El Sanjuanino

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Back to Two of Our Old Haunts!

Tonight was great! First I met with Venetia and Sally at La Biela at 8 pm, where we sat out on the terrace and drank a glass of champagne to celebrate the results of the US election. I didn’t take any photos there, but it was lovely to enjoy the summer evening.

Then around 9.30 pm we decided we wanted to eat. The food at La Biela is mediocre at best, so we walked down to one of our favourite haunts, El Sanjuanino, which serves the best empanadas in town. They also do good tamales, which is what we all had this time. They had tables outside, but it was starting to be a bit cool for that, so we went inside — and were greeted like long lost friends by our favourite waiter, Damian. It was lovely to be back there.

The President’s message on Friday said that Buenos Aires was in good shape and they are loosening the restrictions a bit more. The kids are going back to school, but we are still not allowed to use the buses. But going out for dinner is back on my social schedule, which I love. I wonder where I’ll eat tonight!

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After the Milonga

In the summary of the week’s posts I sent out yesterday, I mentioned I had gone to dance tango at a milonga but didn’t have any photos. That’s true, but here’s what happened after tango.

Lina invited Annie and me to have champagne and nibblies in her new apartment. She just received final approval of her residency application — hence the champagne. I had thought I would just head home after that, but no. Around 10 pm Annie said she wanted to go find somewhere to eat dinner, and we all ended up at one of Lina’s favourite restaurants in the ‘hood. It’s called Il Sorpasso, a great Italian place with a lovely hidden inner courtyard.

The food was great and we were just enjoying chatting, when suddenly we had entertainment! Some typical folkloric music started up, and a fellow launched into the chacarera. It’s usually danced in couples, and it was unusual to see someone dance it solo. I know the video is really too dark, but I decided to post it anyway just to give you an idea.

Yesterday afternoon I had lunch with Darren, a new friend from Toronto who was introduced to me by Lynne, a mutual friend. We were having such a good conversation we forgot to take a photograph — sorry, Lynne!

Then Venetia and Viviana invited me to join them at El Sanjuanino, one of our favourite little local spots for wine and empanadas. This time we had tamales instead — delicious little parcels of meat folded into corn meal and enhanced by the restaurant’s famous hot sauce.

I don’t know if you can see this, but the white jug on the table is in the shape of a penguin, so when we want red wine there (as, let’s face it, we always do) we order a pinguino!

So you might be thinking that I do nothing but eat and drink and carouse with my friends. Well, is that a problem?!

I will take photos of the New Year’s Eve celebrations and post them tomorrow.