Deep in the Sierras Chicas, a range of rugged hills between the fertile Pampas and the soaring Andes, lies a traditional Argentine farmhouse with an 18th-century kitchen at its core: Estancia Los Potreros. The Begg family have lived - and cooked - on this idyllic ranch for four generations.
We have been welcoming guests to Los Potreros ("The Enclosures") since the 1940s, and our kitchen provides everyone who stays here with an insight into the delights of Argentine cuisine. Visitors discover the art of making and savouring traditional mate tea, the secrets to getting the best flavours from Argentina's famous beef, and the family recipes behind the sumptuous cakes that are baking continuously in the original wood-burning oven. The kitchen is, without a doubt, the heart and soul of the estancia.
Meals Under the Sierras Sky
The pleasures of Argentine food are also extended to the outdoors, with guests enjoying their meals under the shade of the verandah or a nearby tree. Their friendly chatter over the dining table is accompanied by the lively chirping of monk parakeets in the branches above.
There is nothing quite as mouth-watering as the smell of beef cooking on the parrilla (brick-built barbecue grill), alongside the performance of our expert chefs demonstrating the skill of preparing a delicious asado (beef-based barbecue).
A True Farm-to-Table Kitchen
Taking inspiration from our roots as a working cattle ranch, we have a genuine farm-to-table approach, using predominantly beef, eggs, fruit, and vegetables grown or produced on Los Potreros. The rest of our food is sourced from a nearby town, the intriguingly named Salsipuedes ("Leave if you can"), while our wines come from neighbouring vineyards.
Generations of Culinary Heritage
Most of our recipes have been passed down from generation to generation. Although heavily influenced by indigenous cultures, many have European origins and were originally brought over during a period of mass immigration to Argentina more than a century ago - between 1895 and 1914, the country's population doubled from four to eight million people, two million of whom were from Italy. As a result, Argentine cuisine carries strong Italian, Spanish, German, and even Arabic influences. At Los Pots, the Begg family's Scottish heritage also helps to shape the food we serve.
A Table That Brings People Together
Over the years, the long table in the estancia's dining room has witnessed the transient comings and goings of people from across the world. Our inclusive, communal meals encourage spirited conversations, providing the opportunity to swap stories from the past and make memories for the future. Excellent food and drinks, of course, play a vital role at the estancia today, just as they always have.