On the corner of the streets Chile and Peru in San Telmo, Buenos Aires, I am initiated in the Argentine Parrilla at El Plato. The backbone of the gaucho country´s restaurant scene, the parrilla, is a steak house. Vegetarians need not apply the parrilla is puritan - it´s carne or go home.
Parrillas range from spit and sawdust joints to upscale restaurants. El Plato sits somewhere in the middle, but due to the abundance of well bred/fed cattle in Argentina, you´re guaranteed the steak of your life wherever you end up.
El Plato was once a butcher and evidence remains in the hanging meat hooks, cracked black and white tiled floor and photographs of sturdy men, meat cleavers at the ready, adorn the walls. Tables with white linen table cloths are packed tightly with chunky wooden chairs and a Friday night hub-bub of locals, gives a heart-warming atmosphere I never want to leave.
The menu lists a host of different cuts of beef and a couple of pork dishes. I choose the bife d´chorizo, which is the sirloin cut - not the Spanish sausage. My hunk of Argentina´s finest is thrown on the open grill I can see from my seat. Wood burning flames give the beef a wonderful smoked flavour. The quality speaks for itself, the sirloin is fibrous, juicy and blushing in the middle with a thick side of fat. The steak covers three-quarters of my plate and the strength and freshness of flavour is unrivaled by anything I´ve tasted in the UK. The beef seems to have more complexity to its flavour than its British cousin giving a deeper, richer, er well, beefiness. I am also given three accompanying salsas, my favourite is a thyme, garlic and chilli vinaigrette, which leaves a lasting citrusy tang. Accompanied by fried potatoes country-style and it´s a filling slap-up supper.
A glass of vanillary Malbec compliments the meat perfectly and the best part - the bill totals eleven pounds. Everyone should try a real Argentine parrilla - steak lovers should consider expatriation. It´s beef at its all time best.
