pass through the gates of CoChinChina It's like entering a bar where every day is a party. And what a party. The atmosphere, the intimacy, the vast spaces filled with groups of friends, everything has been strategically conceived in order to recover the joy of meeting, of bar , under the indomitable seal of its creator, the renowned argentinian bartender, Agnes of the Saints.
Before diving into this captivating space, let's start with the traveling journey, because as has happened with a wide range of ideas during the last two years, CoChinChina wasn't meant to be a bar with Franco-Vietnamese proposal nor was it going to take hold in the heart of palermo , in Buenos Aires.
“We were going to open a bar on a first floor. He was very elegant, in a white jacket, everything was very Positano. We came with the project closed, and suddenly, pandemic. It was a bar accessed by an elevator, the windows didn't open. So I wasn't there to make a super fancy place, we were all coming back to Earth," he says. Agnes of the Saints to Conde Nast Traveler.
The Argentine bartender, Inés de los Santos, in CôChinChina.
Although the premises are not at all easy to find, her partner introduced her to a site with multiple spaces and a masterful height. “I saw the place and said, we have to take a trip, something that amuses us. Must generate that feeling of being on the road”.
Immediately the question about the destination came to life, and that was how she decided that the idiosyncrasies of the place would be wrapped around her. France . However, since Argentine culture is intrinsically related to French architecture and savoir-faire, she decided that for the trip to be noticed it had to have an Asian imprint.
Investigating the French colonies on that continent, Agnes of the Saints she investigated those that had been influenced by French culture in the area of gastronomy. Vietnam became overwhelming, and his story caused fascination in the argentinian bartender . “What I liked the most is that there are not a lot of Franco-Vietnamese bars in the world". A colony quest Franco-Vietnamese on Google it became the name of the bar: CoChinChina.
Of course, the aesthetic concept is not far behind. The design of the space in conjunction with Emme Carranza puts value on both France like Vietnam , thanks to nostalgic spaces, a large mural that recreates the rice terraces of the Asian country, a street structure in the epicenter of the bar, and even a bar conceived from egg shells, an ancient Vietnamese technique used to create utensils.
CôChinChina in Buenos Aires.
Its layout has made it one of the favorites of recent times, since within the same space there are different corners that are worth experiencing. More intimate tables for couples, the street eating culture , the deck with European-style banquettes, the classic bar, another on a lower level to generate a conversation of recommendations, boxes for groups, and a more intimate and private place in a room . "Our philosophy is to be an amusement park."
Even so, they have not only sought to delve into the way diners interact, “ for us it is very important what you eat, what you drink , we do not have the typical dishes, and we support it with a lot of service. 68 people working all over the place, with a very good product behind it”.
The Aires de Annecy cocktail from CôChinChina.
The cocktail menu , meanwhile, was quite a challenge. In the first instance they proposed to look for what is drunk in France and the representative drinks of vietman . Upon encountering certain limits, they opted for an exploration that displays the place's philosophy of fun, without the need to build an unequivocal tribute to each culture.
So it is that Agnes of the Saints and the staff of CoChinChina led by Lucas Rothschild became the architects of a menu made up of the bartender's classics, cocktails from CoChinChina that accompany the history of the dishes, and those prepared without alcohol.
The recommendations hide the great secret of argentinian bar , since the staff intends to take into consideration what each person wants to drink, so first a cocktail and then the accompanying food.
Infallible alternative to feel a breeze from the French prairie? Airs of Annesy , made up of Brandy, Lillet, cucumber and elderberry water, and a queen taco.
The culinary proposal in CôChinChina by Juan Carlino.
It should be noted that when they opened their doors in 2021, it was Maximo Lopez May the chef who perfectly interpreted Inés' vision. However, having stipulated from the beginning that he would accompany them for a certain period, after the month of August they associated themselves with Juan Pug , a cook who for a long time worked in the restaurant Don Julio.
“When I traveled through Vietnam and Southeast Asia, note that street food is super important in its gastronomy, it is fresh, fun and deep in flavor. Evolution was searching flavors of the asian region and adding various things from French cuisine. The field terrine with pickles, the tartare with a creamy sauce and the pizza from the East of France are a clear example of this”, adds Juan Carlino.
“We began to work more on the French side, thinking about that not-so-structured idea of a starter, main course and dessert, which it allows you to play more with the cocktail menu” , asserts Agnes of the Saints.
"We have one of the most characteristic dishes of the street, which is the bahn mi . Prawns with Asian tartare, Viet-style pork meatballs and roasted mushrooms. All three with different homemade sauces, herbs and pickles”, he points out. Juan Pug.
As for the perfect accompaniment to Airs of Annesy , stands the plate cha gio, crispy rolls with mushrooms and vegetables, herbs, sprouts and sauces. Undoubtedly, fresh ingredients on the palate, which at no time take away the prominence of the star cocktails from the bar
CôChinChina, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In the coming weeks, the top floor will be converted into a space for private events, with an outdoor venue where diners will also be offered enticing cuisine.
Unable to enter or prepare to leave CoChinChina without appreciating its ceiling, an evocative creation that emulates the red incense productions of Vietnam.