On Tuesday I attended a luncheon hosted by Visit Argentina and Aerolineas Argentinas highlighting the flavors of Argentina. Held at the Consulate General of Argentina in New York, the event gave attendees a taste of what the vast country has to offer.

Upon arrival, guests were offered a glass of wine. I was excited to try Torrontés, a white varietal indigenous to Argentina. This was a new varietal to me, and it did not disappoint. Along with the welcome wine, we were treated to chipá, a type of cheese puff.

Next, we were seated for lunch and delighted in presentations from various representatives, further detailing tourism highlights of the country while we enjoyed a four-course meal.

Our first course was olive oil-poached red prawns with sunchokes and kumquat. The prawns were delicate. Up next: merluza negra. The fish, similar to hake, was accompanied by a creamy corn chowder. The main course was ribeye, perfectly cooked and paired with potatoes, mushrooms and cipollini onions. For dessert we indulged in cardamom-poached quince with cream and pastry. Other wine pairings during lunch included a Pinot Noir from Rio Negro and a Malbec from Mendoza. It was a truly wonderful meal!

A few fun facts I learned at the event:
– Six new national parks opened in Argentina in 2018.
– Despite meat being known as a traditional component of Argentinian cuisine, shrimp (or prawns) is just as important a dish.
– Aerolineas Argentinas is the first Latin American carrier flying the Boeing 737 MAX 8.

I left the luncheon wanting to experience more of Argentina and hope to plan a trip in the near future!

— Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director