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© 2008 Dan Perlman
Casa SaltShaker
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Chef: Dan Perlman
Host: Henry Tapia
April 4-5, 2008
I may continue on this trend of centennial birthdays, more or less - we had so much fun with Carmen Miranda’s 99th and Anna Magnani’s 100th, that I couldn’t even consider not celebrating Bette Davis’ 100th when it came around this last weekend. I wonder who’s next? Suggestions will be gratefully accepted… So I started off with a week long marathon of watching whichever of her movies I could put my hands on. A fun, if somewhat daunting task, and in the end, while I enjoyed it immensely, it didn’t give me a whole lot to work with when it came to planning a menu - I wasn’t about to go for a roast rat right out of Baby Jane, you know?
Thoughts from some of our guests:
"Thanks for a fantastic experience- Really extraordinary and tasty food, great wine and a fabulous apartment. We all had a great time." - J.O.
"Thank you for your hospitality this past weekend. I truly enjoyed meeting you and sharing dinner with other english speakers. I'm starting school this week so I can begin to learn more Spanish, but it has been lovely to have E..., A..., and G... to hang out with this week and I have to thank you for creating the opportunity for me to meet them." - E.T.
"We all enjoyed our evening at Casa Salt Shaker very much. I think if there was any criticism at all, it was that more veggies would have been appreciated!" - I.I.
"The meal was lovely. Thank you so much for letting us into your home. We're always up for trying something new and different. The only thing I would change is-- maybe getting to interact with you and Henry a bit more. I'm sure there was so much going on to get everything in and out of the kitchen.. I would have just liked to chat with you guys a bit more... That's all. On that note, I absolutely loved the Malbec we had that night... I thought all of the parings were good... but that one was my favorite... and I have promised several parties wine upon my return, so I was wondering if you knew where I could find that and what the "shipping ordeal" is like here? Thank you so much for everything." - E.R.
"We thoroughly enjoyed our time with you last Saturday night. The food was great, but meeting up with the other couples and with you and Henry was the highlight. We got to ask all the questions we didn’t know whom else to ask! E.g., cartoneros. And in the days after, we met up with 3 of the other couples and traded where to go and where to dine, etc. etc. When we return for a longer stay next year, we hope to meet up again. Thanks for a wonderful evening." G.P.
As I've noted here and there - not everyone likes either our food or the experience, and much as I hate to, I do put the criticisms, harsh as they sometimes are, on the site as well - thankfully, these are few and far between:
"We were really inlcined to send your so-called dinner to the close case files. But as you are asking for a feedback We feel like answering you. First of all we think that Bette Davis was truly offended by the fact that you, against her wishes, put her as the star of a gastronomic night of horrors. Your 5 course menu was the worst food we have ever tried. The papaya and the exotic cayote were hard as a diamond. The main course, the roasted pork, was everything but roasted. Pale, hard and tasteless. The dessert, a so-called charlotte, was equally hard to swallow. The acid and the sweet weren`t as balanced as it should be. And for the wine selection, poor as the menu. But be cool we will keep your address hidden away, at least from my friends." - L.&S.W.
