Mendoza Día 1

• well...let me just start by saying that if I had the money, I'd jet off to Mendoza every weekend! 

Sa 11.24.12

• 6:40am...8:05am...9:30am departure (get me to Mendoza...)

• checked in to hotel, Soltigua Apart Hotel, and it's already lunch time!
• Anna Bistro was the perfect place for our first meal and glass of vino

• the outdoor space alone was worth the visit

• there was even a small wedding going on around the back!

• my very first copa de vino (Lurton Pinot Gris)

• Jake's vino tinto (Organic Cecchin Cabernet Sauvignon) and stewed beef/potatoes dish

• my super large salad of veggies, fruits, olives, and goat cheese wontons

• reading up...Vino Argentino (thanks Anna! was a great resource for us on this trip!)

• today's objective was to explore Mendoza City

• ...and just steps down the street from Anna Bistro, we came across this delicious little bakery

• how could we not get a little something...below is our cappuccino macaroon:

• shortly after dessert we stumbled upon this little pup...he became known as Facundo....or Facu (Jake tells me it's a popular boy's name here)

checking things out

• un acequia (open ditch)...irrigation system carrying runoff water from the Andes snowmelt...reason why this dessert-like city has trees

• Facu, still chugging along

• following us all the way to the first plaza...Plaza Chile
• Mendoza is made up of four small plazas, equidistant from the main plaza

• Facu seeks shade from the hot Mendozan sun
• Plaza Chile was built to honor the close connection Mendoza has with its neighbor, Chile

Plaza Chile...statue of San Martín and Chile's liberator, Bernardo O'Higgins

• trolleys still run, along with buses to get you around the city

• Spanish colonial style buildings, such as the one below, can be seen scattered throughout the city

Facu approves

loved the tiles at the foot of this massive, ornate door

• hey look! this door's in my book

• on to the next square, Plaza San Martín

• trees are given a little extra crutch in this town

• San Martín, up on his high horse

Libertador statue...led troops to defeat the Spaniards

• we then strolled over to the main square, Plaza Independencia

• see the cotton candy machine? it's a mini-soccer player!

• sadly, this was around the time that Facu stopped following us... :( thanks for being a good little buddy for about an hour there!
• moving on to what ended up being one of our favorites, Plaza España with its beautiful tiles

• tiles were brought over from Spain when the plaza was remodeled in 1946

fountain designed after an old Spanish patio

• a wall of tiles telling the story of how Mendoza was founded in 1561
• we think this is Columbus

• the fifth and final...Plaza Italia with the only fountain that was actually running
• built in honor of the many Italian immigrants who settled here in the 1800's

• so much walking, so many plazas...time for a coffee break

• this will be our vacation home some day ^^

• then it was back to the hotel for a little nap and a little freshening up for tonight's dinner
• have you heard of a closed door restaurant?
• neither had I until I moved to Argentina
• basically, it's a restaurant, but it's not called a restaurant
• it is often housed in someone's home or another location that is only revealed after making reservations
• dinner is usually held only once per week, includes a small group of people, and involves a set menu of several courses with drink pairings
• this particular guy, Chef Mun, had an Asian-fusion (he's Korean!) closed door restaurant in Buenos Aires, called Casa Mun
• he then moved to Mendoza and teamed up with the winery, Casarena, to create a closed door restaurant, M u n @ Casarena,  that welcomes guests every Saturday evening
• unfortunately we had to hire a remis (taxi) to take us to this winery, as it is about 30 minutes outside of Mendoza City
• luckily the guys at M u n @ Casarena were great in helping us to arrange it and we didn't have any problems (aside from the slightly high cost, but I convinced Jake that it was worth it :)

• we were first greeted with a glass of champagne, Rama Negra Extra Brut, during the reception
• then we entered the dining space, where we were fittingly surrounded by barrels of wine:

• LOTS of stemware graced the tables

• 1st course: 505 Salad - mixed field greens, honey & mustard glazed shrimp, & chuka dressing, paired with: 505 Chardonnay 2012

• 2nd course: 임자수탕 Imjasutang aka Summer Soup of the Korean Royal Family - chilled chicken soup seasoned with toasted sesame, shiitake mushrooms, egg, ginseng, and chinese herbs, paired with: Rama Negra Sauvignon Blanc 2012

• 3rd course: Chilean Salmon Nigiri, Argentine Vegetable Maki Sushi, & Yellowfin Tuna on Crispy Rice (my favorite), paired with: Rama Negra Reserva Pinot Noir 2011

• 4th course: 안심구이 aka Ahnsimgui - filet mignon in soy sauce & malbec reduction served with asparagus, cherry tomato, & wasabi mashed potatoes (could eat a mountain of these), paired with: Rama Negra Reserva Malbec 2010

• 5th course: Green Tea Ice Cream with Mixed Fruit & Berries, paired with: Cabernet Sauvignon Tardio 2011

Chinese symbol for home

• two very happy and very full customers

• end of day 1...the fun continues on day 2!