What to eat in El Calafate, typical dishes

What to eat in El Calafate? Gastronomy is a key point in every tourist adventure. Including this topic in pre-travel planning is important, as beyond ensuring our food –before, during or after any crossing; there are several options for eating. It can be in a particular way or through the services that offer excursions and hotels. But whatever the decision, you have to make it in advance.

If you are going to include food in the accommodation, that service is booked in time. If you prefer the restaurants of the city, the most popular ones fill up quickly. So, let’s see what to eat at El Calafate and the typical dishes. Best to be sure and know everything so it’s easier for you to decide!

The first thing to consider is that the typical cuisine of the city is very similar to that of all the Patagonia Argentina, so most dishes are made from different influences of the region such as: deer, trout, salmon and lamb; the latter being the culinary specialty and, although it can be tasted in different ways (in clay oven, in empanadas or in stew) succulent roast lamb is recommended.

TYPICAL DISHES OF EL CALAFATE

Also tradition of the place are the dishes of choique (ñandú or ostrich) and guanaco. Any of these or the previous ones are accompanied by local herbs and typical fruits of the place such as the tree of Calafate, in addition to the traditional and exquisite:

•       Sauerkrauts: although it’s a German heritage gastronomy, this dish is also typical of this cuisine and one of the favorites not only for its characteristic acidic flavor, but for its benefits. This food is the result of fermentation of cabbage, made with white wine, apple and eenebro.
•         Fondue: of European origin, has taken root in the cuisine of the region with different variants, the most traditional being cheese, white wine and kirsch (typical Austrian liqueur). The other presentation is made of meat, with pieces of the best cuts of loin that are cooked in hot oil (scented with herbs of smell and seasoned with sauces). Last but not least, there’s chocolate for fruit desserts.

And if desserts are concerned, chocolate is the main ingredient either with strawberries or stuffed with hazelnuts, pine nuts, almonds and nuts, accompanied by sweet milk is another option. In the meantime, the pastries make use of all the red fruits grown in the region –including El Calafate– for specialties such as: cakes, jellies and sweets.

As for drinks, craft beers are presented. A tradition that German immigrants brought to Patagonia, expanding through a significant number of breweries and microbreweries that offer this product made from grains such as barley, malt and hops.

To sum up, the typical dishes of El Calafate have a lot of European influence with guaranteed freshness! The extensive variety of Patagonian flora and fauna allows it. Simply put, dishes are prepared with natural ingredients from the surrounding rivers and forests: from algae, clams, trout, salmon to strawberries, blackberries and raspberries, not to mention red, white and game meats!

In fact, it is the unmatched texture of the meat that makes the lamb a “star dish”. An animal raised in open spaces with natural postures, which is distinguished in its flavor and delights the most demanding palates.

If you plan to travel with children whose tastes may differ from the aforementioned options, take it easy! The gastronomic offer of El Calafate expands day by day, including –as of today– international food, pizzerias and food at the pass; places to drink while looking at the lake, cafes and more. In this case, you can look at some options in the top 5 restaurants in El Calafate .

Another way to define what to eat at El Calafate is online, through guides and booking engines of restaurants like the Fork or Yelp. But, if you want more direct help or need to clarify some other doubt  you can send a whatsapp to our experts right now. They will not only guide you, but help you put together itineraries that combine food with excursions and even accommodations.

Don’t forget that living the culinary experience is part of the journey!