Cuisine of Asunción
Encyclopedia
The Cuisine of Asunción refers to the cuisine and restaurants of the city of Asunción
, Paraguay
. Compared to most of the Latin American capitals, the city has comparatively few European restaurants and influences in cuisine. However, international (including Italian, Chinese, Mexican and others) and traditional Paraguayan cuisines are available in various restaurants and hotels.
Meat
, especially beef
, is a staple food
of the Paraguayan diet. However, Asunción is different in some respects compared to the rest of Paraguay in that its top restaurant
s are more sophisticated and broader in culinary influences than in rural areas and smaller towns, where often only snack bar
s are available. Bradt Travel Guides
says of the eatery situation: "You can eat very well in Asuncion, and even vegetarians will find plenty of good salads to fill their plates, even in the churrasquerias (restaurants serving roast meals). But most restaurants and bars in the interior of the country are very basic. Most ordinary restaurants serve a small variety of meat dishes, accompanied by chips, rice salad, potato salad or a mixed salad (lettuce, tomato, onion). It is common to skip dessert entirely".
In Asunción, a special dish served in parillada, an upscale restaurant, is made of grilled meat served with manioc. Many of restaurants in the city serve Paraguayan cuisine, and many bars such as Bohemia, Bambuddha, Cafe Literarui, La Cubana and Coyote feature live music during the evenings.
However, in recent years the city has seen a marked increase in Asian influences
to cater to the many immigrants from the Pacific-Rim countries
, such as Japan
, China
and Korea
. Some restaurant such as La Vide Verde offer a stark alternative to the Paraguayan carvery
tradition by serving Chinese vegetarians dishes. Although compared to the capital cities of many of the other Latin American cities the diversity of cuisines on offer are less apparent, the European influence is clear restaurants such as Talleyrand which serves International cuisine and the Britannia Pub, a British pub
serving British cuisine and alcohol.
La Flor de la Canela serves Peruvian cuisine
, mainly fish and seafood dishes and ceviche
(marinated raw seafood). Some of the more upmarket restaurants with international cuisine available are located in some of the city's top hotels or in close proximity to them. The Excelsior Hotel for instance has a restaurant catering in Italian cuisine
, and the Quebrancho restaurant near La Misión Hotel matches the hotel in being one of the city's most expensive.
A few very expensive restaurants serve delicious river fish
surubi in many a combination, and one such is with a bed of broad beans and tomatoes. Asparagus
soup
with plenty of shredded carrot and onion sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, tilapia
in escargot sauce and filet steak with fresh mushroom and baby potatoes are also popular in these restaurants.
Some special dishes served in popular restaurants are sandwiches, curried rabbit
, garlic pizza
, surubí casa nostra (many types of different pasta on one dish), sopa paraguaya
(a combination with cheese and onion), Lebanese swamis (meat and spice wrapped in bread) in Monte Libano and ceviche
.
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
. Compared to most of the Latin American capitals, the city has comparatively few European restaurants and influences in cuisine. However, international (including Italian, Chinese, Mexican and others) and traditional Paraguayan cuisines are available in various restaurants and hotels.
Restaurant cuisine
Meat
Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal...
, especially beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
, is a staple food
Staple food
A staple food is one that is eaten regularly and in such quantities that it constitutes a dominant portion of a diet, and that supplies a high proportion of energy and nutrient needs. Most people live on a diet based on one or more staples...
of the Paraguayan diet. However, Asunción is different in some respects compared to the rest of Paraguay in that its top restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s are more sophisticated and broader in culinary influences than in rural areas and smaller towns, where often only snack bar
Snack bar
thumb|A snack bar in AmsterdamA snack bar usually refers to an inexpensive food counter that is part of a permanent structure where snack foods and light meals are sold. A beach snack bar is often a small building situated high on the sand. Besides soft drinks, candies and chewing gum, some snack...
s are available. Bradt Travel Guides
Bradt Travel Guides
Bradt Travel Guides is a publisher of travel guides founded by Hilary Bradt who was awarded an MBE in 2008 for services to the Tourist Industry and to Charity....
says of the eatery situation: "You can eat very well in Asuncion, and even vegetarians will find plenty of good salads to fill their plates, even in the churrasquerias (restaurants serving roast meals). But most restaurants and bars in the interior of the country are very basic. Most ordinary restaurants serve a small variety of meat dishes, accompanied by chips, rice salad, potato salad or a mixed salad (lettuce, tomato, onion). It is common to skip dessert entirely".
In Asunción, a special dish served in parillada, an upscale restaurant, is made of grilled meat served with manioc. Many of restaurants in the city serve Paraguayan cuisine, and many bars such as Bohemia, Bambuddha, Cafe Literarui, La Cubana and Coyote feature live music during the evenings.
However, in recent years the city has seen a marked increase in Asian influences
Asian cuisine
Asian cuisine styles can be broken down into several tiny regional styles that have roots in the peoples and cultures of those regions. The major types can be roughly defined as East Asian with its origins in Imperial China and now encompassing modern Japan and the Korean peninsula; Southeast Asian...
to cater to the many immigrants from the Pacific-Rim countries
Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim refers to places around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The term "Pacific Basin" includes the Pacific Rim and islands in the Pacific Ocean...
, such as Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. Some restaurant such as La Vide Verde offer a stark alternative to the Paraguayan carvery
Carvery
A carvery is a restaurant where cooked meat is freshly sliced to order for customers, sometimes offering unlimited servings for a fixed price...
tradition by serving Chinese vegetarians dishes. Although compared to the capital cities of many of the other Latin American cities the diversity of cuisines on offer are less apparent, the European influence is clear restaurants such as Talleyrand which serves International cuisine and the Britannia Pub, a British pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
serving British cuisine and alcohol.
La Flor de la Canela serves Peruvian cuisine
Peruvian cuisine
Peruvian cuisine reflects local cooking practices and ingredients—and, through immigration, influences from Spain, China, Italy, West Africa, and Japan. Due to a lack of ingredients from their home countries, immigrants to Peru modified their traditional cuisines by using ingredients...
, mainly fish and seafood dishes and ceviche
Ceviche
Ceviche is a seafood dish popular in the coastal regions of the Americas, especially Central and South America. The dish is typically made from fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juices such as lemon or lime and spiced with chilli peppers. Additional seasonings such as onion, salt,...
(marinated raw seafood). Some of the more upmarket restaurants with international cuisine available are located in some of the city's top hotels or in close proximity to them. The Excelsior Hotel for instance has a restaurant catering in Italian cuisine
Italian cuisine
Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Jewish and Arab cuisines...
, and the Quebrancho restaurant near La Misión Hotel matches the hotel in being one of the city's most expensive.
A few very expensive restaurants serve delicious river fish
Freshwater fish
Freshwater fish are fish that spend some or all of their lives in freshwater, such as rivers and lakes, with a salinity of less than 0.05%. These environments differ from marine conditions in many ways, the most obvious being the difference in levels of salinity...
surubi in many a combination, and one such is with a bed of broad beans and tomatoes. Asparagus
Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis is a spring vegetable, a flowering perennialplant species in the genus Asparagus. It was once classified in the lily family, like its Allium cousins, onions and garlic, but the Liliaceae have been split and the onion-like plants are now in the family Amaryllidaceae and...
soup
Soup
Soup is a generally warm food that is made by combining ingredients such as meat and vegetables with stock, juice, water, or another liquid. Hot soups are additionally characterized by boiling solid ingredients in liquids in a pot until the flavors are extracted, forming a broth.Traditionally,...
with plenty of shredded carrot and onion sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, tilapia
Tilapia
Tilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
in escargot sauce and filet steak with fresh mushroom and baby potatoes are also popular in these restaurants.
Some special dishes served in popular restaurants are sandwiches, curried rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
, garlic pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
, surubí casa nostra (many types of different pasta on one dish), sopa paraguaya
Sopa paraguaya
Sopa paraguaya is a traditional Paraguayan food. Literally meaning "Paraguayan soup", sopa paraguaya is similar to corn bread. Corn flour, pig fat, cheese and milk or whey are common ingredients. It is a spongy cake rich in caloric and protein content....
(a combination with cheese and onion), Lebanese swamis (meat and spice wrapped in bread) in Monte Libano and ceviche
Ceviche
Ceviche is a seafood dish popular in the coastal regions of the Americas, especially Central and South America. The dish is typically made from fresh raw fish marinated in citrus juices such as lemon or lime and spiced with chilli peppers. Additional seasonings such as onion, salt,...
.