Los Morteros restaurant at Purmamarca

The Mortars at Purmamarca, North West Argentina
Topic: Restaurant
Carlos Antoraz the man at Pumarmarca, Jujuy, North West Argentina

For more information :Email Bob Frassinetti. Press here to see photo's of Los Morteros. Los Morteros at Purmarmarca, Argentina.

As we wrote in some of our previous articles regarding our route 40 adventure, Los Morteros restaurant was one of our best findings. We discovered the place by accident and fell in love deeply with its charming atmosphere, relaxed environment, great service and wonderful food. Such was the great impact on us that once back in BA we decided to write a special piece on the restaurant, its chef and the owners.




We wanted to check some facts, get some insight information, so we called the restaurant at Purmamarca. Tere the manager and head chef talked with us and shared the inside spirit of the kitchen and heart of the Mortars. We also had the fabulous opportunity of meeting Carlos Antoraz, the man and mind behind the Morters. he's the architect who conceived and created the mortars. He and his wife Susie are the owners and the soul of the mortars.

The Mortars was conceived several years ago as a gathering place. Susie and Carlos are charming people; they have tons of friends and visits all year long from around the globe. So they came up with the idea of building themselves a teahouse that was also a gathering place for them and their friends. Soon, what started with a coup of tea and coffee, some pastry to eat and a lot of fun and enjoyment turned into a bigger project. The only thing that was possible to do is to go with the flow, and the tea house was soon a restaurant.

"The Mortars. Mortars, holes of stone left by the moon, the tree,
grinding's vital strike in times of harvest and sows.
At the end o the day with the bread, the corn and the seeds,
The magical ritual of the served table"

These lines welcomed us to the menu. Tere welcomed us to the kitchen; as Carlos did so to the bigger picture.

Carlos is a passionate man; you can tell so by the way he talks about those things he loves the most, his work, his family, his ever-growing and changing projects, his beloved province and town of Purmamarca. He's a true artist; he knows what he talks about when he designs a home, because he's done one. He knows what he deals with when he works with adobe because he studied all the process and makes his own adobe, and shares the pleasure of building with the aid of technique and technology. He would have loved to be a sculpture maker. we believe he already is thru his great works of art that are also houses, homes.

One thing we finally discovered about Los Morteros and its people is that these are all great hearted passionate people who love what they do, who put all of their being in their products, and transmit a truly dear positive energy.

Tere is the cook and manager. She prefers the be known as cook than chef, this is something she's been doing all her life, ever since she was a young girl and helped her mom and sold tamales and humitas in San Salvador. The great Gato Dumas, also preferred the word Cocinero, Cook, there's something about the craft that was left out by the French denomination.

Tere, who's now 33 began to work in the kitchen over 10 years ago. By the
age of 24 she had her own shop in San Salvador, Jujuy's capital city -where she was born and raised-, the place was called Lo de Tere ( Tere's place), and she served organic traditional food, the best products for a great treat to the tummy and soul. It was there when she first met Susie and Carlos; they were regular customers at her place. The turns of life brought their roads together and now at the mortars they all pinch in for a wonderful wholesome experience for the customers of the Mortars.

Tere says that she began to discover herself at the Mortars, not only as a cook but also as a person, appreciating the use of time and love in the cooking process, the delight of food as a soul feeder, the ties you and tie thru that special and unique experience of feeding your body and soul. She emphasizes the importance of the great team she works with, as well as Susie's and Carlos' great energy. Amancay, Berta, Mariela, Guillermo, Pablo, they all chip into the fabulous energy of Los Morteros.



We asked her to share with us and our readers an insight to her kitchen. This is what she chose:



Entr¿e:

Greens with mustard and cane honey vinaigrette and goat cheese

Pumpkin and goat cheese with maize crunch “criolla” soup

Goat cheese and Andes potato empanada -pastry- in capia maize (a local corn
type) dough



Main dish

Huajca Locro made with local potatoes, maize and beef in homemade clay pot

Jujuy style lamb stew with Andes potatoes and quinoa grain timbale

Llama meat Carbonada stew with dry peaches and mote corn.



Desserts



Purple maize sweet custard with caramelized figs and Philadelphia like goat cream cheese

Cane honey turron- nougat

Goat cream cheese Tiramisu



NOTE: All dairy products are carefully produced by the owners on their farm, named “Volcano”



For more information :Email Bob Frassinetti. Press here to go to The Buenos Aires Art Dealer is a webzine magazine on Art, Antiques & Collectibles made or found in Argentina. The Buenos Aires Art Dealer,Argentina.



Classic Car Show San Telmo
Bob Frassinetti. Copyright 2005. Roberto Dario Frassinetti.

The American Community in Argentina & the New York Magazine

Topic: American Community

The American Community in Argentina & the New York Magazine Guide

Whats in comom with The American Community in Argentina & the New York Magazine guide which published a article written by Ian Mount entitled “A moveable Fiesta”. Read on!



Buenos Aires at Night



A bright blue sky strikes the city of Buenos Aires, is full summer and the average 70 F temperatures warms up the beautiful metropolis. Its 19th century white buildings lighten up with the shine of a clear sky; the parks filled with blossoming trees are prettier than ever, the South American Paris is glooming. Those who are not off on holidays, enjoy the charm of the riverside cosmopolitan town. Many visitors from around the globe walk around the city center discovering BA mysteries and beauties. The only thing setting aside the tourists from the locals is the comfy ware, for this is a melting pot society in which every one fits in, as long as he or she is sophisticated, trendy and knows how to enjoy life.

Those unique local cultural features together with a truly favorable and growing economy have become a huge magnet for people around the globe looking for a better life, higher living standards and the peace of mind of being on a permanent vacation feel.

This last February weekend, the New York Magazine guide published an article written by Ian Mount entitled “A moveable Fiesta”. It’s a wonderful and interesting piece on American expat’s who chose Buenos Aires as their new loving home. But what catch my attention the most was a smaller subtitle, one could read on the upper left margin “Change your life”.

The author was talking to all those young businessmen who work long hours, live in well located but small apartments, they are truly successful in many fields but this does not reflect on their living standards. This concept really catches my eye, so I kept on reading.

I’m familiar with the fact that Buenos Aires has become a fantastically appealing location for people from around the globe who seek better living standards and to take out the most out of their hard earned money. I’ve even wrote several pieces on this, advising people from all over about the great options the Buenos Aires real estate market was offering –even before this was broadly published in all sorts of international magazines- I saw the line, and thought that nothing would be best than sharing the tip.

The fact that awesome properties in the best neighborhoods of Buenos Aires can be afforded for ¿ the money you would be paying in New York, San Francisco, California, Paris, Rome or London is something to keep an eye on. And though Buenos Aires is not the only city around the world in this situation, it is one of the very few –I might risk, the only one- that while in Latin America and a developing country, has very similar cultural patterns to western developed capitals. The food, the aesthetic, the culture, the society is so cosmopolitan that everyone from anywhere fits perfectly.

But it’s not just about fitting, its about getting what you want out of life. And that was clearly stated by Mount in his New York Guide piece. A former senior vice-president of bond sales with the Belgian banking conglomerate KBC, changes his one room apartment in NYC for a wonderful floor with terrace and swimming pool in the heart of BA. He also mentions the luck of a young Doctor and a gorgeous young woman, just to name some of those young and life thirsting people choosing to take control of their lives, present and future.

We all thought that relocating around the globe was something retired old people did. Well, they actually do, but there’s no need to spend a life of mediocre appreciation of life to enjoy it during your last days. A couple of savings, a true appreciation of what’s good and makes you happy and a lot of courage take you really far, specially in this world in which breathtaking gorgeous places such as Buenos Aires offer such a broad range of options to delight and enjoy yourself.



For more information: Email: Bob Frassinetti. Press here to go back to web blog:Daily Updates on Art, Antiques, Collectibles as well as travel information for Buenos Aires, Argentina. You can also chat with me thru Yahoo, press here: Yahoo Contact

Vito Campanella, artist living in Argentina

Vito Campanella at his Studio in Buenos Aires
Topic: Vito Campanella
Vito Campanella at home in his study in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

As part of our research work in the local Art scene we were able to contact Vito Campanella directly. The renamed artist whose paintings are world wide appreciated is an approachable and nice man. After a couple of phone calls we finally arranged a meeting at his atelier. We had a wonderful time chatting with him, enjoying his works and his life experiences.

Here are some insightful photos of our visit. Enjoy!

Please contact us directly upon any question or commentary on this article, the photos or his works.



Vito Campanella

Vito Campanella is one of the best surrealist artists of the twentieth century. His master of technique and concept is outstanding while the power of his works is stunning as they impact on many levels on the spectator, a true feast to the senses.
He was born in the portside township of Monopoli, Bari-Italy, in 1932. Son of a great musician, Vito was in touch with his artistic side from the cradle; soon after he was born his father decided it was time to quit touring around and he settled down opening a magnificent bookstore. The Arts, indeed, were part of his life from the very beginning. However his early years were unquestionably bitter sweet for he and his family lived nearby a military port, so during the years of the Second World War his life was quite hectic. Soon his father would pass away, and his brother Leonardo would set the trace for the future of the family; Leo was the first one to leave Italy towards Argentina. Vito who was in his early twenties at the moment decided to stick around Italy for a while, living a bohemian life, exploring the Arts and the beauty of the boot-shaped country.

Firenze –Florence- was to become home; soon he would move to the beautiful city of Milan and study at the Brera Academy. Later on young Vito began to take all sorts of courses and began to forge his way into the world of ateliers, canvases, brushes and oil painting. It was then when he went through a life changing experience by working with Giorgio De Chirico in his workshop. It was then when Campanella would meet one of his other masters Salvador Dali who at the time was living momentarily in Milan.

Campanella refers to his relationship with Dali “At first I had a good relationship with him, but then when I went to visit him to Port Lligat –in Figueres- I commented on one of his paintings, he was not pleased with my words and kicked me out of his house… You know Dali behaved like this…”

Not much time would go by until he crossed the Atlantic to Argentina. It was 1955, Vito Campanella was only 22 years old when Buenos Aires became his home by choice.

His artistic work in the southern Pampas’ land began slowly. For many years his main activity was art-publicity especially in Argentina, but also in Brazil and Peru. Simultaneously he would continue working on his art, developing his technique and his very particular aesthetic.

Just a bit more than a decade after his arrival to Buenos Aires, in 1968 he held his first important Art show at the famous Witcomb Gallery on Florida St. Such was the success –he sold each and every one of the exhibited works- that it was a turning point in his life, from then on he would fully surrender to his gift and passion: Art.
Though Campanella exhibits a unique surrealist style, many critics and art specialists have tended to define him as an Italian Dali or De Chirco-influenced. Nothing better than Mr. Vito’s own words to define his style “I would say that my paintings are Campanella styled works, I recognize a variety of influences –as every human being- but I believe I have achieved a personal style… I think critics sometimes tend to label things to fast in a somewhat arbitrary manner.”

Campanella’s surrealism is indeed dream inspired; combined with a Renaissance aesthetic inspiration especially regarding the palette, working specially on the chiaroscuro.

I must agree with Vito Campanella’s remark, he has developed a true and unique sense of style and aesthetic, debtor of many and of none, for he incorporated the influence into a whole new and own system.

His works are currently being exhibited at the famous Galleria Degli Uffizi. Private Galleries from the US, France, Belgium, Spain and Japan feature his works too.

This is a brief list of prizes and awards Campanella achieved.

2¿ PRIZE Intl. Contest of Contemp. Art (Lyon, France, ¿73)
GRAND PRIX "HOMMAGE" (Punta del Este, Uruguay, ¿75)
ITALIAN REPUB. BORSA AWARD (Rome,¿78)
GRAND PRIX "PALMA DE ORO", (Montecarlo, ¿78)
“DELOYE" AWARD, Internl. Biennale Fine Arts (Paris, ¿82)
He was distinguished with different honorable tittles as "ORDER AL MERIT", Knight degree, Italy
"HONOR ACCADEMIA FELLOW",
"Gold Medal", Ligures Studies Academy (Geneva, Italy)
"SAINT GEORGE ORDER", Commendadore degree, (Internl. Parliament of Safety and Peace / (U.S.A.).


Diana Bobo lodge. Bed & Breakfast

Interested in buying art or antiques and collectibles from Buenos Aires or for that matter any other item that I have mentioned in any article you have found on this my web site, you can buy Toys from my museum and threw eBay, threw the Toy Museum on eBay press here; Toy Museum on eBay and threw The Buenos Aires ArtDealer, press here; Art Dealer on eBay From Art to Antiques. Or contact me direct. For more information :Email Bob Frassinetti. Press here to go to The Buenos Aires Art Dealer is a webzine magazine on Art, Antiques & Collectibles made or found in Argentina. The Buenos Aires ArtDealer, Argentina.



Frog Game from South America
Bob Frassinetti. Copyright 2005. Roberto Dario Frassinetti. Argentina.