Empanadas

After 3 days of r&r at Amelia’s, we headed north-west on another overnight bus to the capital of … Empanadas! Empanadas are everywhere in Argentina, but everyone seems to agree the best ones are found in Salta.

We didn’t go to Salta for the empanadas. But when in Rome …

Standard varieties are carne, pollo and jamon y queso. Now and then, you’ll actually get a vegetable inside like spinach or swiss chard. Some places get really creative. Recently we tried quinoa, onion and cheese. Outstanding. The ones in Salta Province do seem to be the best we’ve tried. This is partially because they are made fresh and served piping hot with a fantastic, homemade, salsa picante.

This is not fast food. If you’re ordering para llavar, you’ll have to wait at least 15 minutes while they make and bake them in a wood fire oven. We did encounter a few places who made from frozen. Cheaters.

Besides eating our weight in empanadas, we also hiked 1000+ steps up to Cerro San Bernardo, the hill just outside of town. There’s a sweet park, manmade waterfalls and teleferico.

And, we visited the small, but interesting Bellas Artes Museum.

And, hit a vegan restaurant.

And, more.

Next stop, Cafayate!