Good Eats: ARGENTINEAN FOOD!! (Cancun, Mexico)

CAMBALACHE RESTAURANTE

LINK: http://www.mytravelguide.com/restaurants/profile-79299005-Mexico_Cancun_Cambalache.html

We had our Anniversary dinner at Cambalache, an Argentinean restaurant last night. The place looked great - high ceilings, interior painted with a mixture of earth-tones/mustard/burnt-umber/clay colors. Lamps with old steel sewing machine bases, giving off a muted orangey glow. Large, comfy couches. Wine racks on the walls. It reminded me a bit of being in a spacious, but warm study. The food? Even better. Our waiter didn't just tell us their Specials for the night. He showed it to us. When we told him that we wanted steaks, he brought along a showcase of different selection of raw meats so well know exactly what kind and what size of cut we were getting. For starters, they prepared the Caesar Salad by our table. I didn't even bat an eyelash during the short demonstration - I wanted to know exactly just how much anchovies, shaved parmesan/reggiano cheese and garlic they were putting together (I wanted to make it at home!). P. ordered the "Mother-of-All-Steaks" (Porterhouse) with Baked Potato and Creamed Spinach (Sides are priced extra), and I had the Skirt Steak with Hearts of Palm Salad. We also ordered Grilled Veggies to share. What was cool was that when we deemed a slice of bloody steak too raw for our taste, instead of bringing it back to the kitchen, the waiter brought out a hot iron-cast plate so it could cook on our table instead. S. had the Corn and Cheese Empanada which she hardly even touched. Since she had developed a mild sunburn around her peri-orbital area, she wasn't really in a mood to party. Besides, she was all pooped-out from our trip to Isla Mujeres earlier during the day.

It didn't take long for her to finally give in to the inviting softness of her couch. We were so stuffed, I couldn't even look at the caramel crepe they brought for dessert. We left soon after or a much needed rest...