Tenedor libre…Argentina’s OCB

MONDAY 05/17/10

We celebrated Angie’s birthday with 3 cakes and an all-you-can-eat buffet.

flowers from Ariel

Malevo - the bar down the street where we tried to go to distract Angie from wanting cake (since Marisa was bringing one), but she insisted on getting a chocolate volcano

2nd cake

we took good care of the cake

I still wonder how so many Argentines remain so thin among all of the pasta, pizza, empanadas, meat…and all-you-can-eat restaurants.  There is ASADO LIBRE: you just tell them the side dishes and cuts of meats that you want, and the servers keep the food coming; PASTA LIBRE: mix and match pastas with sauces for as many rounds as you wish; PASTA LIBRE: try any combination of ingredients on as many pizzas as desired; and then there’s TENEDOR LIBRE: buffet.  As far as quantity and variety, I think it beats the Old Country Buffet, but quality is equivalent.

They had self-service bars for the following: salad; seafood, including mussels, calamares, and shrimp; pasta salads and pre-made salads; sushi; pastas; Chinese; meat; side dishes; desserts, just to name a few.  Then, there was a parrilla with made-to-order cuts of meat and a chef’s area with fresh fruit desserts, seafood woks and pastas.

the rows of food

the chef's corner - where they make fresh pastas, desserts, stir fry

RE contento - SUPER happy

"here you go" (Melina learned a new phrase and made sure to get it in her head by repeating it multiple times while handing various items to each of us)

the restaurant was named after Ulysses S. Grant - who happens to be on our $30 bill

It was quite an experience – and topped off with a brindis (toast) and torta (cake) for Angie’s birthday…both of which were to par with the rest of the meal. 

cake #3

The tenedor libre was kind of like trying cow brain: you do it once for the experience but if given the option to try it again, you will let the opportunity pass.