Uruguay For The Gourmet Traveler

Popular Foods & National Cuisine

Asado, Chivitos, Dulce De Leche

Popular Beverages & National Drinks

Yerba Mate

Best Dining Destinations

Montevideo, Punta Del Este

Foods

Asado

If you love beef, or any kind of meat for that matter, you should definitely order asado when traveling to Uruguay. Like the countries surrounding this small country, Uruguay is a large cattle producer. For this reason beef has always played a large role in the diets of many Uruguayans. Asado is beef that is cooked on open grills stoked by natural wood charcoals. You can enjoy a specific cut of beef or go for a whole platter that consists of various cuts and sausages. There are many small restaurants, or parrillas, that specialize mainly in this type of cuisine and the prices can't be compared to more expensive restaurants of the same sort around the world. Unless you are vegetarian, you can't leave Uruguay without having an asado.

Chivitos

Chivitos are a classic dish in Uruguay and you better have a large appetite or a eating companion along with you before ordering one. Different restaurants have their own style of serving these large platters but you should have a bit of knowledge about them before placing your order. Think of them as a large open-faced sandwich that has more toppings than you could ever have imagine, however not in the traditional sandwich sense. Most places will let you order them with bread on top as well but usually you have to make that tidbit known to the waiter. The main item in a chivito is the thin slices of grilled sirloin steak. You can order them with just the steak, bread, and cheese, but that is not a true chivito. A true chivito has more added to it like tomatoes, onions, lettuce, hearts of palm, olives, pickles, and more. All of this is served on a huge platter with various cold salads tightly surrounding the meat and bread.

Dulce De Leche

Like in Argentina, dulce de leche is a popular sweet sauce in Uruguay. Actually dulce de leche is spreading across the globe like a wildfire since more and more are learning of its existence. Again another by-product of having so much cattle around. Dulce de leche, or milk jam, is basically milk and sugar that is boiled down into thick paste or sauce. This creamy concoction will trump any caramel type sauce you have tasted before in your life. There are many ways to use dulce de leche but the most popular uses are on breads, cookies, ice cream, cakes, and other pastries. Many stores along the street carry some type of major brand so be sure to grab a large jar to bring back home to share with friends or family, but after trying it the first time you might not want to share any of it at all.

Drinks

Yerba Mate

When in Uruguay for the first time, you might start to wonder why there are large numbers of people walking around with a thermos and a small bowl with a straw sticking out in their arms. These people are drinking yerba mate, the national drink of Uruguay. Yerba mate is also very very popular in Argentina and Paraguay, however Uruguayans certainly seem to crave it the most. To enjoy mate as it is intended to be enjoyed, you need: yerba, a mate, and a bombilla. Yerba is the herb tea leaves that make up this strong beverage. A mate is the container, usually a gourd or wooden cup, where the yerba is placed. The bombilla is a metal straw used to ingest the tea. Yerba mate can either be enjoyed alone or with a group of friends, with the same mate being passed around for all to share. Newcomers might find this tea extremely strong and bitter, but after a few attempts it becomes quite addicting. The yerba leaves are known for their high-caffeine and medicinal values, and is claimed to be the best remedy for digestive problems.

Destinations

Montevideo

Although Montevideo has numerous restaurants that offer tastes from around the world, you will hardly need to go any further other than sampling the local cuisine. The sheer amount of quality food served at regional restaurants at great prices should cater your appetite well enough. Many Uruguayan restaurants in Montevideo offer large selections of beef, seafood, and fresh pasta.

Punta Del Este

Punta Del Este is the premier summer vacation haven for many wealthy Uruguayans, Argentines, and is now becoming familiar to the rest of the world. Usually this is the only time of the year when you will find life at this seaside resort, for in winter the place becomes a ghost town. Great five-star restaurants populate the strips that run along the beaches with seafood and french cuisine being the main themes. Punta Del Este is an expensive getaway and many restaurants have high-priced menus. If money is no object then make Punta Del Este a destination stop during your summer South American tour.