Food Fair in Buenos Aires - Caminos y Sabores 2013

One thing that isn’t readily apparent on a world map is just how big Argentina really is and how long it takes to get from one end to the other. So unless you have a lot of time on your hands, it can be hard to see all of Argentina, from north to south and from east to west. But if you want to “visit” all of Argentina in one day, then be sure to check out Caminos y Sabores this weekend. This fair is held every year in Buenos Aires (since 2005), and is a celebration of all of the different foods and cultural traditions from all over Argentina.

When it first started, there were only about 100 booths, but it was the first event of its kind in Buenos Aires: it had typical foods, crafts, and tourist attractions from every region, all under the same roof. There are 9 caminos temáticos (thematic pathways): Cheese, Meat, Tradition, Tourism, Oil and Spices, Drinks, Yerba Mate and Tea, Fruits of the Earth (berries, nuts, jams, etc.), and Sweets.

Today, this event has well over 400 booths, 2,000 products, 80,000 visitors each year, and all 23 provinces are represented. This year it will be held from Saturday July 6 – Tuesday July 9 from 12pm-9pm each day. Tickets are AR$50 (children under 3 years old are free) and can be purchased at the venue, La Rural (Av. Sarmiento 2704).

This event not only has samples, but it also includes cooking demonstrations by chefs who specialize in typical foods from different parts of Argentina and Latin America. There will also be a taste-testing competition, where amateur food-testers will try to describe the characteristics (both the good and the bad) of different products, in hopes of improving the production. Check their schedule here for more details as the cooking demonstrations, special workshops about regional foods, and live music venues will change every day. While food is a big focus (yay!), there will also be many handmade crafts that are typical of each region (a great souvenir opportunity if ever there was one!)