I always go into a deep, dark pit of food depression once back in Buenos Aires after an extended vacation. Generally, that intense culinary homesick feeling comes into full force Day 2 of being back, around lunch time or inside a supermarket, when I get a huge cock slap realization to the face: the food in Buenos Aires S-U-C-K S at times can be very disappointing due to a lack of variety and affordable ethnic food. In an overall food slump for the past few weeks, it’s time to fantasize about the food that assisted me in gaining 8 kilos (right in time for summer!) while I was visiting Chicago and New York. 
Just a lonely-ass girl, sitting on a bench, eating some Shake Shack. Ladies, that’s the way to find a husband.
Café Habana is deeeeeeelish. Think beans, rice, fried plantains, Cubano sandwiches and of course, the star of the show, this incredible ear of corn. Charred and smothered with a bunch of creamy heaven. 
Oh how liberated I feel when I’m able to actually order a salad and know that it will be good! Shrimp Cobb from Extra Virgin. Winning. 
Now this is brunch. LOBSTER eggs Benedict from Jane, light way to start off your day. 
A big and GAY ice cream. My flavor of choice? The Salty Pimp: vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche, sea salt, chocolate dip. And yes I chose it for the name.
Big Gay Cake.
I’d never been to the infamous Katz’s deli, so I guess I had to go. JEW ME UP, Deli.
Hey Argies, guess how much I paid for this Sushi? 8 dollars. That’s 34 pesos. Spicy tuna roll with REAL *RED tuna, shrimp tempura roll and inari. There is no philadelphia in sight. TAKE THAT, beeyatch.
I love Americansized sushi rolls. While my love for tempura and sweet drizzlings may make sushi snobs cringe, I could eat Tataki Crunch (shrimp tempura and scallions, wrapped outside seared spicy tuna in a sweet teriyaki sauce) and Avocado Torch (spicy tuna rolled outside avocado and tempura crunch on the top) rolls all day, everyday. Thanks Koya.
World Market has beer?! Good imported beer! 
Breakfast time in Highland Park. Plain toasted bagel with cream cheese, red onion, heirloom tomatoes and cucumber.
English muffin with avocado butter, tomatoes and TURKEY bacon.
Breakfast fit for a Jew. Bagel, cream cheese with chives, red onion, tomato, capers and LOX. 
I’d pay big money for Trader Joes to send me a case of this heaven in a jar.
Homemade chopped salad with great ingredients: home grown charred sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, fresh basil, chopped turkey bacon.
Dear Thai Food, I really miss you. Especially Pad Thai from Cozy in Evanston.
More Thai, this time from Your Choice in Glenview. Whoever thought “Your Choice” was a good name for a restaurant, yikes…. But it doesn’t matter because they have killer chicken satay, peanut sauce, chicken and cashews, and tofu broccoli.
Quick stop to Wilmette for some Homer’s ice cream. Peppermint stick is my flavor of choice. Shelly likes to lick it too.
Heladooooooooooooooooo
Esnow cones with some Chicago skyline on the side.
Yeah, you read it: bacon chocolate.
After spending time in Israel, I find one of the most delicious falafel sandwiches ever at Sultan’s Market in Chicago.
Hot dawwwwg. Chicago style: all beef, yellow mustard, onion, relish, dill pickle spear, tomato, hot pepper and celery salt.
Piece of Piece pizza in Wicker Park.
Cold hot chocolate with a homemade marshmallow from Hot Chocolate.
Celeb chef Paul Kahan rocks it at Publican. Best pork belly of ma life, if not one of the best things that has touched my lips.
A supermarket aisle devoted to canned chili. USA! USA! USA!
My first stop back in Highland Park, straight to Michael’s for a jumbo char dog and cheese fries.
Best chopped salad evaaaa at Rosebud.
Chunky lobster bisque. Coulda been my nickname back in the day.
Plate of healthiness: veggies with rice topped with baked tofu with a red curry sauce, mixed teriyaki veggies topped with toasted cashews. Semi homemade with the help of Trader Joes.
Blue Cheese Burger with crispay fries, margarita machines and summery Blue Moon beer at D&S Tequila.
After eating all that food, we needed a nap. Yes, my shorts are unbuttoned/didn’t fit anymore.
Check this out for a complete USA food porn album.
MARIA LUZ says
guess you can enjoy eating in NY and not think BA food is shit, even if yodear PUTF blogger didnt manage it. I lived and worked in NY for 7 years eating my way through the high and the low (have the plus size waist to show for it as well) and I only agree on two topics: 1. sushi in BA is to be avoided if you have ever tried sushi in NY (or Japan) (or anywhere outside Argentina, I´m guessing). And 2: shopping at a BA supermarket these days is depression-inducing. AND it is worth mentioning that there is practically no cart-food-on-the-go culture here either. On the other hand, reading on a foodie blog (that I often enjoy) that food in arse-end-of-the-world, really-far-away, Southern capital of an underdeveloped country in Latin America is SHIT because it cant compare to the very cultural capital of the freaking capitalistic North-centered world is NOT really what I´d call an insight, is it? Sounds more like the shitty shit we Latins get from First-worlders who enjoy slumming it for cheap down under to feel adenturous and really, really superior, really really easy, on account of their God-given Passport. God bless Americans in their naivete. I know, loving your country (and its food) is rather boring, yet…
Dario Ricardo says
Man, are you kidding me, Buenos Aires is one of the most etnic oriented food cities in the world. The thing is that its already incorporated into the everyday menu (Asado,pizza,milanesas,kibe). I gain weight when I visit Buenos Aires,Madrid,Rome,etc. I loose weight when in London,New York or Toronto (my home town). Not cuz I don´t Like burgers or doughnuts, but because its easier to refrain from dull anglo food.
jackie says
What a excellent blog.
Ivana Ienco says
Hey I hear you, every time I step foot in the US I gain at least 10 pounds. Shit now I crave some Shake Shack or The Habit (gosh and I thought In n Out was good!!)
jorge says
una pregunta, a partir de tu frustración con la ensalada en buenos aires,
no te parece genial la good ol’ Mixta? (tomate-lechuga-cebolla) con, ponele, oliva, limón y sal.
en mi opinión, para acompañar una milanga o un asado, no hay con qué darle (quizas tambien una buena porción de papas…)
Esteban Mejia says
No solo apestamos con la comida los agentinos, también en otras areas como la educación, como quedó aca demostrado.
Hai Abling says
Some really good articles on this internet site , thanks for contribution.
Robert says
Well…. if you keep going to Palermo and that kind of places its obviously that you will not be a fan of Argentine food…, but what is Argentine food?
When i travel to China i dont look for a milanesa… do you?
If i wanted to have a really Argentina food experience i definitely will go to costanera an have a
Choripan with chimichurri and a cold Beer or just Vacio…, in NY “Asado” SUCKS big time, but that dont mean that NY food sucks…. its all just about the context.
Dont you agree?
Great blog girl! hugs, be cool
CondesaShortshot says
I’m an Argie who’s lived in the US, Spain, France and has now lived in the UK for the past 5 years. It is true that there is a lack of ethnic food variety and what you do find tends to be overpriced. But I wouldn’t say the food “sucks”. I think that’s the keyword that offended some people. Our palates our used to the flavours we grow up with so it’s obvious we always miss them when we live abroad.
I didn’t particularly enjoy the food in the US but I was only in Florida so maybe that’s not the gastronomic mecca that NY can be. Living in London I go to many different types of restaurants (Japanese, Chinese, Indian of course, Italian, French, Moroccan) and I love them all but it is also true that you can find bad food in many places, as much as over in BA. And I can’t find decent argentinean meat in London so I’m now eating asado pretty much every day while I’m on holiday in BA.
Everyone should stop the hating and stop using words like “suck” especially when refering to food in a country as passionate about its national identity as Argentina.
Just my thoughts :)
Good luck and keep on eating and writing!
Caro says
no sean boludos. you haters are REALLY offended by a FOOD BLOG??? It’s time to get a sense of humor and realize that this is an entertaining, funny website that shows delicious fotos of food. punto.
lotesiete says
I am a food loving argie and I do not resent any comment about food here. I also love Chicago, it is one of my favorite cities in the world and the food there is great. Too bad I saw your post after returning form there, otherwise I would have gained even more weight. When we are away from home we all develop a craving for the basic, greasy and tasty stuff. I also agree that the restaurant scene in BA is overcrowded but the quality is very poor. I have my favorites and tend to stick to them. BTW, I would like also to add that it is really stupid to feel insulted in the national pride by your post, total lack of humor.
Tez Lyons says
Woo such passion!
Referring to the comment about the person who was so close to licking the screen: honestly, I’m right there with you! Luckily I’ll be heading back for the holidays and some yummy, fresh food.
What makes food in Buenos Aires suck/apestar : it’s a disappointment factor. If we order a steak, yes chances are it will be great. Anything else and it is a craps toss. In fact, eating out in BA is a lot like gambling: chances are you will come out a loser, and loose a large portion of your paycheck along the way, but people still keep going back for more, and more, and more. And no one complains when the dishes come out HORRIBLE! Edible maybe, but in no way worth the high price tag and definitely not repeat business. And it’s not as if it’s impossible to eat well in Buenos Aires due to what is available ingredients-wise. My cooking skills have become finely tuned, I can make anything now from elaborte dishes to a variety of sauces, and I can even do LOCAL dishes better than you can get in any restaurants. So why does everything suck in restaurants if even a silly foreigner with a 30 peso sartén can do better? And why do people still continue to eat out and pay outrageous prices for shitty food? I don’t know (I have ideas but I won’t share them). I do know that while I’m not yet packing my bags to head back to the US just because the restaurants are lacking, as some might recommend me and others to do, I have to nearly be bribed to eat out at restaurants, and if I do I stick to what the Argies do know how to handle: meat.
Carly says
jajajaja looks like your post was a little controversial! I enjoyed it and as an Australian living in BsAs completely agree with the food frustration you have here, and I constantly miss many foods that are simply unavailable or just too expensive here. I suppose the Argentines dont get it because it´s just how it is here so they don´t know any other way but yes, you are missing out on foods from many other cultures, which is strange because there are lots of nationalities here but somehow the food and culture is not accessible in the same way. I will eventually go back to my own country but it doesnt mean I (we expats) cannot have an opinion about things while we are here.
María says
volvete al país de los obesos mórbidos! nosotros felices. María.
Paul Strobl, MBA (@CoachPaulStrobl) says
You may not believe this, but I’m going to say it anyway. Houston. New Yorkers who move there never want to leave for the food variety–and the low cost. I think you should make a pilgrimmage…
forkyou says
I believe it! I’ve eaten in Houston and was very happppppppppy
jennlerner says
Just because you don’t agree with PUTF doesn’t mean you have to be a (anonymous) bully.
This post makes me miss food from the motherland. GOD BLESS AMURRRICA.
Anonymous says
Jenn,
We “anonymous” are polite enough to post our comments in YOUR (and the Fork) language. Something you seem unable to do… Deal with it.
jennlerner says
Anonymous, with regards to my Spanish level, I’ve studied Spanish for over 10 years and have lived in a Spanish-speaking country for about 2 years now. I am completely comfortable conversing and having conversations in Spanish, so I am a little confused by your comment. Maybe you were referring to something else?
Oscar Gallo says
patriotism is so lame
Anonymous says
My point exactly.
Oscar Gallo says
Entonces por que te ofende tanto un comentario negativo sobre la comida de tu pais y te pones a decirle a la gente que se vaya de Argentina?
Anonymous says
Decir que la comida “apesta” (sucks) no es un comentario negativo. Es un insulto, de la misma manera que lo es si un extranjero lo hiciese en USA (no quiero pensar lo que le responderían los lectores nativos).
Oscar Gallo says
Hay que ser realmente imbecil para ofenderse por un blog, escribir ‘andate de mi pais’, poner links a food inc. y demas pelotudeces que vi en estos comentarios, y todo de forma anonima por supuesto, supongo que es lo que ocurre con muchos medios en internet, una vez que algo se hace famoso o popular, el nivel intelectual promedio de sus lectores baja. Anonimo/s, vayan a enterrar sus fanaticas caras argentinas en una porcion de pizza con 400 gr de queso de la mezzetta mientras gritan ‘marado marado!’.
Anonymous says
Oh, and let’s not forget, this is how this “american superior food” is reall made: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286537/
Anonymous says
+1 :)
David says
You see ONE documentary based on the food industry in the United States and you automatically think that is where ALL FOOD comes from?? You really think all American food is made this way??! The movie is interesting, entertaining, sheds light on the awful conditions and crooks in the food industry but I think you missed the message if you come away thinking that this portrays the source for all food in the US.
Anonymous says
The question is… Why the fuck you don’t move back to the States then? You suck, not the food.
Troll says
I’m offended! I have no negative thoughts on anything in the whole world, I love everything! yet I’m offended by somebody else having negative thoughts on Argentine food!!
paigepilar says
Would it be creepy if I asked you if those shorts are from Banana Republic? Because I’m pretty sure I own them, and while they’re long enough to cover my fatty thighs in the summertime, they are NOT conducive to extended eating sessions – damn high waist. Also, a confession: I was thisclose to licking my screen last night while I read this post. Amazeballs.
Vicky says
Toda la comida q mostras es xa un gordo q se va a morir en 1 año x las arterias tapadas! Empeza a comer mas sano! Xq no vas a vivir mucho si seguis asi!
Oscar Gallo says
Vicky por lo visto sos medio pelotuda, porque mas de la mitad de las fotos de este articulo son de vegetales, ensaladas, mariscos y sushi.
Anda a comerte una milanesa a la napolitana mejor.
Elle says
Aaawww, that is evilesque!! Everything look sooo yummy!
And I agree, for a food lover, food sucks in Argentina. And I’m not even from the US!
Gyna says
I like this post a lot.
I like that the hotter-blonde-than-you-Shelly gets a most worthy mention.
I like Chicago – even though I haven’t been there. The food looks the shizzle and I can’t wait to see the vagina building.
I also like Billy McK.
…But I still really like BsAs craptastic food.
Sometimes I mumble in my sueños – carne picante, queso y cebolla empanadas por favor…
xx
Love your number fan,
The Thunder from Down Under.
forkyou says
Hey Gyna,
Thanks for your message. One day I went out to lunch at a POPULAR Palermo Soho restaurant that’s always busy and wanted to order a salad. None of them looked good, so I went with classic Caesar with grilled chicken, for an affordable 50 pesos. When the salad came, there was tuna and some other naush-tastic shizzle on top. I tried to explain to the mozo that this was canned tuna, not grilled chicken, but he tried to convince me otherwise. “You must be confused,” he tells me, “This salad IS what you ordered and on top is chicken not tuna.” I’m no culinary genius, but I like to pride myself that I can distinguish between proteins. In the end he returned it, brought back a lovely Caesar topped with mushy tasteless chicken and drenched in a homemade mayonnaise dressing. What a wonderful BA food memory.
Gyna says
Arghh yes a delightful BsAs memory… my rose-tinted spectacles have worked again on my memoirs! Let us not forget – would you like soy sauce with your salad?
xx
Billy McK says
A huge cock slap in the face! Way to push the envelope Allie.
And Anonymous, chill out and quit hiding behind anonymity. I think the blog will survive without you.
The food in the USA is superior by the way.
forkyou says
PORK BELLY ME ALL DAY LONG
Anonymous says
I am really offended that you said that the food in BA sucks….
You are generalizing and truthfully, I loved your blog, but now I think you don’t get it as well as I thought you did.
forkyou says
Anonymous, great to see that you are so passionate about food that what I say offends you. But at times I do think the food in BA sucks, especially after coming back from the USA where I have a ridiculously delicious variety of affordable food. There are other times when I think the food in BA is AWESOME (as you must know because I write about it).
Maybe you don’t get the blog as well as you thought you did… The overall message that I’m writing about is this love-hate relationship I have with the food scene here. It’s a normal feeling for any food-obsessed extranjero to have when they live in a foreign country for 5+ years – trying to adapt the best they can to their new home, but still at times feeling homesick (in my fatty ass case) for the food from my home country.
Anonymous says
My name is victoria. I an not hiding behind anything. I am an argentine who lived in the US for many years, and if you want to contact me and continue this conversation (in an adult way), I’ll send you my e-mail or phone number.
I just wanted to say I felt offended by the comment. I think that (hoped that), I would be able to express my opinion on what its written. I guess not, because of all the hate comments that followed.
This blog I guess is about food, not about which country is better or whatever, like if we were in elementary school.
It just hurt me that an american (can I asume you are american?) would bash the culinary aspects of a country that has welcomed you.
But if you all think that fried, hormone-pumped, greasy, artificial, chemically-enhanced fatty food is better, so be it.
And BillyMcK.. I did not want to get to this, but you did… So, If the food (and I guess you assume that everything else too), is better in the US, I cordially invite you to return to your country.
Nacho Queso says
I’m Argentine and think you are cock-slapstick funny and am not offended that you like the food in your own country better. Just like I would miss pizza, empanadas, milanesas, beef, dulce de leche, alfajores, choripans if I moved to the US. Look at that list, you think that isn’t fried, greasy, artificial, chemically-enhanced fatty food? when I was in the US, I loved the food for the variety – not “fatty” American food but vietnamese, mexican, japanese, thai, and italian which is difficult to find in BsAs at a good place that’s not 200 pesos per person.
Kevin says
claro nacho el problema es eso, que la comida acá no apesta pero que si hay una cierta falta de variedad, y los lugares que tienen comida distinta (y rica) te cobran un huevo. en estados unidos hay una curiosidad para la comida que acá poco existe.
boludosanonimos says
NO VUELVAS!!!!
Katie says
If I weren’t just about to travel to the United States for a month and a half for my own extended pig-out session, I would be seriously depressed right about now too. Thanks for reminding me of what I have to look forward to. Killer food photos!
lamusebouchedelivery says
Seriously, I’m going to Chicago.
Marc says
Nice to know that I’m not alone! I gained about 7 kilos on a long trip up there last month. Bagels every single morning. A bag of S&V kettle chips every afternoon. We must look like caricatures of Augustus Gloop, running around and cramming everything into our mouths before our precious time is up. I lugged back two tubs of gochujang and a kitchenaid stand mixer (was on sale at Amazon for $220…couldn’t resist!) so I’ll be a happy little camper for a while.
Anyway, awesome pics, I’ll bookmark this page for inspiration.
forkyou says
Augustus, sveetheart, save some room for later
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdSORiSaRW8
MyBeautifulAir says
Thanks to this post I have never been more excited to go home. This also confirms my suspicion that Argentines are skinny because the food sucks and Americans are fat because our food rocks! great post! Almost as good as sushi with no cream cheese!
Anonymous says
Nope, it’s because American food is full of horrible additives and Argentinean food isn’t ;)
forkyou says
If you choose to eat shit American food, yes it’s full of additives. If you choose to ingest shit Argentine food, that’s full of additives too.
In the US you can find LOTS of food that is natural, healthy, not filled with chemicals. Why are so many Americans fatties? Education and socioeconomic reasons. But that would be the same case in Argentina with obesity on the rise (in the provincia and throughout the country). What makes you think processed food in Argentina isn’t full of chemicals? Processed food from any country is horrible, the answer is learning how to read a food label.
Gala says
As an spaniard living in Argentina for a couple of years I have to say that obviously their food is way healthier than American food, and it is very rare to see fat people (I mean really fat, like you see everywhere in America). Also, I find that their food is delicious, you have to know the right places! Hope you have a chance to visit Tegui, Osaka, Caseros, Magendie, El Obrero and many many more that I now love!
xoxox
Gala
boludosanonimos says
I couldn’t agree more with you
TL says
I know this topic has seen an overkill of responses, but I can’t resist: Has anyone read the ingredients label for a Knorr stock cube? Full of yummy trans-fats! And I know Knorr is very popular here, and sold as a wholesome product. There might not be lots of fully obese people in Argentina (yet!), but there are more and more fat people, and fat kids!! I saw a swimming class the other day in Las Cañitas and 80% of the kids were chubby. It would be nice if the rest of the world learned from the US and never went the way of cheap trans-fats, high-fructose corn syrup and chemical-filled sugar substitutes, but it looks like people aren’t learning the lessons of the USA. The US got so fat because we were fed cheap foods and without realizing it was so bad. And then we were given diet drinks and told this would combat the obesity. Now the whole world knows all these things are bad, and at least in the US there has been a movement away from these things. I feel like I see Argentina blindly following the US steps towards becoming an unhealthy nation–just look at peoples’ carts at the supermarket, and how full the fast-food restaurants always are! Not to mention the booming business of kioscos selling the worst of the worst to young and old. Enjoy the time you have left to make fun of Americans as being the only fatties!! Hopefully people will figure out that all that cheap food is not the way to go, but remember: you’ve seen the effects, you’ve been warned!
Alles About Deutschland says
Great pics!
Donigan Merritt says
It was a huge … a HUGE mistake to read this and look at these pictures. You are a brutally nasty person for doing this.
forkyou says
mwahahahaaaaaaaaaaa (that’s my evil laugh)