Hi, my name is Brian and I’m addicted to choripán. I can remember my first choripán like it was yesterday. I had been shopping for bombillas in La Boca and while looking out at the “splendor” of the Riachuelo I smelled something glorious. I walked toward a barbeque pit like a zombie after fresh flesh arms extended and all. I bought the sandwich and doused it with chimichuri and salsa criolla. I paid the woman and thanked her. I wanted to kiss her but she was missing a few teeth and I had a sandwich to eat. After my first bite I had to sit down and I think I started crying, I’m not sure because time slowed down. I knew after the third choripán that I had discovered something balefully delicious.
I now can’t control myself when I am anywhere near the bbq carts that litter the Costanera sur (see map below). I feel like I’m missing out if I don’t try at least one. What is choripán? The beauty of this sandwich is its simplicity-chorizo, French bread, chimichuri, salsa criolla. Choripán is very common in Argentina, Uruguay, & Chile. It’s said that in the eighteenth century the Gauchos living in rural Argentina would eat chorizos in bread during celebrations. (Gauchos are like cowboys and were common in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, & Uruguay). There are three main types: pork, beef, and blood sausage. These sandwiches are very common in Buenos Aires. They’re also very inexpensive as well. You shouldn’t pay more than eight pesos for a choripán. If eating at a nice parilla with an elaborate selection of beef I would hold off on ordering a choripán. There are a ton of food carts around the city that sell them and you should probably wait to order one when you’re hanging out around town (I’ve never gotten sick yet from the food carts here).
Chorizo – there are a few types available at most carnecerias: pork (cerdo), cow (criolla), & blood sausage (morcilla)
Chimichuri –garlic, oil, vinegar, chilies, salt, oregano, pepper, thyme, laurel, onions, & parsley
Salsa criolla – a mixture of red onions, peppers (red or green), tomatoes, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, & cumin
(map of La Costanera Buenos Aires) https://maps.google.com.ar/maps?hl=es&client=safari&rls=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=costanera+buenos+aires&fb=1&gl=ar&hq=costanera&hnear=Ciudad+Autónoma+de+Buenos+Aires,+Capital+Federal&ei=d0DXTN_yIsKB8ga3xIGSCQ&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CAQQtgMwAA
