Rod's South America: Argentina

Mendoza

Had an excellent meal at Auténtico (Av. Sarmiento 777) which has 5 stars on TripAdvisor. I went with the four-course chef’s selection. An excellent meal. It started with a cocktail like a Negroni but with a hint of orange. The two appetizers - humus and a rabbit sort of spring roll with a sauce to dip it in. Rabbit was particularly good; humus was much like mine. The main was a beef "pastrami" steak with corn purée and grilled red onion. Also excellent. The apricot panna cotta had a delicious sauce that contained tiny crispy balls about the size of pearl tapioca - excellent. I can't remember the 3rd course. When I was finished the chef came out and asked my opinion on the meal. (Note that the menu changes, for the current menu see their website.)

Comfit of Rabbit Roll | Almond Hummus

Sirloin Tip Pastrami | Corn Sauce | Pickled Onion

Apricot Panna Cotta

Confit of Rabbit Roll & Almond Hummus

Sirloin Tip Pastrami w. Corn Sauce & Pickled Onion

Apricot Panna Cotta

Buenos Aires

The highlight was the visit to Fogón Asado restaurant, Gorriti St 3780 (Medrano tube stop, line B). They provide an amazing 9 course dinner with two different wine option: I opted for the higher level 5 wine pairing set, all of which were very good. And I still do not like sweetbreads (course number 3). Remarkably, they also offer the "Chef's Counter," a 14 course tasting menu especially for private groups.

The wood used is called quebracho, also called the “axe-breaker."

Fogón Asado¹ 9 Course Menu

Ember-Roasted Eggplant
Ricotta Cheese with Fresh Herbs

Ironed² Provoleta Cheese
Grilled Fruit in Torrontés³ Reduction

Molleja⁴ | Roasted tomatoes
and ginger sauce

Morcilla⁵ | Quince and Apple Chutney
Chorizo | Ember-roasted Bell Pepper
Griddle baked Bread

Slow braised asado al Papillote⁶

Pork Flank Steak (Matambre⁷)
Yellow Chilli Sauce
Lime and cilantro salad

Pine Cone smoked Ribeye Cap
Creamy Cauliflower Puree
Flame roasted Corn

Ribeye | Mashed Boniatos⁸
Grilled Vegetables with the Chef's Vinagreta

Pancake with Dulce de Leche
Patagonian Berries & Whipped Cream

Coffee

Translation of menu items:
1 - asado = roast
2 - griddled, i.e., served in a hot fry pan
3 - Torrontés - white wine (from the Argentine grape of the same name)
4 - sweetbreads
5 - blood sausage
6 - asado al papillote = roasted wrapped in paper (usually parchment paper)
7 - thin slice of meat
8 - sweet potato

And these were the wines served, in order. (A preprandial cocktail was also served.)

My reviews:
El Enemigo Chardonnay - good, lightly oaked.
Angelica Zapata Merlot - quite good.
Catena Zapata Malbec - excellent!
José Zuccardi Malbec - good, but more tannic than #3 but goes good with beef.
Zuccardi Solaria - nice. Sweet yet with the hickory nut flavour of many sherries.