On Thursday evening, we were invited to an "asado" at the home of Marisa's parents, Imelda and Nestor Kalbermatten. Now retired from work as a teacher and judge respectively, they live outside of Santa Fe, in a private community. We used the pool at their club before sitting down to the best meal we have had so far in Argentina! When you eat "asado" you are eating grilled meats, which are cooked over wood charcoal on an emormous brick barbecue called an "asador." Every Argentinean house has an outdoor asador -- asado is traditional Sunday fare. When I lived in Buenos Aires, I used to get invited to friends' homes for asado. It was an all-day event, starting at 1:00 and ending late at night. (This made for comical culture shock when I returned home to Iowa City. I once went over to a friend's house for Sunday brunch. After about four hours, I realized that she was hinting that I should leave.)
Since we were dining on a Thursday night, we had a somewhat shorter visit. We arrived for the pool at around 4:00, starting eating at 9:00, and were finished by around 11:30 pm. The Kalbermattens were so sweet to invite us -- they kept assuring me that it was their pleasure to have 15 strangers to dinner. The students were very appreciative -- Nestor loved the positive feedback about his grilling. (Every Argentinean man prides himself on his skills at the asador.)
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