**First of all, those of you who currently live in or have lived in Italy, take a look at this contest. All you have to do is complete the sentence “You know you’re in Italy when…” and you could win some mighty fine coffee!**
Since I abandoned “Love Thursday” after two weeks, I’ve decided to try writing a “What’s Cooking Wednesday” entry instead, particularly aimed at those foreigners living in Buenos Aires who wish to eat food with a little more variety, yet don’t know where to start.
Now that spring is here and the weather is warm, my food cravings have changed. Instead of warm, hearty soups I want tomatoes and olives and strawberries and artichokes.
Today I was in the mood for mozzarella. I have issues with most of the mozzarella made here (here it’s spelled “muzzarella”) - while it’s really good (especially on pizza), it’s not anything close to what I was used to eating in Italy - but that’s just because the recipe/method is different, so the flavor and texture is different.
But Disco near the Congreso carries an Argentinean brand that makes a pretty good cow’s milk mozzarella, called “Fior di Latte“, and its made like the mozz I ate in Italy, and comes stored in whey. The same brand also makes what they named “Bufarella” which is their rendition of bufala (buffalo) mozzarella, which is more traditional and has more bite to it - that’s not always available so I usually get the cow mozz. It costs 9 pesos at Disco and you get a pretty good amount for the price.
**Here’s something interesting: I’ve heard that a lot of the cow’s milk mozzarella in Italy is made with milk powder from Argentinean cows!**
Anyway, I stopped at the verduleria on my way home for tomatoes and basil, thinking I could make an insalata caprese, but he won’t have basil until tomorrow, so I nixed the caprese idea and opted for parsley and lemon instead.
I diced the tomatoes, cut the mozzarella into smaller pieces, added some white beans, the parsley, juice from the lemon, extra virgin olive oil and some salt, and I had myself a delicious and healthy salad.
Tonight I have an asado to go to, which I’m definitely looking forward to - I don’t eat very much meat (yes, me, in Argentina) so this is always a special occasion for me.
Next Wednesday I’ll write about artichokes!
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Tina, I was just at lunch with Nina, and I went into Whole Foods, where there was a big display of heirloom tomatoes (4.99 lb!) no thanks, and buckets full of fress mozzarella, at a reasonable price, and big fragrant bundles of basil. This is the time for Mediterranean food for sure, but only for a few more days here, as is it too cold for tomatoes now, and the basil too. Sad.
Tina, I was just at lunch with Nina, and I went into Whole Foods, where there was a big display of heirloom tomatoes (4.99 lb!) no thanks, and buckets full of fresh mozzarella, at a reasonable price, and big fragrant bundles of basil. This is the time for Mediterranean food for sure, but only for a few more days here, as is it too cold for tomatoes now, and the basil too. Sad.
Why am I here twice, twice?
Mmmmmmmmm….
Ha ha…I made a Caprese tonight as well! Except I had to use Parmesan. Which makes it not a Caprese, but it is the thought that counts. I think we need to try the cheese store again…maybe we should find the phone number and give them a call first this time round.
Tina,
Oh, how I love bufala mozzarella. Do you soak your white beans or buy canned? I haven’t had good luck with soaking beans here, but maybe I’m too impatient.
BTW, please tell how you concocted that delicious rice salad the other day.
Do they not have a lot of variety in Argentina either? I had no idea.
The mozzarella looks great. Good luck with What’s Cooking Wednesdays!
Cherrye - yeah here it’s all about meat, potatoes, pasta, pizza, empanadas, helado (gelato). All very delicious to eat, especially when prepared well, but in general the cuisine does not concentrate so much on vegetables and the food isn’t very spicy.
Sure, you can go to Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, etc., restaurants here but it’s either mediocre or very expensive, or people just don’t know about these places.
I have heard a lot of people who move here complain that there is nothing to eat - but really if they would just get out and go to the verduleria or make a trip to the barrio chino for spices, and seek out some recipes on the internet, they’d see that there is plenty to eat.
I love your site. I moved to Italy almost a year ago and have been introduced to all types of delicious foods, including a salad similar to the one you described. I am not a salad person, but I really enjoyed it. I also LOVE tango so I have been enjoying your entries. I’m glad I happened to find you.
Hmmm- ‘Flor’ is available all over - but do you really think 9 pesos is OK - that’s £1.70 in pounds and we get REAL buffalo from Italy for that. I’ve been disappointed with the Italian here but the ‘coronel’ took me to Gardiner (sp?) on costanera Friday lunch - dios what a culture shock from bondiola with the elivery bot at the puestos outside to this swanky resto with every Argie paying Euro prices. Very good buffet (entrada) of mozza and carciofi etc.
Oh yeah - continuing with the veg tema - I waited on Nicaragua at the Bolivian veg stalls thinking I had ticket number 28 - Ok a 20 minute wait - then realising I had number 82 - a wait of 2 hours for veg - maybe not
Suzy! - a-ha, but try living in Once.
The one Disco in Congreso, luckily just 15 blocks from me, is the only place I’ve found it. I’m sure if I meandered up into Caballito I’d find a little more variety and more ‘Flor’.
I believe you’re in Palermo which is another world in terms of food availability. Fior di Latte is, alas, not available all over, not in my ‘hood, anyway.
9 pesos isn’t the greatest price, but considering the other stuff that’s out there, I’ll happily spend it. The other mozz here, while it can be rather yummy on its own or on pizza, has the wrong texture and too much salt to use in something like a caprese. I’ll have to check out the place with the mozz e carciofi!
I hear ya, I too am disappointed in the Italian food here - it’s why I’m writing this entry every week and why I cook at home.
You’ll have to stop by for a meal next time you miss decent Italian food. My aunt is bringing me Tuscan olive oil next week when she visits, hooray!
Hm, 2 hour wait for veg…eek! yeah I’d probably just walk to the next verduleria. Funny about the numbers, it sounds like something I’d do
Tina, thanks for starting this theme; I need inspiration.
However, I can assure you that there is no “mozzarella” in Boedo! When I lived in Caballito, I did buy Flor at my local Disco, which is such a better market than Coto–although the things I want to buy are of course super expensive!
I liked the way you tweaked the salad to use stuff you had or could find. Luckily basil is no problem here, and I even grow my own.
Once in a restaurant I ordered a Caprese salad, expecting Flor-type mozzarella, and I got pressed balls of something very salty and grainy and I was SO disappointed!
Keep up the good work, chica; you are my Hero!!
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