Lets Eat Out at...

Gaucho Grill
121 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena

Chef Jose Olvera prepares authentic Argentine barbecue.

The food of Argentina is distinctive in South America because of its stong resemblance to Italian, Spanish, French and other European cuisines rather than the other Latin American cuisines. Gaucho Grill features the classic food of Argentina — asado (barbecued meat) is well prepared to order by Chef Jose Olvera.

Argentina cuisine has been greatly influenced by the classic European cuisines due to the many European immigrants living in the country. Another determining factor in Argentine cuisine is that Argentina is one of the world’s major food producers, especially beef. Argentines are famous for their high-protein diet, particularly beef that is grilled, with steak and beef ribs the most common. For example, just as much as beef, Italian staples such as pizza and al dente pasta are eaten and Gelato is popular also.

The sweet paste, dulce de leche, is another of the national obsessions and is used to fill cakes and pancakes, spread over toasted bread for breakfast or as an ice cream. In Patagonia, lamb and goat are eaten more than beef with Chimichurri sauce made with herbs and chili the usual seasoning for any of the grilled meats and sausages.

At Gaucho Grill, you can get into the spirit of Argentina with an appetizer such as chorizo Argentina (grilled sausage) or a tasty beef empanada. For a touch of the Italian influence, try a cup of delicious minestrone soup. The Manager’s Special Salad with grilled chicken breast, lettuce, tomatoes, white beans, rice, cheese and special dressing is a nice choice for an entrée salad, as is the steak salad with spiced and grilled filet mignon, zucchini, baby greens, tomatoes, bleu cheese and balsamic dressing.

Argentine sandwiches are also popular. I suggest the Lomito con queso (grilled filet mignon with Provolone cheese and roasted red peppers). From the entrée list, I suggest Entrana a la Parrilla (classic spiced Argentine 10-ounce grilled skirt steak), bife de chorizo (12- ounce spiced and grilled New York steak), pollo al carbon (marinated half of chicken grilled on the bone), lomo Argentino (classic grilled filet mignon), pollo Deshuesado (grilled marinated double chicken breast) served with rice and salad, or Cuban chicken paliar (chicken breast, pounded thin, grilled and served with sautéed onions in a light mustard sauce) served with rice and black beans. The specialties reflect the Italian influence featuring beef or chicken Milanese (lightly breaded and fried), spinach-and-cheese ravioli, and spinach cannelloni. Pollo al Champignon offers a bit of French flavor as well.

There are several fish selections too. Side orders accompanying the entrees include grilled zucchini, sautéed broccoli, sautéed spinach, green beans, black beans, grilled onions, French fries, mashed potatoes and rice.

For dessert you can enjoy flan con dulce de leche, chocolate soufflé cake, tiramisu or ice cream.

Gaucho Grill offers variety to Pasadena’s Old Town restaurants and will not disappoint if you are in the mood for a casual restaurant with good grilled meats.

For more information, call 626-683-3580 and take a little trip to Argentina and the cuisine of the Gauchos.