Returning To Buenos Aires After 2+ Years

[elcolo]

Hey,

I'm returning to Buenos Aires after a couple of years away. I previous spent about 4 years there. I'm an avid cook and a relatively healthy eater so I am wondering how easy it is to source the following:

Whole ham(for boiling/baking and making fresh ham slices for example)
Milled Seeds
Natural Yoghurt/Greek Yoghurt(organic preferably) - not the crappy tiny tubs you get in Coto.
Duck Eggs
Almond flour
Coconut flour
High quality 75%+ dark chocolate

I remember sourcing most of my dried herbs and spices in el gato negro and things like curry pastes and coconut oil in Barrio Chino, which I assume is still the place to go for those things
If anyone has any suggestion for sourcing quality ingredients elsewhere I would appreciate it.

That's all I can think of for now. Thanks to anyone who can help.

 

[marcopolo]

good chocolate is available here, although I notice that they now only have a maximum of 70%.
http://www.tbxnet.com/fenix/esp/productos/origen.html

A few days ago I bought Lindt 85% in Falabella. It sent me back a small fortune.

For yoghurt, I suggest you buy a yogurt maker prior to coming here. I have one that is basically a big heat-insulating flask.
http://www.ambery.com.my/product_info.php?products_id=88?osCsid=9b5e48c555012fa942cfaebc658524b3

I found a simple recipe for making excellent yoghurt (inlcuding greek and labneh) without having to buy the sachets that you are supposed to use with the yoghurt maker.Works an absolute treat!! And delicious.
http://figjamandlimecordial.com/2010/07/10/homemade-greek-yoghurt/

Good luck. If you find a better chocolate supplier(80%+), please let me know

 

[lucha54]

almonds are sooooooo expensive. bring kilos and kilos of packaged almonds from wherever u are coming from.

 

[BaltRochGirl]

Not sure about individual items but El Gato Negro and Barrio China are still places to go for the best selection of herbs and spices, there's some new shops in Barrio China with a huge selection of cooking items so they might have what you're looking for.

Additionally there's a few new markets held in various locations around the city each month that have a selection of organic and other stands. If they don't have what you're looking for they might know who would. Good luck!

http://www.buenosairesmarket.com/

http://www.sabelatierra.com/

 

[elcolo]

Thanks for the replies guys. Unfortunately I didn't bring a yoghurt maker with me My initial search for good natural yogurt has so far been unsuccessful. I have one lead to check out tomorrow. Will share if it is good. If I get my hands on a yoghurt maker I will definitely try out that recipe.
I'll check out the chocolate place soon, would like to get my hands on cocoa powder too.
Almonds are definitely expensive here, but I find nuts are expensive everywhere these days! Dried fruits too.
Thanks again. If anyone has any other good spots where I can buy any of these items please share!

 

[garryl]

almonds are sooooooo expensive. bring kilos and kilos of packaged almonds from wherever u are coming from.

Costco

 

[Dublin2BuenosAires]

I understand there is an armenian/ middle east food shop on Armenia in Palermo. Prob expensive but I am intent on getting some good yoghurt and decent (non UHT would be a start) milk to make yoghurt in my yoghurt maker, you can also buy rennet on mercadolibre (cuajo, or cuajo para lacteos) if you want to make some simple cheeses. Might be worth getting good milk from el galpon in caballito if so.

You need to change the chip as they say here, forget frustrating yourself by looking for stuff which doesnt exist here. As a keen chef you should be focused on using local produce which is going to be fresher and better than imported stuff, also for day to day cooking you'd want to manage the cost.

For any India spices I am going to give a plug to my favourite food shop in BA again, a charming old Indian woman runs "Sabores de India" on Cuidad de la Paz. Google it for the address, or look them up on facebook but it's off Cabildo, probably Cabildo 2000s ish. They have every indian (and more) spice going and can also sort you out with ghee (clarified butter) if you want to give you curries that rich buttery taste.

 

[elcolo]

Great post cavehill. Thanks a lot!

 

[Ries]

Actually, there is a whole neighborhood of armenian stores on Scalabrini Ortiz- a bakery, a couple of great deli/food stores, and, yes, fresh yogurt- really good yogurt, along with humus, baba ganoush, fresh baked pita bread daily in both plain and wheat, great spices, olives, dates, small baked goods both savory and sweet, and, on weekends, incredible gyros. Very near Armenia, just walk around, you will see them. One is called Armenia, one is Damasco.

 

[Ries]

http://myamusedbouch...armenian-joint/
http://thelostasian.com/palermo/medio-oriente/
http://capital-federal.guia.clarin.com/confiteria-damasco/880763