Links:
© 2009 Dan Perlman
Casa SaltShaker
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Chef: Dan Perlman
Host: Henry Tapia
April 24-25, 2009
....
Comments from some of the guests:
"Thanks again for dinner last night, good food and good company." - L.B.
"Thanks for a lovely night, Dan. We'll definitely be coming again." - M.R.
"I had no idea what to expect in an all chocolate dinner, and I'm thrilled to say that it didn't disappoint. It was easily the best meal we had in Buenos Aires, the food was complex, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The interplay of the spices and herbs with the different types of chocolates and the way that they worked with the wines you so brilliantly paired was a thrill. Thanks for the recommendation on Armesto for wine shopping, we picked up some of the red the next day to take back with us. We'll be recommending Casa SaltShaker to our friends and if we ever make it back to Argentina, I hope you'll still be offering dinners!" - F.P.
"Thank you for an awesome evening. I really enjoyed the meal and meeting fellow travelers. much continued success." - T.B.
[As happens, not everyone enjoys everything. I would note that the following person and her family showed up nearly an hour late (and walked out early), were easily the most unpleasant people we've had in three years at Casa SaltShaker, and never really got a chance to interact with the rest of the guests (or with us for that matter), who by that point had taken over the main table, leaving their trio solo at the smaller table. As to quality of ingredients, I can only say, her perception had to be colored by whatever else was going on - fresh king crab from Patagonia, right out of the delta catfish, prime pork shoulder, and the best chocolate we can get here in B.A. As to complexity... it's sometimes part of what we do - interesting that the previous commenter liked the food for just that reason.]
"I really did not enjoy the evening and found that you were a difficult, almost unpleasant host Your meal was overly complex, not tremendously high in quality of ingredients and the matched wines were the only disappointing wines I endured during my stay in Buenos Aires. I would recommend simplicity, authenticity, and sincerity be added to your endeavors regarding SaltShaker." - M.B.
