Salt & Vineg--errr, Asado Flavor?

If you know me well, you know that I can take down a big bag of Lay’s Salt & Vinegar Chips in one night. (Right, Dad?  Not proud.)  

When I entered my first supermercado (grocery store) in Córdoba, I noticed a familiar color set.  Classic Lay’s amarillo, Sour Cream & Onion verde, and of course, that powder blue color that makes my mouth water:  Salt & Vinegar azul!  

After looking closer, I noticed something unfamiliar.  No jar of red vinegar or ramekin of salt.  

Instead, a seared steak on a wooden cutting board.  Sabor, Asado.  (~“Flavor, Roast”)

My mouth stopped watering.  Pavlov effect over.  Soul crushed.  

But I figure, maybe this Asado flavor is just as bueno as Salt & Vinegar?  If they’re willing to give it the powder blue color, it must be mouth watering, si?  So, I forked over the 40 pesos and headed home for a taste test.

An Asado in Argentina is a big deal.  It’s pretty much a BBQ...a big get together with tons of grilled meat.  But, the Asado flavor is not like BBQ flavor chips.  The best way to describe the taste is: if you were to grill a steak, trap the juices in a cup, and then pour those juices over classic Lay’s chips.  Steak juice chips!  

I was weirded out at first, and then warmed up to them.  I may not finish an Asado Lay’s bag in one night, but I wouldn't NOT want to eat them in bed while reading.  (Like I'm doing in the pic above)

Don’t judge.  

Soothing Sounds of Power Saws

It’s fascinating to experience the cultural differences in foreign countries.  

In Cordoba, restaurants don’t open for dinner until ~8:30pm and waiters & waitresses are incredibly lax about bringing the check, or even checking on you.  SO different from the US, where the main goal is to churn you out.

One difference I’ll never get used to is night construction...directly across the street.  The sound of an intermittent power saw from ~midnight to ~5am is not the type of white noise I need to Zzzz.  

I don’t mind the drunken revelers that oft pass by my place, singing and slurring.  Reminds me of the good ole days!  But, that power saw.  

Funny thing, is that NO ONE EVER YELLS at them.  If this were New York City, the string of obscenities would be entertaining enough to make me take out my ear plugs.  But, people just seem to accept it here.

I guess the show must go on.  Maybe these guys are working under a tight deadline.  (Doubt it)  Or maybe they just like working at night.  (Maybe?)  Or, they just want to get the job done as quick as possible?  (Hmmm)

If only the waiters and waitresses had that same drive.  :]

You just have to accept that things here are different!  Embrace the soothing sounds of power saws at 4am.  Plan for 2 hour meals.  And ask for the check a half hour before you want to go.