Punta del Este's Food Scene: Where Uruguay's Best Chefs Cook
Punta del Este attracts Uruguay's top chefs for the summer season — the concentration of wealthy Argentine and Brazilian visitors supports some of the best restaurants in South America; the Uruguayan beef, the Atlantic seafood, and the Tannat wine combine in a distinctive coastal cuisine
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Uruguayan Beef Quality
Uruguayan beef – ranked among the finest in the world alongside the best Argentine cuts – reaches its highest expression in the grills of Punta del Este; the natural pasture-fed quality of the beef, combined with wood-fired grilling techniques, produces a flavor that industrial beef cannot replicate; the best cuts served in Punta del Este's restaurants are exceptional
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Atlantic Seafood
The Atlantic waters off the Uruguayan coast provide excellent seafood - corvina (shrimp), cherne, langostino (shrimp) and sea bass are the main catches; the seafood restaurants at Punta del Este's marina cook the morning's catch with minimalist preparations; the combination of good olive oil, fresh lemon and local herbs is the usual Uruguayan seafood method
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Tannat pairing
Uruguayan Tannat – a deeply tannic red wine that mellows considerably with decanting – pairs exceptionally well with the country's beef; the best Uruguayan Tannat producers (Bouza, Pisano, Carrau) have created a wine identity comparable in quality to Argentine Malbec but more individual; the combination of wine and beef is at the heart of Punta del Este's food culture
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Café Life
The cafe culture on the streets of the Punta del Este peninsula – strong espresso, medialunas (Uruguayan croissants) and the morning paper – is the polar opposite of the resort's glamour; the city has an Argentinian-influenced café tradition that operates at a different pace to beach club culture; the cafe is where Punta del Este has its morning and its ordinary life
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Market at La Barra
The artisanal food market in La Barra (design village 10 km from Punta del Este) is open on weekends during the summer; the market sells organic produce, artisan cheeses, craft beer and street food; La Barra Market's combination of food, crafts and the bohemian atmosphere of La Barra make it the most enjoyable market experience near the resort
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Chivito and National Food
Chivito - Uruguay's national sandwich with steak, ham, cheese, egg and vegetables - reaches its most elevated interpretation in Punta del Este's restaurants; the balance of ingredients, the quality of the meat and the quality of the bread define chivito's success; in Punta del Este, chivito is both humble beach food and refined restaurant dish