SaltShaker

Colón - Yesterday morning as we passed out of the city of Montevideo and headed north we passed through the port area of the city. An interesting sight met my eyes, as I noted bundles of 15 foot logs, stripped of their bark, roughly 20 to a bundle, piled along the docks. Not just a […]

Carmelo - This community along the western edge of Uruguay has a population of a mere 16,000 people (including the “weekend ranch” of Argentine diva Susana Gimenez). The town is, simply, dominated by the winery Irurtia, the giant bottles of which are scattered here and there throughout the town. Dante Irurtia is the present day […]

Colonia del Sacramento - At the port yesterday I was met by my, as I put it, handler, Laura Nervi. She turns out to be a charming and delightful travelling companion, she’s an agronomist for the national institute of wine, INAVI, and handles touring around folk like me in all of her spare time. We […]

Buenos Aires - Tan Crudo! more or less literally means “it’s too raw!” But it’s an idiomatic expression, used a lot here, and means something to the effect of “You’re a blithering idiot, incapable of boiling water, let alone cooking edible food!” Argentines seem to love the expression, as do other South Americans I meet. […]

Buenos Aires - I love a good degustación, or tasting menu, as much as the next guy. It’s a chance for the chef to show off, to send out what they think is their best, to maybe try out a new item and see what a loyal customer thinks. Beautifully prepared, small plates, one course […]

Buenos Aires - When I was departing New York back in January from my brief visit, my friend Frank handed me a few books he thought I’d enjoy. We do that. I left him one that I hadn’t. But then, that was all I had with me. I’ve been reading Abroad, by Paul Fussell, on […]

Buenos Aires - This weekend has followed it’s by now familiar pattern, with Henry’s young niece showing up unexpectedly on Friday afternoon to spend the weekend, out of mom’s hair, so to speak. As the resident computer person, it has fallen to me to design and print the invitations and other sorts of papery things […]

Buenos Aires - It may have just been coincidence, or it may have been because he knew I’m heading to Uruguay next week, but my new friend, whom I shall call “Pierre” to protect his identity, chose an Uruguayan parrilla for our lunch yesterday. He’s a local food and wine writer and restaurant reviewer, and […]