Showing posts with label Argentina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Argentina. Show all posts

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Happening in Santiago, Chile - Review


Bife de Ancho con hueso from Happening in Santiago, Chile

When looking to experience one of the better steakhouses in Santiago, Chile, one should consider a trip to Happening. The two-floor restaurant has a strong reputation for serving some of the best steaks in the city while providing a generally good ambiance.

I've visited Happening a few times over the years, first back in 2012 and a few times over the past 8 months. The food has remained consistent over time with some small variations to the menu. I have noticed that the capacity tends to be filled half of what it was in 2012, when the restaurant was  packed on a Friday or Saturday evening. There isn't as much a need for a weekend reservation these days. But this does not take away from the quality of the food.


When you enter Happening and sit down at your table, the wait staff is always prepared with the food and wine menus in hand. Upon sitting, they immediately make a recommendation for a starter, and propose an Argentinian grilled chorizo. It's refreshing to see the staff up-selling with an offer that is so fitting for an Argentinian restaurant. It was also refreshing that the wine list is available on their website, which is fairly uncommon.

The staff is equally as helpful when it comes to the wine selections. I ordered a bottle of a specific Malbec. The waiter returned and apologized that they did not have the bottle I ordered, but instead brought another bottle. Instead of using it as an opportunity to up-sell to a more expensive bottle, the waiter instead brought a less priced bottle because it was closer in taste to the specific bottle I had ordered.

As for the food itself, you can't go wrong with their beef offerings.

On my last visit, I ordered the bife de ancho con hueso, or a tomahawk steak (pictured above) along with creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. The quality of the beef was superb and it was an enjoyable meal.

Ojo de bife de Angus pampeano, reducción de vino tinto, con cake de aligot y escabeche de hongos from Happening in Santiago, Chile


During a previous visit, I've tried some of the house specialties such as the Ojo de bife de Angus pampeano, in a red wine reduction, with aligot cakes and mushrooms. When I'm at a steakhouse, especially an Argentinian restaurant, I tend to order a standard grilled beef meal. But I made the exception at Happening and it did not disappoint. The wine reduction and mushrooms paired perfectly with the ojo de bife and the cheesy aligot (potato and cheese mixture) cakes.

If you're one a steakhouse tour of Santiago, Chile, stop by Happening and give it a shot as it will not likely disappoint.


Ojo de bife from Happening in Santiago, Chile


Happening Restaurant Review Grades:

Atmosphere: B

Menu: B

Food: B+

Wine List: A


Happening in Santiago, Chile - Menu:


menu from Happening in Santiago, Chile

menu from Happening in Santiago, Chile

menu from Happening in Santiago, Chile

menu from Happening in Santiago, Chile






Happening in Santiago, Chile - Wine List:




menu from Happening in Santiago, Chile

menu from Happening in Santiago, Chile

menu from Happening in Santiago, Chile

menu from Happening in Santiago, Chile


Tuesday, August 20, 2019

La Cabrera in Santiago, Chile - Review




For nearly two years from 2010 through 2011, I lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Every weekend, I'd stroll down the street in my neighborhood and take in the lovely smells of grilled steaks from all the parrillas in my neighborhood such as Miranada and La Dorita.

But one of my favorite weekend activities was to walk from my apartment in Palermo Hollywood over to Palermo Soho and have dinner at La Cabrera. While extremely popular with tourists, it was still considered one of the best parrillas in the city. Without a reservation, the wait time could be hours...but it was always worth the visit. The food was consistently perfect and the atmosphere ideal. This was the perfect example of an Argentinian steakhouse.

When I learned that they were launching a location in my new home of Santiago, Chile, I was excited. While Chile has a number of wonderful steakhouses in Santiago like Carnal, Ox, and Happening, the idea of an authentic Argentinian parrilla experience outside of the country was exciting. 


Ojo de Bife Wagyu from La Cabrera in Santiago, Chile

Upon visiting the Chile version of this gem, one quickly learns that it’s a very different experience.

The first offering from the wait staff as you sit at your table is a Pisco Sour. This is normal at a Chilean restaurant, but certainly not expected for one seeking a more Argentinian experience.

As La Cabrera is at heart an Argentinian restaurant, they have one of the most extensive wine varieties of Argentinian Malbecs in Santiago. So it's easy to see past the drink offering.


My general experience with La Cabrera in Chile had been favorable. In previous visits I had the bife de chorizo, my favorite cut at the Argentina restaurant location. 

Bife de Chorizo from La Cabrera in Santiago, Chile

I recently decided to try something different and ordered the bife de ojo wagyu, the best cut they offer. It comes with the usual sample size tasting of different salads, vegetables and starches from the photos below. But I also ordered creamed spinach and potatoes au gratin. 

When the meal arrived, it looked great. But it tasted as if they had marinated this premium cut in a salt mixture for months. It was inedible. I had to send it back. The manager came out and asked what was wrong. I explained the problem. His response was to ask me what type of cut I “usually” order. He asked “bife de lomo" (which is a filet migon)? I responded with “ojo de bife”...the same cut, which I often get at places like Ox and Happening in Santiago. 

They offered another cut and to fix the problem, which was reassuring.

The problem was cultural.

Chileans generally like an abundance of salt. They have it on every table. But some who enjoy good food and a better culinary experience might not always prefer over-salted food.



To maintain some optimism for La Cabrera, I revisited the next evening as I was in the mood for a milanesa napolitana. It's a beef cutlet that is traditionally about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch thick in Argentina and covered in melted cheese, ham and tomatoes. It was always one of my favorites in Buenos Aires, and I've had back luck with them in Chile. The norm in Santiago is for the beef itself to be less than a centimeter thick, so all the flavor is just oiled breading.

La Cabera did not disappoint as it was one of the finest milanesas I've tasted. With a side dish of french fired potato halves with caramelized onions, and the usual accoutrement of sample sides, it was an excellent meal.

Milanesa de Ternera Napolitana from La Cabrera in Santiago, Chile
breaded beef cutlet with ham, mozzarella and tomatoes 

Overall, I'm happy with the restaurant. I just had to come to terms with the reality that instead of a 100% Argentinian experience, this menu is going to be altered to better fit the local palate. 

The menu at La Cabrera is not set to replicate the original Argentinian locale. It’s made for Chileans. They offer no less than 5 French fry options for side dishes including papas fritas al a pobre (french fries with a fried egg...a traditional Chilean dish) but they don't offer pure de papas, an Argentinian parilla staple. 

In the perfect world, La Cabrera would be able to simply replicate the once in a lifetime experience in Argentina.  Instead they realized that in trying to expand to Chile, they had to make a few changes. It's understandable.

If you live in Santiago, a visit to La Cabrera is well worth trying. 




LA CABRERA CHILE REVIEW GRADES:
Atmosphere: A+
Menu: B-
Food: B+
Wine List: A+






La Cabrera Side Dishes:



Accoutrements from La Cabrera in Santiago, Chile:
quinoa, fried mushrooms, Russian salad, green salad, lentil hummus, pumpkin flan

Espinacas as la Crema from La Cabrera in Santiago, Chile
Papas Fritas con Cebolla Confitadas from La Cabrera in Santiago, Chile


Papas Gratinadas from La Cabrera in Santiago, Chile

Entradas from La Cabrera in Santiago, Chile:
roasted garlic and puree de papas, basil mashed potatoes, corn puré, rice



La Cabrera Chile Menu:
Menu from La Cabrera in Santiago, Chile

Menu from La Cabrera in Santiago, Chile






Friday, August 9, 2019

Bife de Chorizo from Don Carlos in Santiago, Chile







via Instagram https://ift.tt/2KoXwcN

Sunday, June 16, 2019

Ojo de bife from Happening in Las Condes, Chile




via Instagram http://bit.ly/2wXiOqM

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Bife de chorizo at Don Carlos I Santiago, Chile




via Instagram http://bit.ly/2Wn6Ssl

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Bife de Lomo from Rodi Bar In Buenos Aires, Argentina

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Matt Spotted Milanesa De Pollo Napolitana @ Restaurant 9 Reinas - Sant Cugat

Milanesa De Pollo Napolitana @ Restaurant 9 Reinas - Sant Cugat

by Matt Peloquin via FoodSherpas.com's sightings on Foodspotting http://ift.tt/2lH19jZ

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Matt Spotted Bife de chorizo @ La Cabrera

Bife de chorizo @ La Cabrera
800 gram





by Matt Peloquin via FoodSherpas.com's sightings on Foodspotting http://ift.tt/1zmu7Tn

Matt Spotted Hearts Of Palm Salad @ La Cabrera

Hearts Of Palm Salad @ La Cabrera



by Matt Peloquin via FoodSherpas.com's sightings on Foodspotting http://ift.tt/1qPc9IC

Empanadas from El Sanjuanino


Empanadas de pollo

Empanada caprese


Empanada de queso y cebolla


Empanada de bife picante

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Matt Spotted Ojo de bife con papines @ La Dorita

Ojo de bife con papines @ La Dorita



by Matt Peloquin via FoodSherpas.com's sightings on Foodspotting http://ift.tt/1uC1axq

Matt Spotted Milanesa De Pollo Napolitana @ El Club de La Milanesa

Milanesa De Pollo Napolitana @ El Club de La Milanesa



by Matt Peloquin via FoodSherpas.com's sightings on Foodspotting http://ift.tt/1uC1cFF

Matt Spotted Matambrito De Cerdo Al Verdeo @ El Trapiche

Matambrito De Cerdo Al Verdeo @ El Trapiche



by Matt Peloquin via FoodSherpas.com's sightings on Foodspotting http://ift.tt/1w2DMyv

Friday, December 12, 2014

Matt Spotted Helado De Dulce De Leche @ Un Altra Volta

Helado De Dulce De Leche @ Un Altra Volta

It's been a couple years, but I'm back at Volta for my favorite dulce de leche helado.






by Matt Peloquin via FoodSherpas.com's sightings on Foodspotting http://ift.tt/1BsIYMz

Matt Spotted Cappuccino @ Café La Biela

Cappuccino @ Café La Biela

A coffee at the cafe where I met my wife and where I proposed to her.






by Matt Peloquin via FoodSherpas.com's sightings on Foodspotting http://ift.tt/1BsIYfi

Matt Spotted Caprese Empanada @ El Sanjuanino

Caprese Empanada @ El Sanjuanino

#empanadas from El Sanjuanino, the best in #buenosaires #argentina






by Matt Peloquin via FoodSherpas.com's sightings on Foodspotting http://ift.tt/1BsIXId

Matt Spotted empanadas de pollo @ El Sanjuanino

empanadas de pollo @ El Sanjuanino

#empanadas from El Sanjuanino, the best in #buenosaires #argentina






by Matt Peloquin via FoodSherpas.com's sightings on Foodspotting http://ift.tt/1BsIUfz

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