The Choripan Hero of Buenos Aires
It does not matter if you have just arrived in Buenos Aires, or if you´ve already been living here for some time, chances are you have probably heard of the Choripan. Oh, it’s just sausage and bread, made like a sandwich, you might say. Well, a choripan is not your average hot dog. Let me tell you something about choripans. Grilled on an open fire, or a chorizo, which come to us from as far as the Roman times, is split in half by a skilled choripan-cook, and placed still smoking in between two soft warm from the grill slices of bread. Originally consumed by the inhabitants of ancient Rome, a choripan was later popularized in the Spanish Empire, inevitably bringing it here to us, in Argentina. After you pay the cook, you are now free to add to the choripan various condiments that they have on offer – exquisite Argentine salads, the chimichurri sauce if you like it a little bit spicy, or even vinegar if you’re into that sort of thing. To sum it all up to a point I’m trying to make, a choripan is delicious.
Choripan a la Parrilla
Now, where may I get one, you may ask. Most people will tell you about Puerto Madero, and the multitudes of food trucks that reside there, making a killing selling these bad boys, and while this is too not a bad choice, pay them no mind. This is the actual place you want to go to. Located on the corner of Avenida Belgrano and Paseo Colon, there stands a man. In his hand, he wields a spatula. In front of him, a choripan grill stands ready. The process is simple. Come up to this man, and express your interest for choripans, stand back, and watch the artist at work. You might initially have some trouble staying out of the smoke from the grill, but only until you take note of the smell of the delicious sausage being fried on smoking coals. Once the choripan is ready, add whatever salads and sauces suit your style, take a sit in the park, and take note of the scenery. You might have noticed two or three raggy-looking people hanging around the choripan stand, passing the man bread, sausages, giving you back your change, offering you something to drink, etc. These good folk are normally homeless, and at the gratitude of this legend of a man who has just made your choripan, they are helping him out and, and when hungry, eat a choripan or two of their own. Contemplate this, while you sink your teeth into your delicious smoky flavoured chori.
You have now, along with this hero of Buenos Aires, helped in the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Rejoice in the good deed, and come back for more. And of course, most importantly, enjoy your meal.
