Ushuaia's Table: King Crab and the Southern Ocean
Ushuaia's food scene is defined by the extraordinary seafood of the Beagle Channel — the centolla (Patagonian king crab), the cholgas (mussels), and the merluza negra (Patagonian toothfish) make the city's restaurants a destination in their own right
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Centolla — King Crab
The centollan (Patagonian king crab) from the Beagle Channel is considered to be among the world's finest crustaceans; the cold, clean waters of the canal produce large, sweet-meat crabs; in Ushuaia centolla is served simply — steamed and with butter or mayonnaise, or in centolla casserole; the quality of centolla is incomparable to any cultivated or imported alternative
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Chol gas and shellfish
Cholgas (large clams), almejas (mussels) and erizo (sea urchin) from the Beagle Channel are all served in Ushuaia's restaurants; the seafood is harvested from the canal's clean, cold waters; sea urchin roe (eaten raw with lemon) is a special delicacy; the combination of the extreme southern latitude and the clean water produces seafood of exceptional quality
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Lamb and Patagonia Asado
Tierra del Fuego is sheep country — estancias on the northern island raise Corriedale sheep whose wool was the basis of the early economy; the Patagonian lamb (a whole lamb slow-roasted on a cross over hardwood embers) is the most celebrated asado preparation in Argentina; the taste of the cold-grazed Fuegian lamb is uniquely delicate
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Craft Beer Scene
Ushuaia has a vibrant craft beer scene — the cold, clear subantarctic waters and adventurous appetites of expeditioners and backpackers support several excellent microbreweries; the Beagle and Cape Horn breweries produce ales, stouts and IPAs that match the scale and character of the southern landscape
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End of the world restaurants
Ushuaia's beachfront restaurants – overlooking the Beagle Channel to the Chilean mountains – serve king crab and other channel seafood in settings of outstanding scenic drama; dining at a waterfront restaurant in Ushuaia while watching the expedition ships prepare to depart for Antarctica is one of the most atmospheric dining experiences of the trip
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Supermarket Prices
Ushuaia is subject to a special Patagonian price zone – goods are heavily subsidized by the Argentine government to encourage settlement in this extreme latitude; the supermarkets in Ushuaia sell electronics and imported goods at significantly lower prices than mainland Argentina; the city's duty-free status (for electronics and some imported goods) makes it a shopping destination for mainland Argentina