What happens when you take two semi-vegetarians with open minds and combine them with a ravenous college buddy visiting them in Buenos Aires, the most carnivorous capital in the world? The veggie-lovers are bound to commit grave- but admittedly delicious errors, consequences for which will be paid for the following day during more than one trip to the restroom.
Last night Frank took Leah and I out to the very well reputed Siga La Vaca, in Puerto Madero. It is not so often that we are treated to $49 peso dinners, so for this long-term buddy Leah and I decided to recklessly abandon our vegetarian diets and chew on chunks of chorizo, bistec, lomo and other cuts of meat that I haven't really incorporated into my Spanish vocabulary. When we first arrived our waitress explained the system: the price includes all you can eat meaty treats from the parrilla, a salad bar overflowing with fresh crisp produce, a decadent dessert (for me creamy flan with dulce de leche) and a litre of red wine, beer, or soda each.
With sweaty palms and sidelong glances Leah and I stepped up the grill. Candidly, I explained our situation to the asador: "We are vegetarians, how can you change our minds?" He was up for the challenge and piled our plates with juicy remnants of cow, pig, and perhaps deer. How did it go? Quite flavorful, I suppose I can see why people continue to eat animals. Will I be changing my diet? Nah, I've still got this nagging environmental conscience which is accompanied by no real craving for flesh.
After our initial first-bite drama, we spent the next couple of hours enjoying a sobre mesa, catching up and reliving our memories of studying abroad in Hong Kong. It was 1 AM before we started ambling back to our apartment! Though my stomach complained, I'm really grateful to Frank for treating us to this essential Argentino experience. Furthermore, not only have my iron levels been replenished, I'd imagine my calcium is sky-high from the TUMS I've been popping all day.
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