An Evening in Catalonia from Mendoza Argentina

Diner at Cantina La Rambla, Mendoza Argentina

We were invited by our friends Gustavo and Sandra for a Catalan culinary experience at the Catala Centre here in Mendoza.

What an experience, never knew that this place existed, this Centre is for Catalan and people that share the same value, inside they have a theatre, a Cantina “La Rambla” a very homey place, they also give classes to learn the language. This center was open in 1908, a beautiful place to relax and get a cultural experience, an evening in Catalonia!!!

We started with the tapas, calamari, prosciutto, potato cake, bread, aioli, and eggplant salad.

And for sure great wine, our friend Gustavo had bring two amazing bottles, the first one was a Melipal Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc blend 2010, and the second was Clos de Chacras Gran Estirpe a Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend 2010 one of the most prestigious wine in Argentina, we are so fortunate to get the chance to drink this class of wine, and the best part is to have Gustavo to described for us all the characteristics of each Cépage.

The entrée was Fideuà,

Fideuà   (dialectal pronunciation of the Valencian/Catalan word fideuada "large amount of noodles") is a seafood dish originally from the coast of Valencia which is similar to paella with noodles instead of rice. Its main ingredients are: pasta noodles (usually angel hair), fish (rockfish, monkfish, cuttlefish, squid), and shellfish (squilla mantis, shrimp, crayfish). It is seasoned mainly with lemon.

History from Wikipedia

The invention of fideuà is attributed to a picturesque story. Gabriel Rodriguez Pastor, (Gabrielo from a kiosk in the port district of Grau in Gandía), worked as a cook in a boat and Juan Bautista Pascual (Zábalo), was the youngest man in the boat and his assistant. According to Gabriel's family, the boat captain loved rice and the rest of sailors almost never received their full portion of arròs a banda, the dish that the cook usually prepared. Trying to find a solution for the problem, the cook had the idea of using noodles instead of rice to see if the result was a little less appetizing for the captain.

The invention was liked, and fame of the dish spread though harbor restaurants such as the "Pastaora House," where they cooked the first "fiduedades." The dish became distinctive and essential in the area.

What a feast a real delight, great seafood, enough to feed and small army!!! 

To finish one of my favorite dessert crème brulee, and a shot of limoncello. 

It was a fantastic evening,

Muchas Gracias Amigos por una  noche inolvidable, Diane y Marc

Our Friends Gustavo and Sandra

 All photo were done with a Canon 5D Markiii at ISO 12800, f4, 1/30 sec.
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Vivi Francia In Mendoza Argentina Lunch at Anna Bistro

This past Friday was the famous Vivi Francia lunch at Anna Bistro, it was part of the French week in Mendoza Argentina.

Anna is one of my old time favorite Bistro in Mendoza, and the food was amazing, have a look at the menu,
 Menú Viví Francia:
Tartine de Brie y Rucula
Tournedos de filet, salsa malbec y echalote, gratin dauphinois
Moelleux de chocolate
Incluye vino y agua
For 240pesos

It was fantastic, we arrived around 12:45, and as soon as we sat down the champagne was served with an assortment of appetizers including house smoke salmon.

Surrounding by the garden and listening to French music, it felt very good.

Most of the people were Argentine, except for us and Anna Bistro owner Jerome.

It's rare to go to an event and not hear any English only French and Spanish.

I was very surprise to not see any other expat!

This event is every year around the same time, if you are in Mendoza it's a must you should go!

The food and the wine were excellent, as soon as our glasses were empty they were filled right away, the service was excellent. 

Marc my husband and best friend for almost 40 years

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January no 4, Uco Valley Mendoza

I took that shot from the car, I used my polarizer filter to reduce the reflection, The Entrance to the Uco Valley

The Uco Valley in Mendoza is one of the most fantastic place I ever been, it is considered one of the top wine regions in Mendoza. The high elevation, alluvial soils, irrigation sourced from the Andes Mountains,   with over 250 sunny days a year, almost no rain and vast temperature differences between day and night are all conducive to growing quality wine grapes. These climate and geography elements come together to provide excellent fruit ripening and concentration, developing colors, aromas, flavors and textures resulting in wines that are deep in color, intense in aromas and rich in flavors at a very affordable price.

The best Malbec in the world, and the food, the valley has some of the best restaurants in Argentina.

I and two of my friends, Anne and Arnold, Arnold was so kind to drive us for the day, he also took the reservations for me and Anne to visit Salentein winery and for our 6 courses lunch at Andeluna winery, and acted as our guide as he knows the region very well.  

Even if my birthday is only in February, my friend Anne wanted that day to be my advance birthday celebration, I am so glad, cause it was one of the best birthday celebration I ever had thanks to my friends.

We left the city around 9am to be in the valley around 10:30, the cloud were low, that meant that the view of the Andes would be covered, the cloud were very interesting and gave a different mood to our excursion.

Our first stop was at the top of the hill overlooking the valley, that’s where I realized how vast the valley was, I had no idea, so much land, just amazing such a large country, so much green, beautiful.

Not only are they growing wine but all the orchards, from walnuts to olives to peaches and oranges, name it and it might grow here. 

View of the Uco Valley

I took that shot from the car, I used my polarizer filter to reduce the reflection, Olives Plantation

I took that shot from the car, I used my polarizer filter to reduce the reflection, Olive Plantation

Our second stop was at the most popular winery in the Valley “Salentein”, the “King of the Valley”. Salentein has the “single biggest cool climate estate” in Mendoza. This estate in Valley de Uco has a linear distance of 22 kilometers on an area of 800 hectares with vineyards at altitudes ranging from 1,050 to 1,550 meters. A variety of microclimates (with different temperatures due to solar radiation), endowed with great thermal amplitude, a diversity of soils, altitudes and orientations, offers a unique ecosystem for growing grapes, and led to the discovery of new winemaking profiles. 

Our first stop was the Gratitude Chapel, the austere chapel was built using only environmentally friendly materials. The innovative building enhances the beauty of the landscape and creates a uniquely inviting spot to enjoy an afternoon. Created both for the celebration of service at winery and for the open participation of community, the chapel is located at the entrance road to Killka. It consists of a small chamber with a large atrium, in the style of the old Andean chapels, where mass can be celebrated framed by the magnificent scenery.

Gratitude Chapel

Gratitude Chapel

Gratitude Chapel

After what we went directly to the entrance building to start the tour and tasting.

Entrance Building and Art Gallery

The Bodega

The Bodega

The most amazing cellard!

The Tasting

Art blending with the architecture!

After an amazing visit at Salentein we went to Andeluna for a 6 courses lunch.

Our 6 Courses Menu

Andeluna Kitchen

A Table With a View

Homemade Olive Bread.

Amazing Food

 Smoked Trout

Chef Santiago Orozco Russo

Braised Pork, melting in your mouth!

The Filet was amazing!

The Mousse, fantastic

My Birthday Cake, a real dream.

It was an amazing lunch, the food the wine everything was excellent, one of the best meal ever!

Before returning to Mendoza we stop by The Vines of Mendoza. 

In 2005, Pablo Gimenez Riili and Michael Evans recognized the world-class potential of Mendoza’s Uco Valley and invested in 250 acres of land. Their purpose: to bring the dream of owning a vineyard and making your very own premium quality wine to reality. The Vines of Mendoza has since sold Private Vineyards to more than 130 owners from around the globe, expanded the property to 1,500 acres and established the highest quality winemaking enterprise in the region. 

The Grapes at The Vines of Mendoza

The Vines Resort

The Vines Resort

The Vines Resort

The Vines Resort

The Andes and the vineyards

Going back to Mendoza after a memorable day!!!

I took that shot from the car, I used my polarizer filter to reduce the reflection, The Andes and the vineyards