Argentine food scene flourishes amid financial crisis

Streetfood patrons in an alley hot spot near Chinatown in the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires. — ©2023 The New York Times Company

WINEGLASSES clinked in an art nouveau culinary gem basking in its restored splendour. It was tasting night in the more than century-old coffeehouse turned restaurant at the old Buenos Aires zoo, as beet tartare, pan-seared squid and a perfect rib-eye floated out of the kitchen, chased by a velvety chocolate mousse.

“As you can see, we are betting hard on the opportunity of the food scene in Argentina, said Pedro Flores, on a tour of the restaurant, Aguila Pabellon, that he co-owns – the 17th food venture he has opened in Buenos Aires in the past 18 months.