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© 2006 Dan Perlman
Casa SaltShaker
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Chef: Dan Perlman
Host: Henry Tapia
December 8-9, 2006
This weekend was, more or less, the birthday of Gautama Buddha, the historical founder of Buddhism. I encountered a site that listed the top ten countries for Buddhism by population - so, given my five-course format, I grabbed the top five, and planned the menu around one dish from each of those cuisines.
Comments from some of our guests:
"Thank you very much; it was a really wonderful experience and everyone enjoyed the food very much. All of us loved the pepino dish and my personal favourite was the vermicelli. Personally, I thought the intepretation of ingredients very creative... Both our friends loved the concept and had a lovely time, vowing to be back at Casa Saltshaker so I'm looking forward to another cuisine, another night." - S.C.
"All great from my aspect Dan, thanks! And the candles made the right ambience in lieu of the bright lights. Glad you WERE in the kitchen cooking as I couldn't have done that!" - R.F.
"We really enjoyed our evening and your Budda´s birthday menu was super imaginative! I think your 5 country menu ...or the originality of your menus is good reason going to Casa Saltshaker rather than just taking everyone to a restaurant...not something you would find anywhere else! It felt perfectly comfortable having 4 that we did not know at the other table. It was nice being able to mingle before dinner with champagne in your garden courtyard. On the food, I liked the flavor of all the dishes and the portions were just right for having multiple courses. I could have had less salt in the dishes (I am pretty light salter), but K. and O. liked it just the way it was. The Americans and Argentines found it fun and original. Your pre-course explanations gave us a culinary tour of Asia. We often go for Thai and Japanese in San Francisco, but your dishes were different and we never had Burma (new name?) represented! Henry was attentive and sweet. - K.K.
"I´d hoped to write you before I left BA to thank you for the lovely evening. I had a great time.... We all agreed that the concept is a great one. My one regret was not getting to talk with you -- the host -- more. But as you say, someone has to cook. I suppose you only get to meet the chef in a restaurant if you are a regular." - L.S. (and a followup: "The dinner at your 'resto' turned out to be quite a highlight (and not just because I can now claim I went to the hip place before the NYT certified it hip)."
"We had a very good time and the food was delicious. I will try to attend another of your dinners next time I'm in BA" - J.G.
