Asado, anyone?

It's always a good time when people can come together and relax while grilling some burgers and hot dogs, right? Here in Argentina, they have something similar to a barbecue: asado. One person buys kilos of meat, and then a few lucky men stand by the parilla (it looks like an outdoor fireplace where you cook meat), poke the fire, and make sure that the asado comes out delicious. Women DO NOT cook asado. Every time that the host of the night has to leave the parilla, he asks another male to watch over the fire. It's just something that boys do best! Additionally, each family has a different way of preparing the asado, therefore at the various asados I have been to, the meat always has a unique flavor. For example, yesterday, my friend seasoned the meat with salt and lemon before putting it on the parilla. When I bit into the flank steak he cooked, it was just exploding with flavor.

An asado is important for more than just the food. It's a time for friends to spend time together. The asado can take a while to cook, so in between cooking, serving, and eating, the entire process and take up hours. Plus, one of the Argentinian's favorite activities is to talk. People will joke, tell stories, and like the other group cooking asado last night, sing. They do all of this while passing around a giant glass of fernet and coke - an alcoholic beverage that is only popular in Córdoba. The ambiance of everything is just so relaxed!

When I ask my friends what their favorite food is, it's always asado. For birthdays, people ask for asado. When there is something to celebrate, people have an asado. It's central to the Argentinian lifestyle! However, that does not mean that these events are frequent. Usually people have an asado every few months - I was just lucky enough to go three times in two weeks!

I don't have any pictures from the asado, but check out this video (in English) that shows a little bit of what the meat that they prepare looks like! Argentinian Asado