Wanderlust Spanish

Asado: History And Tips

MMM…my mouth is watering right now. Do you know what an asado is? Some call it barbecue but it isn’t the same thing… Just prepare your knives and forks and let the feast begin in this article about Asado: history and tips!

Never a barbecue, always an asado

As you can see, this piece is not for vegan or vegetarian friends. Sorry pals, but in here you will find a lot of meat cuts, flesh and bones and you don’t want that. Although, there are some vegan / veggie barbecues (and they’re delicious!) today is all about the Argentine asado.

Where did asado origin? It all began in 1556 when the first cows arrived to the Virreinato del Río de la Plata (Río de la Plata Viceroyalty). They started to fed on the green pastures there and by the end of the XVIII century, there were almost 48 millions cows. Gauchos chased the cows and ate everything they could: matambre, caracú, even their tongues. In those first times, they didn’t eat meat with salt, but however, it’s interesting how they ate it back then. Gauchos dug a hole in the ground, put some charcoal and fire, and grilled meat over that little fire. English historians were amazed just looking at Native Argentines eating meat, because within a group, they could grill an entire cow without blinking.

So, asado would be a tradition from the countryside, not the city. Between 1870-1950, when there was a huge immigration wave from Europe (Italy and Spain, mainly) and everything changed. People traded their traditions from all over Argentine and between these worlds. That’s why in Buenos Aires there are tons of pizzerias and on Sundays we eat pasta. Or if you dig deep, you’ll understand the roots of our actual language as a combination of Italian and Spanish slang. We can say, for sure, that asado is a mix BUT is Argentine as choripán. 100% guaranteed.

All you need to know about asado is that you have to feel it. Right now, while I’m writing these words, I can tell you that asado is a feeling. It is the celebration meal, the ability to get together some friends, some wine (or beer) and break bread together. It’s all about the togetherness. You cannot eat an asado alone, because asado is family. It will never leave you alone. Unless of course, you’ve just had a meal and there are some leftovers in the fridge and you want to have cold asado for breakfast. You go, girl!

Tip #1: Trust your instincts (but also, a very good butcher). People can look at your face in Argentina and try to take you for granted. Don’t let them! Just be sure about the cuts. Mostly, we eat cow meat, but there some cuts (like the amazing bondiola) that comes from the pork. Check this image:

My favourite cuts are “vacío” (flank), “lomo” (loin) and “entraña” (skirt steak). Also, we need a whole new chapter for “achuras”. They are the greasiest, still most awesome parts of asado. While you wait for the meat to be ready, you can have some.

Tip #2: Add salt and spices to the meat BEFORE YOU EAT IT. Don’t do it afterwards, you will regret it. Here you can check two videos by Locos x el asado that teach you the good stuff: how to grill vacío and how to cook achuras.

Tip #3: Learn from the best and eat at good restaurants. My favourite parrilla restaurant in Buenos Aires is El Ferroviario. Uf, so many good memories…

Learn Spanish Online

Hello, amigues! Feeling the burn in your tongue muscles? Are you ready for some more? Because today is all about how to start a conversation in Spanish: the most complete guide. Fasten your seat belts and get ready to tango, babies!

In some English speaking countries, conversation might be more difficult to start because people seem to be in a hurry or they are not paying attention or whatever. They’re just not in the mood to talk to you, to have a conversation. Or the conversation is too formal like “Dear Sir / Madam”, or it’s just a line “Hi, how are you? Fine and you? Fine.”

Maybe you want to know more, or you want to know someone, right? So, how do you start a conversation? Do you always say “Hello”? Perhaps you find yourself thinking about the right words? Do you rehearse a topic? Or maybe you go with the flow? One way or another, you will talk and that’s the important thing here. Because talking is the basis for any communication between two human beings (or a computer and a human or a cash machine, or the telephone, or even animals!)

How to start a conversation in Spanish

Like any new challenge in your life, you will need COURAGE. Yes, breath in, breath out, make some exercise and prepare yourself to talk in Spanish. Usually, Latin Americans are very fluent in Spanish and want to carry you in their conversation, no matter what. Also, body language is SUPER important whenever you are engaged in a conversation. I know that some people tend to be cold and distant, but here in this continent, you will not have to worry about that.

To start a new conversation, you will need some basic words in Spanish like “¡Hola!” (“Hi! / Hello!”), “¿Cómo estás?” (“How are you?”). Nevertheless, what’s key here is to have a topic. Wanna talk about the weather? Say something like “Está lloviendo, ¿no?” (“It’s raining, right?”). Whatever is the thing you want to talk about, always use your tools and be kind, please. No one wants to talk to someone who is aggresive or doesn’t consider personal space. Just be the best version of yourself and smooth sailing, baby!

In Spanish, it’s better to use a gender neutral language because it tries to include (to welcome!) every diversity of identities. Instead of using “they / them” or “ze”, in Spanish we end the conjugations of each substantive or pronoun with an “e” or an “x”. When you’re talking, it’s more comfortable to use an “e” because of the pronunciation. But hey, the important thing is that now you have a new conversation: how to speak in a gender neutral language in different countries? Amazing!

Learn Spanish Online

Gabriel García Márquez, the one and only Latin American writer

We’re going to start with one of the greatest Latin American writers about love: Gabriel García Márquez. Born in Aracataca, Colombia, he’s considered one of the best writers of all times. I mean, Gabo (as we called him in a fond way) won the Nobel in 1982. There’s something about him, right?

Here’s a piece of his magnificent 100 years of solitude:

“En cualquier lugar en que estuvieran recordarán siempre que el pasado era mentira, que la memoria no tenía caminos de regreso, que toda primavera antigua era irrecuperable, y que el amor más desatinado y tenaz era de todos modos una verdad efímera”.

“In any place they were they will always remember that the past was a lie, that memory had no turning back, that all ancient spring was irrecoverable, and that the most foolish and tenacious love was anyways an ephemeral truth”.

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, the resilient writer

There’s so much to tell you about her, but for me the main thing is that Sor Juana was a brave woman, even for her times. She wanted to badly to write (an activity forbidden for women back in the seventeen century in Mexico) that she decided to become a nun. Yes, a N-U-N! Her technique is impressive and she’s so passionate about her feelings. Actually, there’s a very good about her life: Yo, la peor de todas.

“Amor empieza por desasosiego, solicitud, ardores y desvelos; crece con riesgos, lances y recelos; susténtase de llantos y de ruego.”

“Love begins with unrest, request, ardors and sleeplessness; grows with risks, affairs and suspicions; it holds together with crying and request.”

Gioconda Belli, hot and intense Latin American poet

Don’t touch it because it’s hot! Every poem by Gioconda is a journey to your body, so intense! This writer from Nicaragua can write about fruits and make that the most erotic metaphor in your life, I mean it. Here’s an excerpt of her poem “Definición” (“Definition”):

“Podríamos tener una discusión sobre el amor. Yo te diría que amo la curiosa manera en que tu cuerpo y mi cuerpo se conocen, exploradores que renuevan el más antiguo acto del conocimiento.”

“We could have a discussion about love. I would tell you that I love the curious manner that your body and my body know each other, explorers that renew the most ancient act of knowledge.”

José Sbarra, l’enfant terrible from Argentina

José Sbarra is not as known as he deserves to be, like some of his Argentine colleagues. He carried on living an amazing life, so splendid and terrible at the same time. His work is mainly about unrequited love, however, he wrote children books, too! He described love as a cruel plastic, that is also the name of one of his beautiful books.

“No. No conocí el amor. Solo conocí el exasperante deseo de que el amor existiese.”

“No. I did not know love. I just knew the infuriating desire that love existed.”

Violeta Parra, Chilean warrior and singer

Violeta came from an artistic family. Her brother, Nicanor, was a poet too. She devoted her life to social justice and art in a very compromising way. Some of her poems turned into songs, like this one called “La Jardinera” (The Gardener):

“Para mi tristeza violeta azul, Clavelina rosa pa´ mi pasión Y para saber si me corresponde Deshojo un blanco manzanillón. Si me quiere mucho, poquito, nada, Tranquilo queda mi corazón”

“For my sadness, blue violet, red carnation for my passion and to know if it’s requited I defoliate a white chamomile. If they love me a lot, a little, nothing at all, Rest my heart”

Learn Spanish Online