| CULTURE .- Argentine culture has been
primarily informed and influenced by its European roots. Buenos Aires,
considered by many its cultural capital, is often said to be the
most European city in South America,
due both to the prevalence of people of European descent and to
conscious imitation. The other big influence on the development of a
national identity is the culture of the gauchos and their
traditional country lifestyle of self-reliance. Finally, indigenous
American traditions (like mate tea
drinking) have been absorbed into the greater cultural realm.
FOOD &
DRINK.-Argentine
food is influenced by cuisine from Spain, Italy, Germany, France
and other European countries, and many foods from those countries
such as pasta, sausages, and deserts are common in the nation's
diet. Argentina has a wide variety of staple foods, which include
empanadas, a
stuffed pastry; locro, a mixture
of corn, beans, meat, bacon, onion, and gourd; and chorizo, a
meat-based spicy sausage. The Argentine barbecue, asado, is one of
the most famous in the world and includes various types of meats,
among them chorizo, sweetbread, chitterlings,
and blood sausage.
Being an important wine
producer, the yearly consumption is among the highest worldwide (Malbec
has become a representative variety from Argentina). Also, a common
custom among Argentines is drinking mate. Dulce de
Leche is a famous sweet caramel spread. |
