HOUSE OF SANDWICHES: A Little Taste of Argentina

I have often driven past this place on Route 66 and wondered about it as I whizzed by (or after drooling over Donut Man across the street).

When an acquaintance suggested I try this Argentinian place, I was confused. Was this a sandwich deli or an Argentinian restaurant?

A quick Wikipedia search revealed it is both, as one of the favorite national foods of Argentina is sandwiches.  My curiosity got the better of me and I paid the shop a visit.

At first glance, the eatery looks like a typical deli with typical deli fare.

Turkey, ham, and other meats, cheeses and toppings are listed on a handwritten sign on the wall.  Upon closer inspection, however, you notice one side of the store has shelves stocked with various Argentinian foodstuffs, such as dulce de leche and yerba mate (tea) and the rest of the menu lists several unfamiliar dishes.

I asked Carlos, the friendly owner who was born in Argentina, for recommendations and ended up with empanadas ($1.50 each, half chicken and half beef), a beef matambre sandwich ($5.99) and a chicken milanesa sandwich ($5.99).  My less adventurous husband ordered a ham and cheese sandwich ($4.99).  One should be aware that the “small” sandwiches are quite large. 

The empanadas, served hot, are deep fried meat dumplings. The thick pastry dough is stuffed with well-seasoned beef or chicken, chopped boiled eggs, diced red bell peppers, green onions and regular onions. The beef filling in the beef empanadas were my favorite of the items we ordered.

The chicken milanesa is essentially a fried chicken sandwich. The chicken breast is pounded thin and tender, breaded, then fried.  It rests on a bed of lettuce with sliced tomatoes, white American cheese and mayonnaise on a soft white roll.

The beef matambre is a bit more unique and harder to describe. Carlos wraps thin slices of beef brisket around a stuffing of breadcrumbs, chopped eggs, sliced carrots and parsley.  He then ties it with string and boils the roll for a few hours until tender, then slices it and lays it on a white roll with lettuce, sliced tomatoes, white American and mayonnaise.

Apparently, beef matambre is typically an Argentinian appetizer of vegetables or chimichurri, served with slices of the stuffed beef roll on the side, but Carlos decided to incorporate them into a sandwich.

Carlos was eager to share his knowledge of the food and all things Argentinian.  Ashley, his 10-year-old niece, was a charming guide to the shop, articulately explaining to me the various pastries and pointing out her favorites, little rolls stuffed with a caramel dulce de leche filling.

Although I would not say the sandwiches were extraordinary by the standards of my Americanized palate, the journey into another culture was fascinating.  When we walked in, there was a group of older men, drinking espresso and playing cards, chattering away in Spanish. A fútbol (soccer) game was playing on the television above the counter, while regulars came and went, greeting each other with kisses and leaving with the Italian greeting "Ciao!" (Argentina has a mix of European influences, including Italian and French.) 

If you ever want a little taste of Argentina, you need look no further than in our own backyard on Route 66, of all places.