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Asado: The Argentinian Barbecue
Argentinian Asados
This glorious weather has got us feeling as though we're back home in South America, and so we just had to share our love of asados with you, Fazendeiros! Our Sales & Marketing Director, Tomás got to work on making an asado, sharing the different ways of doing them and his favourite meats to indulge in.
What is an asado?
'An asado is essentially a typical Argentinian barbecue. Asado's are everything to us Argentines. It's a time to get together with family and friends to catch up, socialise and spend some quality time together. It's part of our culture to get involved from a young age, helping the adults prepare the fire and the dishes, so it's something you grow up with.'
Different ways of doing an Asado
'There are many ways of doing an asado, from how you build it to how you cook the meats. A traditional Patagonian way is 'a leña' (wood) or 'fuego lento a la cruz'. The large pieces of meat are pierced on stakes of wood and planted into the ground around the fire, which is usually made from wood or charcoal. This way, the meats aren't actually cooked directly on the fire, but slowly cooked from the heat of the fire for up to six hours.
Today we're making the asado 'Canasta Uruguaya' style, except with charcoal instead of wood. Another popular way is 'parilla de piso' which quite literally means 'floor grill', which is what we're using today as well.
The perfect food and drink for an asado
'First things first, I love to get the coraçaão de frango (chicken hearts) on the grill to have something to nibble on whilst we were waiting for the prime cuts to cook. It's a good way to get the crowd going!
We'll start with other smaller meats too, like the Argentinian sausages then move on to the big joints of meat like the Picanha (cap of rump) and other cuts of beef and lamb.'
'Personally, my favourite meats for an asado are Picanha and skirt steak. The fat from the Picanha soaks into the meat when it's slowly cooking, giving it the most amazing flavours! The skirt steak (Entraña in Argentina) is perfect when thinly sliced and quite literally melts in your mouth. I always recommend to cook the red meats rare to medium to get maximise the flavours and characteristics of the meats.'
Despite our carnivourous nature, us South Americans love nothing better to accompany an asado than some fresh vegetables and salads.
'A personal favourite dish of mine is grilled red peppers with egg inside. Simply cut the peppers in half and thrill them for a while, before cracking an egg into the well of the pepper and letting it slowly cook by the heat of the fire. Put the red pepper and egg on top of your skirt steak when cooked - gorgeous!
Now, no asado would be complete without my second favourite indulgence - wine! Today we're drinking Catena Malbec Vista Flores Appellation from Mendoza, made from 100% Malbec grapes. The flavour profiles of the wine match perfectly with the Picanha, with notes of tobacco, chocolate and red fruits. Incredible!'
How does an asado differ from a British barbecue?
Here in the UK, people tend to cook quite a few smaller meats, like burgers, sausages and steaks etc. At home, we cook the whole joints of meat! No one ever leaves an asado hungry - guaranteed!
Do you have any questions for Tomas about asados, Fazendeiros? Or maybe you'd like to share with us your best tips for a great asado? Share these in the comments below, we'd love to hear more!
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Our dress code is “elegant smart casual”. We do not require gentlemen to wear jacket and tie, however, we do not permit sportswear (gym wear) or beachwear.Children
We welcome children of all ages and believe we provide a great atmosphere for families to enjoy the restaurant experience. In the evening if guests wish to make a reservation with children under the age of 8 please do so for no later than 6pm (reservation durations vary depending on the number of guests so please note the reservation cannot go beyond 8pm). When making a reservation please count children in the total number of guests and let us know if you need a high chair or space for a pram/pushchair.
Please note: We politely request that children are always supervised and remain seated at the table to allow our teams and other guests to move around the restaurant safely and maintain physical distance.
Lastly, please note that children under 16 years of age need to be accompanied by an adult to dine.Cancellations & Deposits
We might require card details for some reservations. Your card will not be charged upon booking and your details will be securely processed by Stripe.If you no longer wish to keep your reservation, please let us know with as much notice as possible. Should you cancel your reservation or reduce the booking size less than 24 hours before your reservation date and time, a charge of £10.00 per guest will be processed.
Halal Selection
Halal reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance.Allergens
The team at Fazenda take food safety very seriously and particularly so when it concerns allergens in food. On our website you can view allergen information on our Menu page. When visiting us you'll have access to it via our menus and also on our Market Table.Smoking
In line with legislation passed in 2007 Fazenda is a no-smoking restaurant. We do not allow e-cigarettes inside either.Pets & Guide Dogs
Animals are not accepted unless assisting guests with additional needs.Photography
Guests are allowed to take photos and videos for personal use inside the private dining room, gardens and on the terrace. At the moment we are not able to accommodate any photography requests for professional or educational purposes until further notice.FAQs
**What are your opening days and times? **
To view each restaurant opening times please click on Locations and choose your local Fazenda.Are you accepting walk-ins?
We are now accepting walk-ins once again.How can I make a reservation?
You can make a reservation via our website or by contacting your local Fazenda by clicking on Locations.Do I need to pay a deposit for my reservation?
We might require card details for some reservations. Your card will not be charged upon booking and your details will be securely processed by Stripe.If you no longer wish to keep your reservation, please let us know with as much notice as possible. Should you cancel your reservation or reduce the booking size less than 24 hours before your reservation date and time, a charge of £10.00 per guest will be processed.
Can I have drinks at the bar?
Absolutely, and reservations are not needed in advance for our bar areas.Are Christmas reservations available?
They are indeed, via our reservations page.