buenos aires Archivos | Page 5 of 6 | Kallpa I Tour Operator

Gastronomic & Cultural Tour in San Telmo

The experience we’re about to tell you promises the best of Buenos Aires history and gastronomy in only 4 hours, so you better keep up!

There’s something about the porteños and their local markets, food, wine and coffee. Many corners in Buenos Aires meet these three relevant elements but one place puts them all together within a special environment: San Telmo, a historic and gastronomic neighborhood by excellence. A spot where immigration, architecture and antiques tell a story and merge with contemporary design and colorful street artists and artisans.

The tour begins at the traditional San Telmo Market, which opened in 1897 to provide the new European immigrants with the necessary provisions. The building still preserves its original inner structure, made by metal beams, arches and columns and glass and sheet ceilings. In the year 200 the market was declared Historic National Monument by the city’s government.

Nowadays, visiting the San Telmo Market is an adventure into Buenos Aires’ past; an eclectic experience where unalike options and shops are the main attraction: antiques, old toys, exotic fruits and spices, fresh vegetables and meat, patagonian products…one picture isn’t enough to cover the many shops and secrets inside this market!

After learning about the history of this unique place and walking around a bit, we stop at Coffee Town. It is known that porteños love to spend their time in coffee shops reading the newspaper, working with their laptops, catching up with friends or just relaxing with a hot cup of coffee in their hands. That is why -after years learning everything there was to know and becoming coffee experts- the Coffee Town team decided to settle at this market, being the first specialty coffee shop in Argentina. Their philosophy: to offer the best coffee in the world at the right price and to propose a journey along the sensorial route with every taste.

At this cute little shop we have a coffee tasting along with a talk about the coffee transformation process -from the green bean to the moment where it gains its aromatic and flavor characteristics- and the different forms of preparation.

Later, we leave the market and walk along the streets of San Telmo towards Sagardi, a Basque restaurant. Here, a professional sommelier will take us through a tasting of a selected variety of excellent and unique boutique wines paired with pintxos (bite-size appetizers served in the bars and taverns of the Basque Country).

With a wine reminiscent taste in our palates, we continue our way to the final stop of the tour: the Pulpería Quilapán. In the old days of the Río de La Plata region, the pulperías were a place that combined a grocery store, a bar and a spot where gauchos, natives, peasants, creole and black people reunited to drink, eat and have fun. Today, Argentine people still take our time to gather with friends and family around the famous mate, a picada, the traditional asado or with a glass of wine.

Pulpería Quilapán is a restaurant, bar, social club and grocery store that uses and sells national, natural and organic products, all of them specially selected. With a country flair, in an ancient refurbished house with rustic environment, fresh patios, an organic vegetable garden, an urban small farm and flower garden, the countryside is reflected recreating a nice and relaxed ambience for people to get together.

We have a guided tour of this historic house and -to end the soiree- the Pulpería delights us with an exquisite traditional creole barbecue with drinks and dessert, while enjoying a live folklore show. Definitely a “back to the countryside roots” experience!

For more information about this tour, please contact your Kallpa Tour executive.

Street Food Tour in Buenos Aires

A walking gastronomic tour in Buenos Aires to try some of the national street food icons.

The influence of immigration and the creole imprint made of Buenos Aires an important gastronomic reference worldwide. The culinary diversity and creativity, each time larger and more innovative, have positioned the city as a gastronomic and cultural destination chosen by millions of tourists. This is why Buenos Aires is the 2017’s Iberoamerican Capital of Gastronomic Culture, a recognition given by the Iberoamerican Gastronomy Academy (AIG).

Chefs from all over the world choose the city to educate themselves and travellers arrive looking for the typical asado, Andean dishes, traditional inherited recipes and many other local flavours, textures and aromas.

We want to celebrate gastronomy in Buenos Aires introducing a special tour that takes you on the search for classic street food that we all Argentineans love. Exploring the city by foot, in the company of one of our expert guides and foodies, this four stops / four fast meals gastronomic experience will give you a taste of what this amazing and diverse city has to offer.

Our guide will pick you up and take you towards the first stop. Then, you will walk around for about 3 hours making a few stops more on the way while he/she tells you all about Argentineans and food, out traditions and tastes, our legacy and influences, and also the full story behind what you’re about to try.

1024px-Choripan_mariposa_By David (Choripan) [CC BY 2.0 (httpcreativecommons.orglicensesby2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons — The famous choripan!

The first tasting stop will be at a food truck in the Costanera Sur for an exquisite and unique choripan. Its name is an acronym from the words chorizo (spicy sausage) and pan (bread), which are the two basic ingredients. It is said that the choripan goes back halfway through the XIX century, when in the countryside the gauchos organized asados to celebrate any occasion, and then started the habit of eating chorizo inside a bread. The choripan has three fast food main characteristics: it’s easy to cook, fast to eat and relatively cheap. Today it’s a main character in any Argentinean barbecue and it’s usually the first treat to serve while waiting for the rest of the meat to be done. Without a doubt, it’s a national classic street food and one of the Argentineans’ preferred dishes.

1024px-Empanadas_salteñas_By travelwayoflife [CC BY-SA 2.0 (httpcreativecommons.orglicensesby-sa2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons — Baked empanadas salteñas

Then you will try an empanada, which is actually a traditional dish from most of the Spanish speaking kitchens. An empanada is, basically, a piece of fine dough stuffed with a salty or sweet filling and cooked in the oven or fried. In Argentina, the empanadas usually have a semicircular shape, a distinctive repulgue (the technique used to close the piece of dough and give it shape) and the filling varies: meat, ham & cheese, corn, tuna, spinach & cheese…these are the classics but there are many more. There are also many varieties of empanadas in most of the country’s provinces, such as the famous empanadas salteñas or the tucumanas, with different kind of doughs, fillings and condiments. We strongly recommend to taste empanadas wherever you go in Argentina.

The last two stops of the tour will pair you up with two Italian inherited and adapted delicacies.

As the final salted course, a slice of pizza. Of course, this is an international specialty nowadays, but what makes it different in Buenos Aires is the dough’s thickness. From the Italian recipe disembarked presumably in La Boca, we created the pizza al molde, which literally means “mould pizza”. This version has a thick dough, maybe 2 o 3 cm thick, and very oily mozzarella cheese drips on the sides. It’s typical from the pizzerias in the neighborhoods, where hungry people in a hurry pass by and have a slice standing up. The main flavours for the porteños are the fugazzeta (cheese, onions and oregano), ham and peppers and the plain but eternal mozzarella. Probably you didn’t know this, but Argentina is one of the biggest pizza consumers.

choc_frutilla_httpwww.afadhya.com.ar — Strawberry & chocolate artisanal ice-cream

Up to this point you should be not only thirsty but also craving for something sweet, which takes us to the final refreshing tasting of the tour: ice-cream, or as we call it, helado. Also brought to the city by Italian immigrants halfway through the XIX century, more and more artisanal ice-cream shops appeared all around. The national ice-cream flavour king (and it is said for foreigners visiting too) is the dulce de leche (caramel). Probably there is no other classic flavour as famous as this one. And although you may find original and new flavours, even seasonal ones, the classics are ever present: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, lemon and crema americana (plain cream). You can’t miss the tramontana (cream with dulce de leche and crunchy pieces of biscuit).

Empanadas, choripan, pizza and ice-cream. As we like to say, panza llena, corazón contento: a full belly makes a happy heart!

Now that you had just a taste of what Argentine cuisine can provide, you surely want to try some more. There are many options in the city and throughout the country where you can enjoy delicious meals. Make sure to contact us for suggestions!

GENERAL INFORMATION

Private service up to 8 people.
Includes described street food meals with drinks, roundtrip transfers and bilingual guide.
Operation: Daily tours year round.
Pick up at 11.00 am (by taxi or van, depending on the number of pax).
Duration: 3 hs
The places to visit and/or order of the meals may vary depending on the guide’s criteria and pax preferences.
The last stop can be replaced for a coffee instead of ice-cream.
We recommend to dress informal and to wear comfortable shoes for walking.
Published rate valid from 30/06/2017 to 31/12/2017.

buenos aires culinary empanadas featured Food gastronomy tour

The Perfect Place to Stay in Buenos Aires

Located in a privileged corner at the verge of Recoleta and Retiro neighborhoods, Carles Hotel recently opened its doors offering a unique and incomparable experience.

Just in front of the 1929 Beaux Arts style Estrugamou Palace, at the corner of Esmeralda and Juncal streets, a splendid and modern French style building was specially designed and constructed to host the brand-new Carles Hotel.

Recoleta is an emblematic neighborhood, recognized for its gourmet restaurants, museums and art galleries, fine shops, rich history and architecture. This makes an strategic location for Carles Hotel, being close to a lively and diverse environment, full of cultural experiences, and also to the city’s downtown and historic center and port.

Sophistication, elegance, design and comfort meet at this new lodging proposal in Buenos Aires. Carles Hotel’s goal is to make guests comfortable and at home for them to fully enjoy their visit, whether they are in the city for business or holidays. The hotel’s management and staff aim for a personalized service and a careful attention to detail to fulfill guests’ expectations and needs.

A refined and modern decoration with several furniture specially designed for the hotel welcomes guests into a relaxing and intimate ambience. Art is ever-present with paintings, illustrations and old photographs of the city spread around and also in the rooms.

Distributed along 11 floors, there are 35 comfortable and luminous rooms classified in three categories: Executive, Double Superior and Suite. All of them provide enchanting views and a pleasant and cozy feeling through the sophisticated design and decoration with sober colours. As the same hotel establishes, every detail is considered to offer a harmonious combination of comfort and enjoyment.

All rooms have private bathroom (not all of them have bathtub) and are equipped with advanced technology and communication systems. Bed is always king size and for Double Superior rooms there are Twin beds. Keep in mind that Suites are the only ones with a private balcony.

On the top floor, right by the gym, the petite terrace provides a perfect spot to settle back after a long day in the city and enjoy the view of this very European quarter.

Every morning at the breakfast area in the subsoil ground, a buffet is served including coffee, tea, orange juice, fresh home baked bread and pastries, cereals and fresh jams. The perfect start for a perfect day!

Brand-new facilities, an excellent location, exquisite decoration and attention to detail make of Carles Hotel the perfect place to stay and rest in Buenos Aires.

buenos aires featured Hotels

Buenos Aires Tango Festival & World Cup 2017

Every August, visitors from all over the world arrive in Buenos Aires for the annual city’s international Tango Festival. Two weeks of concerts, shows, lessons and milongas to intensively experiment this passionate dance.

As every year, the month of August in Buenos Aires is all about Tango. Since 2003, the city hosts the largest annual tango international event with thousands of dancers and a cheering and passionate audience from all over the world to witness this classic dance competition and participate on the many free activities that are part of this festival.

Throughout selected places and for two weeks, tango will be exposed in concerts, exhibitions, dancing lessons and milongas, shows and -of course- the most expected and talented dancing duels. Dancers from everywhere compete in the traditional salon category and the stage category for a chance to appear in the finals at the historic Luna Park Stadium, and be crown as the Tango World Cup Champions of the year. A unique and thrilling show, without a doubt!

Whether you are willing to watch, listen or dance, this is an special occasion to visit Buenos Aires and be a part of an international encounter that celebrates culture, encourages creativity and freedom of expression, and that gathers emerging artists, tango historical referents and a multitude of tango lovers and dancing amateurs.

Kallpa has created a special 4 day program to enjoy this particular event in the city of Buenos Aires, in the company of a guide exclusively dedicated to join you in the festival’s activities of your choice (upon request and availability), show you around the historical neighborhoods and take you for a coffee and dinner at classic and exclusive local sites to have a taste of the Argentine cuisine.

To find out more details about this Tango Festival proposal for August 2017, please ask your Kallpa Executive.

Tango Festival and World Cup 2017 takes part in Buenos Aires from August 10th to 23rd.

The program includes:

3 nights of accommodation at central hotel in Standard room, with buffet breakfast.
Private transfer in (with guide) & out (no guide).
Private guided walking city tours.
Afternoon snack at a selected classic coffee shop.
Dinner with drinks at a selected restaurant.
English speaking private guide at disposal according to itinerary.

Not included