Eating Out

Food and drinks in Rosario, Argentina tend to be inexpensive and high quality. As in basically any Argentinian city, juicy beef is the specialty food in almost every restaurant. The country is the third largest exporter of beef in the world and has the highest consumption of beef per capita on the planet. It's no wonder that asado, or meat barbecued on a grill, is so popular. The cattle graze mostly in the wide Pampas, so the beef is always fresh and free of artificial additives.

Other important foods are wheat, milk, beans, soybeans, and corn, which are available locally and used in countless, traditional dishes. Near Rosario is where the Yerba Mate plant is grown for all of Argentina. The leaves and stems of the plant are put in a gourd or wooden cup with a metal straw and soaked in hot water. Usually sugar and other spices are added as well. This drink is extremely popular throughout all of Argentina.

Specialties of Rosario

In this city, the availability of rice, freshwater fish, yerba mate, madioca, tapioca, fruits, and palm hearts make them all commonly used ingredients. Palm hearts are often put in cold salad, or simply eaten alone dipped in a sauce of mayonnaise and ketchup. Fish is the specialty of many restaurants and is served up grilled, sometimes with fruit based sauces or marinades. Because madioca and tapioca are much more popular than wheat, they are often used to make traditional breads as well as the pastry-like exterior or a street food called empanadas. These little turnovers can be filled with meat, sweet corn, rice, cheese, and more. Other street foods include fried or breaded meat sandwiches and empanadas gallegas, which are round pies filled with tuna. Desserts and beverages are often made using lots of fresh fruit.

Italian Influences

As easy to find as grilled beef, is Italian food. From doughy pizzas to pasta al dente, there are enough Italian specialties to make you think you're in Italy. Gelato, or Italian ice cream, is a popular treat for an afternoon snack or dessert. There are little gelato shops all over the city. There are also shops specifically for different varieties of Italian noodles.

Drinks

Wine is one of the most popular drinks, considering all of the wineries in the country. Tea, coffee, and cider have all been prominant throughout history up until the present as well. Aguardiente is a traditional alcohol made from sugar cane, while other typical liqueurs are created from orange peel or lemon. The national brand of pale lager is Quilmes.