Fancy Argentine food in Birmingham?
I usually get my 5-a-day quite easily during the week, but if I decide to go out for a treat, red meat is at the top of the list. It probably is related to my South American roots that I am very fond of a nice barbecue.
Brazil has a great reputation for barbecues, but I have to confess that our neighbours in Argentina just do it better. If you have never tried an authentic Argentinean asado, please put it on your bucket list now.
It´s not a secret that Argentinean parrillas (steak restaurants) are worldwide famous for the quality of their meat cuts and their preparation, so if you appreciate a good steak, it is highly recommended to try it at least once in your life.
As soon as I arrived at Fiesta Del Asado, I had a look at the restaurant itself. The decor is inspired by colourful arts spread in the streets of Recoleta and the Argentinean passion for tango and football.
There are pictures of Che Guevara and Carlos Gardel on the walls but as the restaurant is spacious, it is not at all in your face. I do recommend having a proper look around to find out more of Argentina´s identity in its décor.
As food is highlighted as something outstanding in Fiesta Del Asado, its menu is nothing more than a mouthwatering one. I was ready to try practically everything. From top to bottom, but of course, it would not be a good idea for my pocket.
Light Bites
A nice chorizo pate on toasted bread was my appetiser option to start my indulgence in the glorious pampas meat feast and it was delicious, to say the least. It is a light bite indeed and a wonderful excuse to get in the mood for some Argentinean Malbec.
For starters, my other half and I decide to go for the sausage; another speciality porteña. Salchicha Criolla ( the special house sausage flavoured with fresh herbs, lemon and garlic) for me and Morcilla Curada, a traditionally-smoked black sausage, flavoured with paprika and sweet caramelised onion for him.
The technique that makes an asado so special is pretty much slowing down its preparation, smoking the meat in an authentic parilla made of thermal bricks. So, don’t expect a quick barbecued meat on your plate when visiting Fiesta Deal Asado.
We were informed that our main, two Bifes de Angosto (16oz Porterhouse fillet) would take 25 minutes to be prepared. Fair enough and obviously another reason to get more wine on the table.
And it was worthy to wait every second of it. The meat (that is recommended to be medium rare, always) was so tender that it melted in the mouth. All flavours were accentuated with the steak accompaniments of a Reduccion de Malbec (a pouring sauce
I have to say that trying to eat like proper ‘gauchos’ is a bit of a challenge. Not because it is a heavy meal, but because it’s a huge piece of succulent meat that needs to be appreciated with care.
We made it! And I still had room for a typical Spanish dessert: Santiago tart. Pure gluttony but I felt fine.
