As I prepared to move to Buenos Aires this semester, I anticipated many challenges. Speaking Spanish, for one. Living with a host family instead of on my own. Making friends. Passing my classes. The list goes on.
There is one thing, however, I didn’t anticipate missing about home: spicy food.
The food in Argentina has been delicious—from incredible meat to flaky, sweet pastries to some of the best coffee I’ve ever had—but to say that everything is mild would be an understatement. My host mom doesn’t even keep paprika in the house because it’s too spicy for her to handle! Now, I’m not saying there’s no flavor. Although the spices here are very limited, food is cooked well, and the simplicity often contributes to the enjoyment of every piece of meat and vegetable on the plate—or so the Argentines say. Personally, I think a dash of Sriracha could really elevate the meals.
My favorite brunch that I’ve eaten in Buenos Aires. The food was super flavorful, but not spicy at all, and my friend decided to bring her own Cholula to the restaurant to eat with her eggs!
I’ve gotten used to asking for food at restaurants “bien picante” or “súper picante” and not letting the strange looks bother me when I ask the waiter if the restaurant happens to have any kind of spicy sauce. Once, I ate at a pizza restaurant that even had a container of what looked like chili flakes on the table—until I tried them and realized they had no more flavor than a sprinkle of salt dyed red. Many restaurants don’t even keep black pepper on the table because it’s so rare that customers will use it!
Choripan, a cheap and common Argentine meal (short for “chorizo y pan”), often comes with chimichurri, a mix of mild spices and pickled vegetables. I always ask for “chimichurri con picante,” but restaurants rarely have anything spicy to add.
I went out to dinner at an Indian restaurant with my host family a few nights ago, something I was really excited for, not only for the excursion together, but also for the food itself. I had been greatly missing the wide variety of cuisines that I take for granted living in the U.S., and I was looking forward to eating curry again and tasting some flavors—and maybe spice!—that I hadn’t had in a while.
When we got to the restaurant, we began ordering our food, making sure to ask for “extra picante.” The waiter stood there politely, taking down all our orders, until the very end, when he asked skeptically if we were sure that we wanted it spicy. We were quick to reassure him, telling him that the three of us from the U.S. knew what we were getting into. Despite our many reassurances, he offered to bring the spicy sauce on the side, just in case we weren’t sure. We eventually were able to convince him, however, and when he brought out the dishes (with spices mixed in!), we were all starving and so excited to try them. And although a bit of spice was definitely present, I couldn’t help but miss my neighborhood Indian restaurant in the States, where I can regularly order food that almost burns my tongue off if I choose.
With my host family and other host students at an Indian restaurant near the center of the city!
So here’s my advice for future students in Buenos Aires: don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful city, the amazing people you’ll meet, all the incredible activities you’ll do—but above all, don’t forget to pack your favorite hot sauce on your way here.