Buried deep in the heart of the lavishly adorned cobblestone streets and palm-laden promenades of Buenos Aires’ chic Palermo Soho, is the city’s newest quick-food hot-spot. The name, however, should come as no surprise to any tex-mex fan who’s ever lived in or visited the Argentine capital. The California Burrito Company, or CBC most people call it, recently opened their 2nd restaurant in Buenos Aires, taking their downtown concept to a whole new level in one of the city’s hippest, booming barrios.

The biggest difference between the Palermo store and the downtown CBC flagship is space; lot’s of it. The new CBC is set up like a traditional old-style Buenos Aires house. You walk in to a small open-air patio with a large first-floor dining area and service counter, as well as exterior stairs leading to an open-air 2nd floor terrace. To me, the terrace is the big selling point. It’s partly covered, with a fully functional bar and large wooden octagonal picnic tables. Though now it serves as a dining/drinking area, it certainly lends itself to the potential for large group parties, drink-ups, or even live music. The space is spectacular, and most importantly it’s quiet, which is rare in Buenos Aires.

The menu is pretty much the same as you’d find in the downtown store. It’s pretty simple: a) pick either tacos, a salad, or a burrito. b) pick your chips and drink combo. c) pick your fillings, sauces, and garnishes. At first glance the prices seem a little high, however if you look at the volume of food, as well as the diversity and quality of ingredients, you definitely get your money’s worth. Comparatively speaking it’s about the same price as Burger King combos, but with REAL food, and more importantly, beer. They are also pushing a new desert item on the menu, however, by the time you’ve finished one of their burrito combos, the thought of eating anything more is tough for even the hungriest guest.

Besides the food and space, another thing you immediately notice is the attention to detail and customer service. The place is sparkling clean, the service is fast, and if there’s any problem with your order, it’s fixed without even a second glance. There’s also a very personal feel to how the staff interacts with their clientele. If you’ve eaten there, chances are you met one of the owners and didn’t even realize it. One of them is always on site, and they usually make it a point to introduce themselves, ask you about the food, shake your hand, or even sit down with you for a beer.

This place is definitely worth checking out, even if you’re just in town for a few days. It’s definitely a must-see for both locals and foreigners. My favorite CBC combo is the Tijuanamama with guacamole nachos and a Corona ($31 Pesos Arg.).

The CBC Palermo is located at Godoy Cruz 1781, at the corner of Honduras. For more info, check out their website at www.californiaburritoco.com/

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina– Taco Tuesdays at the California Burrito Company (CBC) are a chaotic mix of funk, food, fun, and two-for-one Margarita specials, all in the heart of downtown Buenos Aires. Though often thought of as a cliché marketing ploy in the ‘States, this aptly named night isn’t just about discounted tacos. It’s a hodgepodge of social networking, drinking, live music, and yes, fantastically authentic SoCal-style tacos.

The idea is to bring in new business with discounted prices and live music. However, it also serves as a multicultural meeting point for some cheap fun on a night where not much is usually going on. Even in a vibrant mega-city such as Buenos Aires, Tuesday is, well, Tuesday.

The space itself is on the smaller side, with a narrow, yet long, dining area and a service area and kitchen in the back. It’s set up more like a cafeteria, rather than a traditional sit-down restaurant. There’s ample seating space, and when the band plays on Tuesdays, they set up at the front of the restaurant near the street.

Though it’s a relatively new business, The CBC on Lavalle draws a steady crowd daily. And it’s not just for tourists and American ex-pats. According to co-owner Sam Nadler, the typical crowd at the burrito joint is mostly Argentine. “I’d say that it’s usually about 80/20 Argentines to Americans,” said Nadler, “tonight (Taco Tuesday) it’s about 50/50.”

So what’s the draw? Well, for starters, it’s unique. Mexican food is not particularly popular in Buenos Aires. The Argentine diet differs greatly from the spices, peppers, and tortillas which are the staples of Mexican cuisine. It’s not even too far off to say that the CBC could be the only restaurant in Buenos Aires where you can get an authentic Burrito, and one of two places which sell nachos. In fact, a “tortilla” in Argentina is a kind of quiche-like souffle, and a “taco” is a shoe heel.

But much like Sushi when it was first introduced to the US, this Mexican snack food restaurant has a cult following, and it’s spreading. There’s a buzz in the expat community going on about the CBC which rivals some of the bigger bars such as the Alamo and The Shamrock, typically packed with English-speaking foreigners. The difference with the CBC is that it also has the rare ability to draw locals.

The CBC was founded by Jordan Metzner, Chris Burns, and Sam Nadler. Three guys in their mid-twenties who have been living and working in Buenos Aires since 2005. Metzner and Nadler met at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, and met Burns after moving to Buenos Aires. They opened the CBC in April 2006, and business has been growing steadily ever since.

The CBC is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, but opens from 8am to 11pm Monday through Friday. And don’t think Tuesday is the only day to go. The CBC serves its full drink and food menu all week.

The California Burrito Company is located at Lavalle 411 in downtown Buenos Aires. For more info, see www.californiaburritoco.com

Finding a good bar in downtown Buenos Aires is not a hard thing to do. Pubs and cafes line nearly every main street and plaza, catering to a vast clientèle of both locals and tourists alike. Finding a truly unique nightlife experience, however, is decidedly harder. Even the most casual traveler will tell you that they want to do something different than they’re used to at home. They want good drinks, atmosphere, music, crowd, and most of all fun. If that’s your idea of a good time then look no further then “The Spot”, Recoleta’s best kept secret.

Nestled behind 15-foot steel gates, through a dark Fourier on a quiet street in the posh Recoleta neighborhood, “The Spot” can be tough to find. There’s no sign out front, no advertising, and the bar doesn’t open until 10pm. This bar is no frills, nevertheless it’s all fun and you can expect something different every visit.

The crowd is almost 100% Argentine, who usually work or live nearby. There’s no food, but they serve a full cocktail list, draft beer, local malbecs, and French champagne. The prices are cheap by neighborhood standards (cocktails $12-18, beer $7-9), and good tippers are often rewarded with a free shot, a loud cheer, or even the typically Argentine kiss on the cheek. As of January 16, 2008 the Argentine Peso ($) is trading at 3.13 per $US, 4.6 per Euro, 6.16 per British Pound, 2.8 per $AUS and 3.09 per $CAD, so for a Capital City prices are very reasonable.

The room itself is rather small, which gives the bar an intimate, yet sometimes crowded feel. There are small cocktail tables which line the outside walls, no table service, but by 2am, no one is sitting down.

The music has the feel of an international house party. On the weekends, the resident DJ, or the bartenders play a mix ranging from Latin House, Hip-Hop, 80’s Rock, Cumbia, and in the late hours, Reggaetone. By the time the sun comes up, the party starts to wind down, and people slowly begin to matriculate back home.

When asked why he doesn’t do more to advertise the bar, owner Diego Colb said, simply, “I don’t have to,” “the people that know about the bar are great customers, and the ones they’ll tell to come are just as good.” And it works. Since 1998, “The Spot” has kept its business steady with a good mix of loyal followers and curious one-time patrons. According to Colb, they are planning on opening a new bar in nearby San Isidro, and making some small renovations to the original “Spot”.

“I want people to come in, relax, and feel like they’re free to do what they want here”, said Colb, “Think of this as an extension of your living room, and understand that you’re always welcome.”

“The Spot” is located at 1261 Ayacucho in Recoleta, about 3 blocks from Avenida Santa Fe, just behind this nondescript door.

Happy Travels,

Andy Jackson

iKangaroo is proud to introduce Andy who be covering the beautiful city of Buenos Aires Argentina and other locations in Latin America.

Andy has been living, working, and blogging internationally for the past 3 years. Originally from New York City and later Woodstock, NY, he has spent most of his recent years in Boston. Andy has lived in Rome, Guatemala City, and now makes his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has traveled extensively throughout Europe, North America, Central America, South America, and the Carribbean. What started off as a hobby has turned into his passion. He believes that traveling the world, learning about new cultures,languages, and discovering new ways to have fun are an integral part of his life.

Andy has a BA in Journalism from Northeastern University in Boston. When he’s not writing he’s either traveling or bartending to keep afloat. He speaks Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and French, and is an avid sports fan, as well as a former professional snowboarder. Andy plans on bringing you new and exciting travel info from the land of Tango, Maradonna, Steak, and the infamous Juan and Evita Peron. So hop on over to South America, and enjoy the ride.

Happy Travels!