets until six in the morning. We ducked into the bar hoping to wait it out, but like New York, there were no cabs to be found, and so it was a wet walk home that night.

Thursday night we head to Saltshaker, a private dinner in Barrio Norte hosted by an American expat (New York to be specific) that was featured in last Sunday's NY Times. Full report to follow of course.