Dishes you can't miss
Cordero patagónico
Grilled baby lamb served with an exquisite chimichurri sauce, leek puree, and sauteed vegetables.
Cordero a la menta
Delicious baked lamb seasoned with a delicious mint and red wine sauce.
Truta papillote
Delicious trout stuffed with chunks of tomato and bacon, cooked in the oven.
Dulce de rosa mosqueta
Typical sweet made with sweet briar and sugar.
Crumble de frutas
Pie made with currants, raspberries, and blackberries, served with ice cream.
Typical food of El Calafate, Argentina
The gastronomy of this beautiful destination is a magical fusion of ingredients which achieve unparalleled and indescribable flavors which will seduce your senses.
El Calafate, as most Argentina, is a region that is influenced by great cultures, in which the native Mapuche traditions have been combined resulting in what is one of the most exquisite cuisines of the Patagonian region. Its dishes are varied and exquisite, including recipes based on wild boar and trout, with ingredients such as mushrooms, raspberries, blackberries, local herbs, and fruits of the Calafate tree. As in the entire Patagonian region, trouts and Patagonian lamb are some of the main dishes. The Patagonian lamb can be roasted or grilled and served with the traditional chimichurri sauce, leek puree, and a delicious garnish of sauteed vegetables. The Patagonian trout on the other side, is prepared with a mix of chard, onion, mushrooms, and blue cheese which is used as a filling. In this region, strong dishes are accompanied with the traditional "chucruts", a European dish consisting of sausages and pork. The "fiambres" are also traditional, as well as the delicious goat and cow cheeses. Another exquisite dish is "cordero a la menta", cooked in the oven and seasoned with a delicious mint sauce and red wine; "trucha en papillote", which is filled with chunks of tomatoes and bacon cooked in the oven. Other delight that you can enjoy in El Calafate is "conejo cordillerano", rabbit whose meat is floured and fried in a pan, covered in a delicate sauce of tomato, white wine, and grated orange; it is served with potatoes sprinkled with ground almonds.
To fully enjoy the exquisite cuisine of El Calafate, you have to try its delicious desserts which include "crumble de frutos rojos", an exquisite pie based on blackberries, redcurrants, raspberries, and blackberries, served with ice cream. You can also enjoy the delicious "dulce de rosa mosqueta", which is prepared with sweet briar and sugar. Chocolates filled with milk caramel, jams, and homemade sweets are also ideal to sweeten any palate.
A good red wine or the famous craft beers based on barley, malt or hops, are excellent choices to accompany any dish and a tradition that you cannot miss.
There are a variety of restaurants and different specialties, among which you can find pizza restaurants, grills, and tea houses in El Calafate. La Tablita restaurant offers specialties such as Patagonian lamb and the Cambalache restaurant has an extensive menu of Argentine dishes and pizzas.
