*i.e., a big Argentinian barbecue event. Gene, I understand, has attended quite a few of these in Latin America. Most all the photos were taken by my 2nd son, save for the ones he's in which either I or Catha took.
Gene welcomes all and gives a brief talk on parrilladas.
Thus, on Thursday evening, the 5th April 2011, around 50 carnivores, more or less, trooped to San Juan to partake in this barbecue bacchanalia. My family and I sat at a long table with J-Lab, Arnie, Matt & Chinkee, Bodjie, Martin, Gino (Garcia), Dicky, Sanju & Cutie, Kate, Jay-Jay, Gino (Gonzalez) & China, etc. Gene had days before cautioned us to "Have a light lunch and no merienda," as we would get "more than what we bargained for".
That, indeed, we all did.
Beef, goat and pork. Tons of each. On a spit is gaucho bread.
No part of the animals was wasted. All the naughty bits were served, including bull genitalia.
That's the bull penis being sliced up. No, I didn't have any of it.
These were just the appetizer courses, served with...
...Green Salads...
...Potato Wedges and Goucho Bread.
I started off with some 2000 R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva Rosado - My bottle, which I've written about before. Bone dry, red currants, strawberry, bit of citrus, orange peel and the hallmark López de Heredia gentle sherry/oxidative notes. Complex. Again, a very particular wine; it's not for everyone - but I certainly liked it (made sure not to serve it too cold this time).
This was the main beef course tray. I had a lot of the beef belly.
The event being BYOB, I also brought along a bottle of 2006 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Classique (brawny, rustic, ruggedly handsome, driven with enough smoothly rounded muscle to easily take on the beef and goat together) and, it being a summer barbecue, I simply had to bring along some Craft Beer from Jimmyton Araneta's Global Beer Exchange, namely: 2 Bombers of Rogue Double Dead Guy (perfect for a summer's BBQ: macho, cold and refreshing with a good kick), 1 bomber of Rogue John John Hazelnut (the 2nd insisted on bringing it) and my last 2 bottles of my favorite Rogue Juniper Pale Ale (most refreshing indeed). Sorry, apparently no photos of the bottles as they quickly got passed around.
Catha and the 2nd.
I also had glasses of many wines brought and generously shared by friends. Honestly, though, I was just trying to relax and enjoy the meal and camaraderie, I don't now remember the those wines.
The goat gets axed.
Dessert was a Crêpe with Home-Made Rum-Raisin Ice Cream.
Gene's is the only rum-raisin ice cream I like.
J-Lab, Gino Garcia, Bodjie, Arnie & the boys.
Fun night. ¡Salud y hasta la proxima Parrillada!
