Anna Lao, Plus3 Argentina Summer 2025
When I think back on my time in Argentina, the first memories that surface aren’t of landmarks or museums, they’re of food. Meals shaped my experience more than anything else, offering both comfort and discovery. In Argentina, food is more than what’s on the plate. It’s a reflection of history, of social life, and, in my case, was a daily adventure.
Buenos Aires is a city built on immigration, and the food tells that story better than any textbook. Italian and Spanish influences are everywhere. There was pizza with a mountain of cheese, pastas that taste like home-cooked meals, and bakeries selling medialunas, the sweet Argentine twist on the croissant. At first, I thought of these dishes as separate, Italian here, Argentine there. But then I realized the city thrives on fusion. An Italian restaurant might serve empanadas, while a cafe would pair Spanish-style tortillas with Argentine steak. The blending felt seamless. It reminded me of New York City, with the different blends and types of cuisines.
Most importantly, there were the empanadas. If there was one food that defined my time abroad, it was these golden pockets of dough. Baked or fried, filled with beef, chicken, or cheese, they were the ultimate comfort food. A tiny shop near my hotel sold them for less than a dollar each (after exchange rate conversion), and my friends and I became regulars. At first, I told myself I was being practical. They were cheap, a quick dinner after a long day. By the end, I knew the truth: I just couldn’t stay away.
Desserts became another lesson in Argentina’s culture. Dulce de leche appeared everywhere: inside alfajores, layered in cakes, drizzled over ice cream. It was woven into almost every sweet treat.
Even global chains revealed something about the country. Out of curiosity, my friends and I wanted to try a McDonald’s in Argentina. While the familiar Big Macs and fries were there, the menu also included local twists, like dulce de leche sundaes. It felt like a small cultural study in itself..
Coffee and tea culture also left an impression. In the U.S., I was used to rushing around with an iced coffee in a to-go cup. In Buenos Aires, coffee was meant to be lingered over. Cafés were filled with people talking for hours, sipping cortados and sharing food. Even yerba mate, the national drink, carried that same sense of togetherness. At first, the ritual of passing the tea gourd around felt foreign. However, I soon understood that mate wasn’t just about the tea, it was about the act of sharing.
One of the most memorable food experiences of my program was the asado, Argentina’s traditional barbecue. To call it a meal feels inadequate; it was more like a performance. Meat cooked slowly over an open flame, served in stages, while everyone sat together for hours. The food itself was unforgettable, smoky chorizo, tender ribs, but what stood out most was the atmosphere. The asado embodied the Argentine spirit of generosity and spending time together.
Looking back, food shaped my time in Argentina in ways I didn’t expect. It was a way of learning history, from immigration influences to long-standing traditions. It was a way of building friendships, whether through late-night empanada runs or sitting down together over a long dinner. And it was a reminder to slow down, savor, and see meals not just as eating, but as connecting.
When I remember Buenos Aires now, I don’t just think of places I visited. I think of the empanada shop on the corner, the cafes buzzing with conversation, and the long evening of an asado. Food didn’t just influence my experience abroad, it defined it.
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