BA Nov 21-Nov 28 food, wine, restaurants

[stxfoodie]

Hi all - my wife and I are spending a week in a lovely apartment in Palermo Buenos Aires on Oro 2835 between Avenue Cervino and Demaria . We would like to experience great food, wine, and restaurants. We tend to like really fresh, locally sourced bistro style food, I'd like to taste the best of Buenos Aires cuisine and explore the local markets. I'd like to taste and drink as many good Malbecs as possible - preferable good wine that I won't find exported to home. We have no problem spending $ in restaurants, nor do we have a problem eating street vendor food. Tend to avoid "scene" type restaurants as my focus is on great food not necessarily what is that latest hot spot - but if the hot spot has great food and wine then that is cool too. I'd appreciate recommendations and would appreciate recommendations on grocery stores and wine shops nearby. I would also love to know about markets - farmer's markets etc. if those happen at all in the city. Lastly, as Americans, I'm curious as to whether there are any restauransts serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and any bars/restaurants etc where US expatriates hang out. We're always travelling with the intent of finding places to retire to in our later years and BA strikes me as a place that might be a viable option. Thanks very much.

[owch]

hi there, wondering if you've found answers to your questions & if you can pass on recommendations? I may actually be staying at the same address! how did you find the place where you're staying, incidentally, & do you recommend it? thanks so much. I was there before & went grocery shopping at Jumbo, believe it or not. they actually have decent cooked food there, in the supermarket. Las Canitas is in walking distance, & one restaurant I liked there was called Campobravo (address is Baez 292 on the corner of Arevalo)...it is a bit of a hotspot but the food was good. a good food guide (sort of like the porteno's version of Zagat I guess) is vidalbuzzi.com.

As far as food in your IMMEDIATE surroundings, here are notes I made the last time I stayed at that address:
closest CAFES:
--Cafe Martinez- (corner of Oro & Libertador)
--Cafe Nucha- (on Cervino)
closest RESTAURANTS:
--Rio Alba- (corner of Oro & Cervino)
--De Maria- (very casual place, doesn't look elegant, but excellent & very inexpensive homecooked food; they have daily specials) on De Maria off of Oro. Tel # [phone] or 4899-0010
FOOD TO ORDER for home delivery or takeout:
--La Juvenil (great pasta & empanadas for delivery, also American-style pizza) Godoy Cruz 2850. Tel # [phone] or 4778-1537 www.la-juvenil.com.ar
--De Maria (they can deliver anything on their menu
)--Rio Alba (if you want to order something simple, their beef/chicken sandwiches are good for delivery otherwise better to eat in the restaurant)
closest GROCERIES:
--Best Minimercado (mini-market, very close by) Oro 2709. Tel # [phone] or 4508-5520
--Jumbo (big supermarket, a bit farther away)
FRUIT/VEGETABLES:
--Fruteria Libertador- Segui 4434 & corner of Kennedy. Tel #[phone]
BAKERY:
--La Burdalesa Confiteria- Santa Fe & corner of Oro. Tel # [phone]

[stxfoodie]

Thanks. Here now and loving it. What a great city. The neighborhood is nice. Jumbo is awesome - also the little convenience store Mino Market has the basics and is very convenient. Found the apartment through apartmentsBA - it is very nice and the concierge there is outstanding in helping with anything you need.

In terms of dining, we've really enjoyed places which are not the places i researched on trip advisor, or chowhound, or via certain closed door restaurant websites. Our historical tour guide from Buenos Aires Historico recommended restaurant Manolo when we were in San Telmo touring, probably because we were in that area - and we loved it. Family style place, awesome italian food, packed on a Sunday with locals - very few tourists - mainly local large families. Other highlight was the Anuva Wine people's recommendation for El Primo - sat out on the sidewalk cafe table and had the tastiest steak we've had here (other place we had steak was Don Julio which was good but I thought the steak was better at El Primo) and the people watching was fun. Also seemed to be packed with locals. Had a great lunch at a place called Annetta (http://www.annettarestaurante.com.ar/). We were walking around after going to one of the museums or gardens - can't remember which, and needed lunch. The place was full and we thought that was a good sign. It was spectacular. The gratineed gnocchi were to die for. Homemade guitar pasta with tenderloin meatballs - incredible. I think Annetta is going to be hard to beat. Not sure where we are off to tonight but it will certainly be for more italian food. Wish we could live here full time although I think I'd weigh 400 lbs!