A unique and different culinary experience in Iguazú, inspiring and willing to enrich travellers experience by showing and tasting our gastronomy.
The Argentine Experience slogan is “Argentine culture, international perspective” and it truly represents it based upon a dinner party concept that involves teaching about Argentine culture and cooking, eating, wine tasting and having fun in the company of other guests from all over the world.
The idea behind this exclusive culinary service is to offer a different and original experience: the guest not only goes out to dinner but also gets to understand the local culture and gastronomy. The Argentine Experience proposes to maximize a trip to Argentina with good food, local knowledge, fun and interaction with other people in a relaxed atmosphere.
The Argentine Experience announces their opening in Puerto Iguazú from November onwards, so everybody that goes visit the Iguazú Falls will get to participate of this fun and unique event on this new location.
Located in the downtown of Puerto Iguazú, the restaurant’s aesthetic will be very similar to the one in Buenos Aires, with a rustic and elegant style and design details such as wood and stone combinations, providing a warm and inviting environment.
The original menu has been planned by Irish chef Edward Holloway and the experience is divided in different stages in between dishes and entertainment. After a welcome cocktail and snack, there is a cooking demostration where dinner guests will learn to prepare and close their own empanadas using the repulgue technique. Then, enjoy a typical Argentine picada with grilled provoleta cheese, sliced chorizo sausage and pork flank steak. The main course is a 250 g tenderloin that has been dried cured for 24 hs and mashed potatoes. For the sweet taste, the classic and regional queso y dulce and the evening will end making alfajores, our national treat.
Specially selected wines are chosen to enhance the dining experience, including a Torrontés from Salta and a Blend and a Malbec from Valle de Uco in Mendoza.
Besides the delicious dishes, the highlights of the evening include the most creative empanada contest, a cultural introduction to Argentine hand gestures and a lesson about history and etiquette of mate tea.
There is no doubt that by the end of the soirée guests to The Argentine Experience will not only be satisfied but also have huge smiles on their faces after having such a great time and learning everything there is to know about our culture and culinary traditions.
For more information about this experience, please contact your Kallpa Account Executive.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Bookings should be requested in advance.
From Monday to Saturday (guided in English and Portuguese simultaneously).
Dinner starts at 7:30 pm and ends approximately at 10.30 pm.
Max. 42 guests.
Any dietary restrictions should be previously notified.
Vegetarian, pescetarian and celiac menu options are available upon request.
Good homemade food, hospitality and fun await on this unique culinary experience where local Families open their homes to travelers seeking for a closer and more personal encounter with the Argentine culture and lifestyle.
Argentineans are social by nature. We love talking, laughing, cooking and -of course- eating. And we also like sharing and meeting new people. In Buenos Aires City and in Tigre Delta islands too, local Families welcome travelers from around the world for a good time, a cultural exchange and a meal with typical dishes made at home and shared with their loved ones.
You are probably curious about the menu. Well, it will depend on the family! The whole country and -above all- Buenos Aires represents a mixed culture that comes from everywhere but mainly from Spain and Italy, and this is visibly present in our gastronomy.
Maybe a picada for starters, a snack of diverse cold cuts and cheeses, which is very typical before the classic asado. Grilled meats are a passion for us and we can make a barbecue out of anything: cow, pork, chicken, fish…always joined by fresh salads, salsa criolla and chimichurri sauce. Empanadas, our traditional small meat pie but that can also have different fillings such as ham and cheese, vegetables, cheese and onions…Pasta dishes or homemade pizza, we are fans of the Italian food. Or maybe one of our inherited stews like locro (made with corn, vegetables and meat) or guiso de lentejas (made with lentils, vegetables and chorizo). Dessert is always a must and you may try flan with dulce de leche, an alfajor, the classic vigilante (a piece of soft cheese and one of quince or sweet potato cheese) or just seasonal fruits. Of course, we can’t forget about the wine…you will surely enjoy a fine Argentine wine with your meal. The dish options are many, plentiful and all very tasty, no matter which home you get the chance to visit.
This experience will not only teach you about Argentina´s culinary culture and traditions but will make you feel at home in the company of a loving Family enjoying a memorable homemade meal. As we say, panza llena corazón contento: a filled belly makes a happy heart!
Please contact your Kallpa Tour Account Executive for more information and rates for this experience.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Family homes are assigned upon availability and guest capacity.
Menu will depend on the family assigned.
Transfers are not included.
Any dietary restriction should be previously notified.
Share your travel experience back home delighting your loved-ones with traditional Argentine dishes learnt at a professional Chef’s house.
In the porteño neighborhood of Palermo, a Chef and his girlfriend -a young couple specialized in culinary tourism- open their own home’s doors to tell you all about Argentina’s cooking & eating culture and teach you some traditional recipes that you will be able to recreate back home.
The class is pleasant and relaxed, in a private and intimate environment. The idea is to have a good time whilst drinking wine, learning about our country’s culinary customs, cooking and eating.
The cooking class begins!
On this experience, you will meet other travelers and cooking apprentices and have fun exchanging facts and personal impressions of your visit to Buenos Aires. Sharing with the home´s local owners and also with other people will enrich your stay.
Learn how to prepare the dishes using the freshest ingredients and, after the class, enjoy them paired with specially selected Argentine fine wines. The menu includes: traditional empanadas from scratch -dough and all- with two different fillings and cooking techniques. Llajua, a typical northern spicy sauce used for empanadas. Flan, a classic inherited dessert traditionally served with dulce de leche, a sticky, sweet, caramelized milk and sugar sauce that you will also learn to prepare. During the class, you will try three different wines from three different wine-making regions of our country: Salta, Mendoza and Patagonia.
FIlling and finished Empanadas.
Once the class is finished and the food is ready, buen provecho (bon appetite) and let’s eat!
Bon appetit!
FACT SHEET
Half day regular shared excursion.
When: Tuesday & Thursday 6:00 to 9:00 pm; Saturday 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Where: Palermo, Buenos Aires.
Pax requirements: from 2 up to 9 people.
Private lessons available upon request.
Classes are given in English.
Any dietary restrictions should be previously advised.
A 1400 km and 5 day drive along the mythical Ruta 40 from Mendoza to Salta -or the other way around- that takes you through six provinces, national landscapes and cultural and historic sites that you can’t miss.
Mountains surrounding Mendoza, Mendoza Province, ArgentinaRoad 40 through Argentina
The National Route 40 or RN40 is the longest road in Argentina and also one of the longest in the world with more than 5000 km. Running parallel to the Andes, it crosses the country south to north across the provinces of Santa Cruz, Chubut, Río Negro, Neuquén, Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta and Jujuy. Along the road, the natural scenery changes from patagonic steppe to forests and Andean desert at the end; crossing 20 national parks, 18 major rivers and 27 passes on the Andes.
This Road 40 Adventure takes you almost through the half of the route, over the regions of Cuyo and the North. We will describe the experience beginning in Mendoza and ending in Salta but you should know that it is possible to do it the other way around.
The journey starts specifically in Mendoza city every monday, one of the prettiest cities in our country and the most important one in the region of Cuyo. Located at the base of the Andes, this historic city preserves several souvenirs of General San Martin’s heroic deeds such as the Cerro de la Gloria, the Plumerillo, the San Martín Park and diverse museums spread around.
Monumento a la Gloria in Mendoza CityDifunta Correa in Vallecito
The first day takes us towards the neighboring province of San Juan. Our first cultural stop is in Vallecito to visit the sanctuary of a local mythical figure: the Difunta Correa. The legend goes that in the 1840s, Deolinda Correa and her baby followed the trail of the military troop that her husband was forced to join, but passed away in the San Juan deserts due to thirst, hunger and exhaustion. A couple of mule drivers passed by and found her corpse, surprising themselves because her baby was still alive and breastfeeding. She was buried in Vallecito and since then it has become a place of devotion as the popular belief is that Correa answers people’s prayers and many miracles were attributed to her.
After this mystical and folkloric visit, we continue our journey to Valle Fértil, the final destination of the day, a relaxed and quiet town in San Juan province.
The second day of the trip we visit two natural parks declared World Heritage by UNESCO.
The main attraction nearby Valle Fértil is Ischigualasto Provincial Park. Also known as the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), this park is the only place in Argentina where triassic records are well preserved and perfectly differentiated. We have a guided tour on this place with bizarre landscapes, limited vegetation and multi-colored soil.
‘The Mushroom’ rock formation, Valle de la Luna, Ischigualasto Provincial Park.
Our next stop today is at another incredible national park: Talampaya, located in the province of La Rioja. We take de Talampaya Canyon guided tour provided by the park itself to get the most of this amazing place with natural red rock walls and diverse shapes and geo-formations that were gradually originated by erosion over millions of years.
Talampaya National Park, La Rioja.
The end of the day takes us to Villa Unión, where we spend the night.
On the morning of the third day, we leave Villa Unión towards the town of Belén in the Catamarca province. The drive begins taking the Cuesta de Miranda, a scenic slope in the RN40 that reaches 2040 m above sea level along the Miranda River. We arrive in Chilecito, the second most important city in La Rioja that dedicates mostly to wine and olive growing. Here we have lunch (included) and visit La Mejicana, a gold mine in the Cerro Famatina with a museum and a cableway (fee not included).
In the afternoon, we enter the Catamarca province and Belén at last. The guide takes us to the ceremonial and archeological center of Shincal de Quimivil. This is a pre-Columbian city in ruins, one of the four best preserved Inca facilities in the country, although the remains we see today were originally built by the Quechuas between 1471 and 1536.
Shincal de Quimivil, Catamarca.
After a relaxed night in Belén, the trip continues the next day along with the experience with local culture and history. The first stop today is at the Pachamama Museum in Amaicha del Valle, in the Tucumán province. This visit provides us with knowledge on local geology, ethnology, tapestries and paintings.
The second stop is at the archeological site of Quilmes, in the Calchaquí Valley of Tucumán. These are the remains of the biggest pre-Columbian settlement in Argentina; the Quilmes. The ruins have been reconstructed for preservation.
Quilmes Ruins, Tucumán.
The day ends in the afternoon reaching Salta, the last province of this Road 40 adventure, arriving in the town of Cafayate.
Road through Cafayate, Salta.
Cafayate is a famous wine region in our country, known for the Torrontés variety, which is a white sweet wine. Given this, we can’t leave without visiting a couple of wineries to taste some on our last day.
Vineyards at Hotel Viñas De Cafayate Wine Resort?, Cafayate, Salta Province, North ArgentinaAmphitheatre at Quebrada de las Conchas, Cafayate, Salta.
After lunch, the driving continues through the Calchaquí Valley, considered one of the most beautiful and prominent places in Argentina with its mountains, rivers and gorges. We appreciate the enchantment of the Quebrada de las Conchas, a dazzling and amazing gorge with strange red-colored rock formations such as the one called the Amphitheatre. This geo-formations were originated by water erosion given in the past they used to be cascades.
Our journey ends today and as we continue south towards the final destination, the landscape changes abruptly to the greener countryside and the tobacco plantations of the Lerma Valley.
At the end of the ride, finally Salta city awaits with its colorful hispanic architecture, monuments and narrow sidewalks, framed and surrounded by mountains and enriched by a persistent colonial spirit.
Salta City from San Bernardo Hill.
Without a doubt, this is a short trip but with long enjoyable days, on a long road full of cultural experiences and natural beauty. This time, the Ruta 40 takes us across the diverse scenery of the Cuyo and North regions of Argentina, delighting us on every kilometer of the road. But there’s so much more to see on this road still!
FACT SHEET
5 day Self drive Journey
Ask for private tour.
Operation time: all year long.
Travel itinerary may change without notice due to weather or road conditions.
SERVICES INCLUDED
4 nights of accommodation in economic hotels in standard rooms, including breakfast.
Rental Car
Excursion to Talampaya National Park and entrance fee.
Preloaded Smartphone GPS with routes and attractions
SERVICES NOT INCLUDED
Food or beverages.
Museum tickets, archaeological sites, provincial parks.
