Argentina

Skipping countries is going to happen a lot during this challenge and the last three countries: Andorra; Angola; Antigua and Barbuda I’ve had to let go. Don’t think I didn’t try to find something to keep the run going, Gordon Ramsey supposedly does a lovely Pyrenean Lamb at one of his expensive London restaurants, but it’s not really Andorran. Me and the girlf went all the way to Harlesden to check out Jet Set Dinner and Dance which I’m told has Angolan food, but it’s basically a nightclub and wasn’t open till very late. I’m not going to hang around in Harlesden till 10 at night for this or any blog. I expected there to be something for Antigua and I’m hoping I can return to it, but I searched online and found nothing for either island. So onto Argentina.

There’s only one food I think of when someone mentions Argentina: STEAK. So I as I arrived at La Pampa Grill in Battersea, I was more confident of what I was going to eat that at any restaurant so far. I was pleased to see that almost every main course was a steak of some description, T-bone, sirloin or fillet. When the owner of La Pampa drafted out their menu, he obviously realised how limited this menu would be so rather than just have these 3 items, they added three more items with each of the above steaks “with a fried egg”. Six dishes, all steak, three with egg, three without. The decisions…

Actually there was a chicken and lamb dish to choose from too. The final dish illustrates that the hippy movement didn’t get as far as Buenos Aires, the vegetarian option is simply described as an “Argentinean Vegetarian Dish”. Not so tempting.

Would you believe it, I had steak. Sirloin to be exact and most importantly, without a fried egg. Everyone with me ordered steaks too, we also had some roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables. We ordered a heavy Argentinean red to go with. The only really notable thing about the décor of the restaurant was the high number of stuffed birds of various descriptions adorning the walls and ceiling. Perhaps this is commonplace in Argentina but it doesn’t really encourage me to enjoy my meat. They all looked very dusty and a bit moth-eaten.

Well, in all, the meal was lovely, great steak (as you’d expect) and lovely veg. It’s heavy and filling, but you know you’ve had a proper meal when you leave. Have I learned more about the cuisine of Argentina? Not really, and perhaps if I went to Argentina I would have the opportunity to eat a greater variety of food that the fayre you get in a restaurant in the UK. However, even if the beef heavy menu’s of the UK are all you can find, if it’s what you want then it can’t fail to satisfy.