Estefan�a invited me to her house several days ago. I mentioned this, but I didn’t mention anything about the food.

Dinner was beautiful. Potatoes that were cooked with real spices. Chicken that was cooked with real love. Food that caused sensation when it made contact with my tongue.

Lots of food in Argentina has no taste. And while I appreciate the incredible meat they have here, dinners of meat and mashed potatoes/french fries — constantly — can only go so far.

I’ve read tourist guides and blogs that say the food in Argentina is amazing. I’d say in response: You’ve only been here a week or two. Try staying longer. Your opinion will change.

I never appreciated the food culture of the United States, but it’s probably among the best in the world — it’s pretty much comprised of everything. In my small hometown alone, I can get Chinese, sushi, Mediterranean, Portuguese and Peruvian cuisine, not to mention several others. And at restaurants everywhere you’re guaranteed a menu with more than, you know, steak and fries.

I’m not alone on this. I met an Australian couple, here for several months, and they have the same opinion. No variety. No vegetables. Please, no more potatoes.

It is possible to eat well here. You just have to look. I found a Peruvian restaurant, Miliagritos, that serves a monster plate of food for 15 pesos, or about four dollars, and it’s delicious. We’re talking soup, meat, rice, potatoes, specialty hot sauce and a drink. Can’t beat it.

But when my host mom warns me against using too much mustard on my food — mustard! — because of how “spicy” it is… I mean, it’s mustard. Seriously. Mustard.

Clearly not every family or restaurant in the city has the same attitude toward flavor, as evidenced by my visit to Estefan�a’s. But I have met porte�os who’re pretty disillusioned with their own cuisine.

More on this later,

Location: avenida de pueyrredon, buenos aires, argentina