Flavors of Argentina in Madrid: La Cabrera

Argentina, in some ways, is a country that has always been present in my life, and although I haven't met it personally, I have some memories of it, which now, as an introduction, seem not only fond but also necessary.

Part of my family lived in Rosario for a lifetime, back in the days when ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet, was still a military project and handwritten letters were the king of information, despite the distance and delay, they kept the hope and bonds of families alive.

Furthermore, at school, beyond the required readings for Literature, around the time I was also beginning to understand the range and implicit eroticism of tangos, I also came into contact with the power of a work of Argentine literature, which, written as a narrative poem by José Hernández, constitutes one of the strongest ambassadors of that impressive country: Martín Fierro, the Gaucho.

It was in the underground dining room of an inn, which, back then, in the 1980s, served as our headquarters for our unorthodox gatherings, where esotericism and its related themes were the blessed manna of every Wednesday.

Although the inn had a name reminiscent of Peru, Atahualpa Ranch, and was located in a narrow street near the central Manuel Becerra Square, the dining room was exclusively decorated with extraordinary canvases depicting scenes and phrases relevant to that metaphorical knight-errant of the Pampas, the Gaucho Martín Fierro.

From those memories, and surely also from the Pampas, come the smells and flavors that I now, in the present day, want to introduce you to a restaurant that I am convinced will not disappoint you, should you ever visit Madrid and want to savor the excellence of traditional Argentine cuisine: La Cabrera.

Located on the stately Velazquez Street, occupying the ground floor and an upper floor of a period modernist building, the completely vintage interior evokes fond memories that evoke the lyrics of that unforgettable tango, sung by Gardel, among other great composers, which says, "My beloved Buenos Aires."

Of course, meat, imported directly from Argentina, is the king of raw materials, and its variety is presented, like the old stories of Scheherazade, in a thousand and one ways, well-seasoned and accompanied by a wide range of traditional Argentine appetizers and sauces, whose consistency and flavor leave a multitude of sensations on the palate, which, of course, make the meal an experience, if not a complete adventure.

Especially when accompanied by a remarkable selection of wines, both Argentine and Spanish, specially qualified to accompany the food in those subjective settings that open the doors to the metaphorical garden of delights, ideal for pairing with dishes such as the ‘Argentine marriage’, ‘Creole sausage’, ‘provoleta’, or ‘burrata’.

Also noteworthy are the desserts, with a remarkable selection, such as the pancake with dulce de leche, the ‘chocotorta’, or the ‘volcanoes’, whose flavors contrast, as a final touch, with the consistent taste of an equally varied selection of the finest coffees.

NOTICE: Both the text and the accompanying photographs are my exclusive intellectual property and are therefore subject to my copyright.