Me Gusta Asado...

Our professors- Alicia and Andrea- were really kind and invited us up into the Sierras Chicas (mountains- but they were more like hills) today to have an asado.  The name of the pueblo was Cuesta Blanca- it was near a more widely known town called Carlos Paz.  We had a wonderful time- it was so nice of them to include us.  I feel like I experienced the "real" Argentina today by attending an Argentine family dinner; I like having these types of cultural experiences- they are the reason I wanted to come to Argentina

Andrea's parents have a really nice summer home next to a river.

There was a family gathering...

And a table with large cutting boards, around which silverware and glasses were placed.

This is Don Alfredo- Andrea's father; he explained his nickname "Don" and how it has a different meaning than in the context of Spanish nobility... didn't quite pick up on everything. He and is wife Nora were kind enough to have us over.  We really appreciated their hospitality.

This is Leo- Don Alfredo's grandson- he lit the fire and stoked the coals...

And then there was asado...

And one really happy and spoiled dog named Taco.  He was so named because his parents are Mexican.  I dropped a piece of potato and he wouldn't touch it- he had all kinds of scrap meat at his paws and was choosy.

Asado is a specific name for beef that is cooked on a grill similar to the one above; though an asado is a type of grill... you could also say, "have you tried an asado yet?" meaning have you had a piece of meat off the asado? We shared large cutting boards.  Leo- the guy tending to the meat, would cut up chunks of each type of meat (morucha (ribs), vacio (flank stank), morcilla (blood sausage), chorizo, mollejas (sweetbreads- yes my friends, I tried sweetbreads and actually knew what they were because I watch Top Chef), and pork) and then send it around on a huge cutting board.  

I've had more beef this week than I usually eat in an entire month.  It was all REALLY good though.

A picture of the kitchen inside...

Criollito (*remember that the "ll" in Argentina is pronounced somewhat like a "j" in English)- a wonderful, magical, buttery, flaky, salty, sweet little biscuit that is unique to the Cordoba Province.

We learned a new game- sapo- or frog.  

You throw the fichas (or little metal coins),

and aim for the holes or frog's mouth- you earn points depending on where they fall.  The coins go through the holes and into slots with different point values marked on the outside.

There was also swimming, climbing, jumping, and diving...

And later that night a jam session.

But not really, I don't exactly rock out on my guitar.  Sebastian is a friend we met at institute- he was kind enough to bring over some tango music and show me some Argentine folk guitar. I've played classical guitar my whole life- never really learned to strum or use a pick.  I'm learning to strum now! (but not with a pick)

  

Did I mention that I bought a pink leather jacket while in Buenos Aires a few weeks ago?

It was calling my name.  Had to have it.