Let's Meat for Lunch - Grill in Buenos Aires

A small Ma & Pa grill called

Mi Sueño (My Dream) sits in the 700 block of Av. de Mayo within eye shot of both the Pink House and the Congressional Legislature in downtown Buenos Aires.

I lived on this famous street for over ten years and would eat at this humble little hole in the wall several times per week.

I was passing by this afternoon and had to stop in for a visit with my old friend who is the "Pa" portion, what is left of the combo that ended years ago. Leary of the internet, he chose not to be in the photos.

He and his son run the place themselves now, making home-made potato salad, hammering the meat into submission and keeping the wine flowing to the customers.

Lunch time in this country normally includes all you can drink, or rather "all-you-dare-drink" before heading back to work. Afternoons can be interesting in the workplace.

Don't get me started on the culture here. I have a lot to say and it's all good, just not what I grew up with. If it's not the porn on the lowest rack of the news stand (my kids walking by), or the drinking at lunch time, then it's the dinner invitations at people's homes that serve the food at 11:30 p.m. Sorry, I don't start drinking my after dinner coffee at 1:00 in the morning. End rant

I sat at the bar

The orders are brought to him. He hammers the meat, stokes the fire, assembles the fries, mashed, or potato salad. There is not a lot of chat in the afternoons besides the usual, "how are the kids?" and, "Dont bring those snakes back here ever again."

I eat earlier than most, both lunch and dinner. Not a lot on the grill until 2:00 p.m. when the lunch crowd starts. From the bar at the back of the restaurant, you look out toward the front door and see this well worn bar and grill. It's longer than it is wide. The waiter has zig-zags between the bar stools and the next table of four. This was the place where many new comers ate when I was renting rooms to expats just four years ago. We affectionately called it "the dive."

There is no word in English to describe all the aspects of an Argentine meat diner / wine drinking / beer salon / whatchamacallit. Almost every man who was born here prides himself on the ability to keep the right quantity of coals going, while brusing ashes down the angled rack, shoveling the hot coals over to the left and cooking whatever meat, pork or chicken that needs strips. And they only get one flip.

Here in Argentina, the fire gets its own bedroom. If you keep a pile of raging hot coals right next to the place where you grill things on angle iron. Yes, there is a door so the fire can have some privacy and not get cold.

They usually don't open the bag of charcoal. They just move the burning coals toward the door, and then toss the whole bag toward the back. This rotation goes on all day.

If I had stayed longer, I would have more pictures of more types of foods here. They are prepared similarly at all the "Parrillas" in and out of town, so you will get the chance. What I like about Mi Sueño best is...

They always have hot coals ready

If you are stuck in Buenos Aires, hungry as six in the evening, you usually have just two options - Micky-D's or BK - I am not big on either of those. I'll take Argie-style meat that was alive earlier today (that's how fresh it is).

From Outside, It's a painted window.

It says: My Dream	Charcoal Grill

Inside, it's a place that works - Every day till 2:00 a.m.

Ah. Getting hungry! Might have to head back there.

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Sources: I took these today at lunch time.