Comments on: It’s a Queer Thing…

By: dan

dan — Wed, 28 May 2008 00:15:30 +0000

Thanks! Yeah, well, it’s interesting. I remember when we first started many of the Argentines who came found it very difficult to simply be seated with other people – and some of them still do, though I’m very careful now to make sure they understand that part upfront, which has lessened the awkwardness significantly. I think it’s just so not part of local culture that is seems very strange – until you point out that it’s not really that different from going to a dinner party at someone’s house where you’re sitting with other people who the host knows but you don’t. I think in a more commercial restaurant setting it would still be a tough sell here.

What I’ve found though, is that once they get over the initial awkwardness (and this goes for some of the non-Argentines as well) they tend to be the most active participants in the conversation – especially if there are people at the table who aren’t from here who really want to get a local opinion on various things to do, see, or just attitudes, politics, etc.

By: Marc

Marc — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:19:27 +0000

They really went to town on the strangeness part. Other than seeing these restaurants covered on travel & food channels I didn’t know much about the inner workings until you came along. Still, I didn’t find it strange just more or less expected.

But then again, when I first came here, I remember finding it strange that the word bar could also apply to bright, flourescently lit, enclosures where most people are found at tables sipping coffee instead of on stools drinking beer at the actual “bar.”

Anyway, congrats on the ever increasing exposure!

By: Frank Almeida

Frank Almeida — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:53:55 +0000

Congrats! You deserve the attention, although not the wake up calls.