Buenos Aires resists, thanks to art and culinary impetus
Repeated crises have stalked the people of Latin America in recent decades, and probably many of them will be remembered for having landed with a colossal magnitude in Argentina . Hyperinflation in 1989, the "Tequila Effect" in 1995 and the "Corralito" in 2001, are just some of the hurricanes that have attacked Argentine soil in an inconceivable way, transforming the idiosyncrasy of the premises into a symbol of constant resilience. . In this context, therefore, it is not surprising the effort that has been deployed, particularly after the Covid-19 in Buenos Aires , and that, as happens in the rest of the country, is faced with that impetus so characteristic of someone who is used to living in an environment of uninterrupted uncertainty, but is not willing to give up even for a second that vocation for reinvention and creativity overwhelming.
That Thursday, March 13, 2020, Argentina declared a health emergency after confirming local cases of Coronavirus, but it was not until midnight on Friday the 21st that a total confinement was announced. Almost in the blink of an eye, the hordes of tourists who used to be dazzled by the Puente de la Mujer vanished, the typical little streets of San Telmo They lost that joy of someone who tasted a craft beer with a view of the Plaza Dorrego or remembered the French capital by intruding among the evocative corners of Recoleta. Buenos Aires he said goodbye for an extensive period to that vibrant compendium in charge of cultivating his sophisticated and authentic spirit, but also modern and bohemian.
Among a multitude of virtual initiatives to tour the museum halls without leaving home, dialogues and interviews with the artists, the secrets behind the restoration of works and adaptations 'to carry out' of the restaurants, survived two of the sectors that contribute to the character of Buenos Aires : that is how the city resists after the pandemic , through art and culinary impetus.
Buenos Aires resists, thanks to art and culinary impetus
A TOUR THROUGH THE ART OF BUENOS AIRES
After months of suspending their face-to-face activities, finally the museums and cultural spaces opened their doors last October, and one of the most anticipated reopenings was that of the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires , better known as MALBA, which houses a permanent collection entitled 'Latin America South of the South' (curated by Florencia Malbrán, Gabriela Rangel and Verónica Rossi).
Through works by artists such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera , Antonio Berni, Xul Solar and Emilio Pettoruti, in addition to ancient objects, the exhibition articulates a journey through the history of Latin American art of the 20th century , delving into that meeting point that is generated between tradition and new artistic languages, the modernization of cities and the cultural heyday, with a look that at all times remains faithful to its designation: south of the south.
The permanent collection 'Latin America south of the South' in Malba
In addition to the permanent collection, MALBA has arranged the program 'Out of Focus', an initiative curated by Francisco Lemus that seals the foundations of a narrative between artists or exhibition projects in spatially segregated galleries, and that on this occasion strengthens the ties of the works of Alejandra Seeber and Leda Catunda . For their part, on March 17 they also inaugurated 'Therapy', curated by Gabriela Rangel, Verónica Rossi and Santiago Villanueva. With more than two hundred works, the exhibition alludes to some formulations that have occurred with the linking of psychoanalysis, the unconscious and surrealism , as well as the influence that the rupturist expressions have had in the decades of the sixties and seventies.
'Fellini's centenary in the world' , on the other hand, will remain until next May 5 at the National Museum of Decorative Art , after postponing its opening due to the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus. The exhibition, organized in conjunction with the Italian Embassy in Argentina, the Italian Institute of Culture and the museum, represents a journey through the fellinian imaginary, a poetic universe where drawings, photographs and videos are juxtaposed with the purpose of provoking a deep connection with the visionary mind of the artist from Italy , seeking to commemorate the centenary of his birth and also pay tribute to one of the greatest directors of Italian cinema.
From April 8 to September 30, 2021, the Museum of Modern Art of Buenos Aires will welcome ‘Alberto Greco, how great you are!’ , an exhibition that will unravel the groundbreaking work of the argentinian artist in the 1950s and 1960s, bringing to the scene aspects related to his inscription and the sense of community that is central to all of Greco's worldview, without neglecting the "Creole" plot that is a common thread with the city of origin of it, Buenos Aires.
With respect to galleries , Otto Art Gallery is preparing to inaugurate 'Four elements', an exhibition that was to be released in May of the previous year but had to be postponed due to the pandemic. In it, four sculptors, Carmen Dardalla, Monica Canzio, Maria Torcello and Fabio Miniotti , works in Carrara marble, glass, wood and cast iron respectively, to address a link between the creative process and the sensitivity of materials.
On the other hand, Ruth Benzacar Art Gallery presents 'Souffle', by Mariano Sardón, in what is translated as an unequivocal relationship between the invisible and the visible in a transdisciplinary way between neuroscience and art, while there we can also find "Apparition" by Miguel Rothschild , whose proposal offers a selection of burned photographs that invite you to contemplate nature with mystery as the protagonist; and finally the selection of works by Tomás Saraceno.
THE CULINARY FIELD NEVER DISAPPOINTS
Nicolas Calderon and Rodrigo Da Costa have materialized in Le Reve an evocative culinary dream. Located in the heart of the neighborhood of palermo , East french bistro has chosen to build a notably European menu in an intimate setting, combining seasonal products , a different proposal week after week, jazz and French music.
Le Rève is the culinary dream of Nicolas Calderon and Rodrigo Da Costa
Among the outstanding dishes: the venison sausage, the selection of cheeses, quail egg and fried capers, although they have also designed a Le Rêve Experience which consists of a custom designed menu . "There are six steps, an Amuse - Bouche, two appetizers, two mains and a dessert. It includes a welcome cocktail, water and coffee, and it is possible to add wine pairing for each dish to the experience", they comment from Le Rêve to Traveler.es.
In September 2019, Amazonia Brasas was launched in the Palermo neighborhood, with a proposal that combines typical dishes such as tacacho with smoked pork cecina (ripe plantain, mashed and fried with an emblematic dried meat from the Amazon), grilled marrow with mango chalaca, ceviche in three different versions , including a vegetarian one with oyster mushrooms marinated in smoked tiger milk and the “Costeñita”, cooked in banana leaves with yellow pepper.
"A bet on the most exotic vein of Latin American cuisine: the kitchen of the jungle. The challenge is to recreate dishes from the Amazon fused with flavors from the region , respecting ingredients, autochthonous techniques, and ancestral customs such as fire, cooking with banana leaves and smoking" says Francisco García Moritán, creator and founder of the Amazonia Brasas project.
The perfect gastronomic journey to evoke the flavors of Italy in Argentina lies in Figata , a restaurant located in Recoleta that through its dishes invites you to take a culinary journey through the different regions of Italy and its Mediterranean flavors. Among the highlights we find lasagna, figatina loin with tartuffo, grilled calamari , carpaccio di funghi, in addition to its emblematic Tiramisu , the chocolate and ricotta cannoli, and also its extensive wine list.
the of Paris Cafe Brasserie , for its part, is a story of overcoming and fighting that perfectly reflects the impetus of the culinary sector in Argentina. After closing its doors after ninety years in Vicente López due to the pandemic, four friends decided to bet on rescue the traditional Café de Paris . An ambitious project that has required a colossal effort, but today brings splendor back to a site that houses historical events of Buenos Aires.
With a proposal from typical Buenos Aires neighborhood bars but with the French addition , Paris Café Brasserie rises from the ashes. "We liked reversing still life dishes but with a French look, reversing them to make them fine, elegant, but without losing their essence. Our chef is a young man with French training who comes from working in France. We have a Fried table with prawns, squid rings, mozzarelitas, milanese , there are cakes without taac, homemade hamburgers, a shrimp cocktail with avocado, and, of course, the classics: croque monsieur and creme brulee", they tell traveler.es
Based in Palermo, 13 Fronteras is the creation of Dave Soady, with dishes that refer to Latin America , such as the altiplano, the deer arepa and the duck tacos, in addition to working with small wineries in La Rioja and Salta. The concept emerged about five years ago, when Dave embarked on a road trip from Washington to Tapalqué, Argentina . "I chose to base my restaurant concept on the regions I had interacted with on that trip, feeling the importance of telling the story of each of those countries, the cultures within them, and how they had influenced me."
More than 16 varieties of own and handmade Spritz boasting a unique cocktail bar, Spritzza takes root in the Palermo neighborhood. His proposal boasts of combining the appetizer and the main ingredient of all the spritz, Santinos stevani's, with entrees that include fried shrimp and avocado dumplings, as well as the crispy fainá with provoleta and multicolored cherries.
For their part, the 10 varieties of pizzas pay homage to Italian greatness , and among the favorites of the public are the fusion of dried tomatoes in the clay oven, brie, stained olives and kale; grilled aubergines, pesto and burrata; and pepperoni, mozzarella, tomato and provolone.
The indisputable dessert and star of Spritzza is the Nutella pizza with white chocolate flakes , which is made with 100% organic flour and is cooked in a wood-fired clay oven. Undoubtedly, a worthy winner of the Buenos Aires night that falls in love with its iconic Italian idiosyncrasy and Hollywood airs.
THE FASCINATION OF WINE AND GIN-TONIC
With more than 300 labels argentinian wines and sparkling wines, a cinema, a vinyl room and a terrace with views, Overo has conceived in Palermo Viejo a bar and a wine club that offers tastings, tastings and exclusive events. Pol Lykan and Daniel Rigueras, the founding partners, opened the doors in December, determined to establish a "differential wine bar, specially designed so that members can meet and enjoy wine".
The thread of Overo They are not only spaces like the "Sala Malbec" in which the Bodega Catena Zapata accompanies, but also an environment in which art is an omnipresent factor, in addition to the philosophy of reusing and using biodegradable cutlery to minimize the consumption of plastics, with the purpose of being a cocktail bar and private club conscious.
Carlos Fuchs, Silvina and her three children, Agustin, Guido and Leandro opened a large family business in January 2019: Amores Tintos, the first wine bar in Argentina with 16 taps of wine on tap −malbec, cabernet sauvignon, franc, red blend, dry malbec rose and a vermouth made there− that takes root in one of the corners of the Palermo neighborhood.
The proposal concentrates in one place the possibility of drink wine from the best producing regions of the country at an affordable price and in a casual atmosphere, in addition to installing a sustainable system that avoids the use of bottles. Likewise, if there is another aspect that conquers in red loves that is the cuisine, with exquisite dishes such as entrails marinated in smoked chimichurri and malbec meat empanadas cut by knife, with the chocolate volcano being the infallible success among desserts.
Special mention for Invernadero, the first gin and tonic bar in Argentina which is located at the foot of the emblematic National Library, designed by the architects Clorindo Testa, Francisco Bullrich and Alicia Cazzaniga in 1961. Whether in a brunch format, at sunset or for discover its wide range of gin and tonics , torn between rose petals and cucumber, yerba mate and eucalyptus, passion fruit and burnt star anise, ginger and burnt rosemary, who can resist a good gin and tonic?
Invernadero's gastronomic proposal revolves around tapas . Spanish croquettes, crispy panko prawns, mushroom montaditos, brie cheese with onion jam, salmon and shrimp ceviche are just some of the delicacies that await in an environment that invites you to disconnect with nature.
Who can resist a gin and tonic at Invernadero?