On Thursday (her actual birthday), Flori, Antonella and I went to Porota for a quick, yummy lunch. The sandwiches there are seriously swoon worthy - even just reading the menu makes you want to set weekly lunch dates here. We ordered three sandwiches to split because we could not decide - chicken, bondiola and summer chicken.
Super dangerous how close this place is to our apartment.
I. can't. put. this. sandwich. in. words.
The bondiola (a cut of pork between the neck and the back of the pig) is also served on the rosemary bread but comes with grilled pumpkin, fresh tomatoes, pategras (mild Argentine cheese) and, one of my favorite things in the world, basil pesto.
Heaven in a bondiola sandwich.
The summer chicken is served on a tasty white bread and comes with panceta, tomato, avocado and basil mayo. Yum yum yum. Did I mention all of the sandwiches come with delicious oven baked papas (potatoes) and a fresh juice? The jugo del dia that day was a mandarin and strawberry combo - delish.
Summer chicken yumminess.
I am dying to go back for more sanguches (sandwiches) and to try their tartas (like a quiche in the US), salads and postres. If you need another reason to try this place, the prices are oh-so reasonable. Visitors beware: we will be lunching here.
Antonella and Flori with our fresh juice.
This leads us to Thursday night. Flori had class so Marce and I whipped up an abbreviated version of eggplant parmesan and some homemade chocolate chip cookies to make ice cream sandwiches with for the birthday girl. After scarfing down our dinner once Flori arrived, we headed over to Frank's, our neighborhood speakeasy, for a celebratory cocktail.
Outside Frank's.
First, you tell the doorman the password, then a different doorman gives you the code to
dial from this telephone booth, which finally leads to the elaborate two-story Prohibition-style lounge inside.
Cynar Julep, Tom Collins and Cucumber Martini.
Friday was the big birthday celebration. Flori rented out a bar in the neighborhood called Salon Berlin. This place is a barber shop by day and bar by night. We mostly had it to ourselves which was a perfect setting for a large group celebrating a birthday. I finally tried a Campari cocktail with tonic and orange. Mind you, I am not a tonic fan but this combo was fabulous - not too bitter and not too sweet.
Evidence of the barber shop.
Los Prattos.
La torta de cumple.
Feliz cumple, Flori! :)
Then came Sunday and the birthday asado at the Pratto house. Think two types of green salads, potato salad, carrot salad, bread and ALL of this meat prepared by Victor - bondiola (pork cut I referred to earlier), morcilla (blood sausage), chorizo (pork sausage - one of my faves!), asado (roast prime rib) and mollejas (sweetbreads).
Even though are bellies were stuffed, we, somehow ;), found room for the two delicious cakes Susi made for Flori's birthday.
Monday was an Argentine holiday and I took the afternoon off so we could explore El Barrio Chino, the Chinese neighborhood not too far from where we live. It was a gorgeous day so we decided to walk the 30 minutes there and explore parts of Belgrano along the way.
El Barrio Chino is actually pretty small - about 2 blocks wide by 2 blocks deep - but houses many food establishments, specialty grocery stores and little knick knack type of stores.
Our first stop was at a small store where we found paint brushes and playing cards. Then we headed to Hong Kong Style for a leisurely lunch. We kicked things off with the Hot and Sour soup as it was highly recommended by my friend, Michelle. We also ordered Kung Pao Chicken and Shrimp Chow Mein. The soup was out of this world - packed with veggies, tofu, pork and a heavy hand of heat. The mains were ok. I would order them again but they aren't anything I would crave...unlike this soup.
On our way out of the neighborhood, we ducked into a couple of supermarkets to browse the unique food items, and also to find my peanut butter. I am already planning our next trip, not only to stock up on more pb, but also to try the street food and the ice cream everyone was munching on while we walked around!
Buen finde a todos!
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