Comida y más Comida!

"Morcilla" (Blood Sausage)Growing up in Miami, what I've eaten has been heavily influenced by Latin America and the Caribbean. Whether it was having mangoes smuggled in from the Dominican Republic, or bistec de pollo at my friends' quinces, the food I've eaten, and enjoyed to eat has always been influenced in some way shape or form from Latin America. Argentine food, however, is a little different. I've had Argentine food before, and the only things that I can honestly say that I had enjoyed were the empanadas. I've never been to keen on their maté, though I'm not a fan of any Latin American country's maté, and I honestly think it wouldn't hurt the country to incorporate some spices in their food. My stepbrother's girlfriend who is born and raised in Argentina made my family a very famous Argentine dish called morcilla, which is literally cow's blood that's been fried. I mean, I'm not the pickiest eater in the world, but I’m no Anthony Bourdain either. Her 96-year-old grandmother however, swears that her strict diet of morcilla and goat milk is what keeps her looking young. I'll take my chances though. The heavy influence of European immigrants has deeply been incorporated into the Argentine cuisine as Italian, Spanish and French food can be traced in the Argentine cuisine. Each region of Argentina is noted for having it's own distinct cuisine as well. The Central region of Argentina tends to be extremely meat based because it's where most of the cattle meat is. Here you'd find all types of meats: red, breaded, etc. In the Northwest region, corn and potato is heavily consumed, fish in the Northeast, and in the south, Asados. Wine and beer is heavily consumed in Argentina with many festivals just for wine and beer having heavy turnout rates. I do love love love Argentine dessert. Flan, dulce de leche, tres leches, etc are all mainstays in Argentine food and I know I will gain 20 pounds from the dulce de leche alone. And from those cookies that Madeline made also! Although I haven’t been a fan of Argentine food, and I’ll probably only eat empanadas and dulce de leche outside of my homestay, I’m excited to have a home cooked meal from my Argentine mother because there’s nothing like anticipating a warm plate after a long day of studying and learning lol. I just hope she never makes me morcilla. I'd run away. For any vegetarians, who plan on going to Argentina or any other country where meat is central to the diet of the country, what's your plan for eating while you're there?