Magnificent Lunch in Mendoza

On our last day in Mendoza, Argentina, we hired a private guide and headed out to Bodega Chandon and Susana Balbo Wines. The visits to the actual wineries could be their own story, but we had reservations for lunch at Osadia de crear at Susana Balbo. We arrived to an empty restaurant, even though it was after 1 pm, but we were immediately impressed with the beautiful restaurant and the elegant table settings. We decided to “splurge” and have the 5 course tasting menu and wine pairing, as we would not be eating dinner till around 10 pm that night, but also because the menu looked much better than the 3 course option.

Immediately the waiter brought us some amazing focaccia and marinated vegetables while we waited for the first course.

We started the meal with a Califlower Cream Soup, topped with a cured egg yolk, beef broth and fresh herbal dressing. This was paired with the Espumante Osadia de Crear and was amazing! It was smooth and the egg provided a unique accompaniment to the soup.

The second course was a trout dish that contained buckwheat, cassava (root vegetable) and squash. It was paired with the Susana Balbo Signature Torrentes wine. Though I’m typically not a fan of root vegetables, the fish was cooked to perfection and I devoured this course.

Next up was Organic carnaroli rice, prawns, and pancetta combined with zucchini and basil. This dish had a smoky quality to it and was paired with the full-bodies Susana Balbo Signature Cabernet Sauvignon. This was probably my least favorite course, probably only an 8 out of 10 in yumminess!

Already, we were getting full and now it was time for an Argentinian staple, beef! The sirloin steak, cooked to perfection, was served with Revuelto Gramajo (fried potatoes with egg, bacon and onion). This course melted in your mouth and despite being full, none of us left any of this course! Benmarco Expresivo was an excellent wine pairing for this course!

The meal finished with Red fruit granita, whisked yogurt, candied pumpkin seeds, blueberries and strawberries. An excellent and refreshing way to cleanse the palate and complete the meal! This course was paired with the Susana Balbo Signature Late Harvest Malbec.

What a luxurious afternoon spent in the company of great friends and magnificent food and wine. An awesome memory from a fantastic trip!