Any tried and true foodie in Buenos Aires is an assiduous follower of Chef Diego Felix’s’ closed door restaurant, Casa Felix. Typically, however, his inspired pescatarian eats are only available a few months out of the year in Buenos Aires while the rest of the time, the Felix clan travels through Argentina, San Francisco, New York, Puerto Rico, and Latin America, generally, hosting closed door diners around the world. Luckily for all of us here in Buenos Aires, his contemporary yet distinctively regional fare can now be found in private events around the city as well thanks to the super exclusive Oasis Clubhouse.

Every other Wednesday in Oasis’ Palermo Soho location, Chef Felix is in-house serving-up a tapas menu perfect for accompanying cocktails. Rather than a sit down meal, these smaller events allow his strong Latin American influences to transform into an inspired selection of seafood tapas and finger foods, giving his loyal followers a new and exciting sampling of his culinary skills.

As with any Felix menu, ceviche is a must. His Peruvian causas with white fish ceviche and fresh apricots, in particular, does not disappoint. Succulent corn and grouper fish cakes awaken your appetite and the anticipation of more treats to come. On a recent visit, the surprise of the night was Colombian inspired steamed areppas with fresh fish, Portobello mushrooms, and cilantro. The savory selection finished with a white bean spread on homemade toasted bread with curated sardines, diced beetroot, and dill. For a touch of sweetness, the evening drew to a close with fragrant shortbread cookies and lavender ice cream. Throughout the evening Chef Felix helped serve his guests and make the rounds giving details of his food and inspiration, making it a one of a kind event in Buenos Aires and the perfect opening to an exciting summer season of eating.

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The big map of Buenos Aires that I have is covered in squiggly yellow highlighter lines marking the streets that Annette and I have walked. After a couple years of street walking (in the non-prostitute sense of the term), I began noticing a particular street artist whose style was different to anything I’d seen previously on walls.

Then I was exiting the subway and saw a guy on a ladder putting lines on a wall. He was just beginning the design, but the style looked familiar, so I approached him with my camera in hand and asked him, ‘Did you create this?’, showing him a photo of the piece that first caught my attention nearly a year before. He took a while to answer. I think he was trying to decide whether I was looking to blame or compliment him.

It was indeed the artist whose work I’d appreciated as we walked the squiggly yellow lines of the streets of Buenos Aires. His nickname is Aires Mart and here are a few of his contributions to this intriguing city.

Mariano Gilmore and Belle are a music and art duo formed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their first collective work is called Una Catarata de Caramelos (A Cascade of Candies), a limited edition of 500 handmade copies made and recorded in their home studio. In this album/art piece you can see the influence of the British and Argentinean music of the 60s. [Listen here]

Is ‘WTF’ becoming as much a part of the global vernacular as ‘OK?’ If so, these posters by Argentine designer Minga will be funny to people all over the world.

I’m always in awe when I see illustrations that catch the essence of a person and I am all the more puzzled when that works with just a few lines, colors and shapes. Pablo Lobato from Argentina is a master in this category. His celebrity portraits are amazing little masterpieces.

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Cement isn’t usually thought of as a light and airy material, but A4estudio’s Sobrino House in Mendoza, Argentina may change that with it’s relaxed, open, and earthy feel.

When it comes to great food memories, I find this one hard to beat. Argentina is a long way to go for a sensational meal, but if you happen to be travelling through South America any time soon, make sure you pay Almacen Del Sur a visit. This gourmet ‘delicatessen’ is located at the foot of the Andes in Maipu near Mendoza — Argentina’s wine region.

As well as making a whole range of yummy preserves which are exported all over the world, they also have a beautifully restored 19th century farmhouse and a ‘cave gourmet’, where you can kick back and enjoy a spectacular degustation. Of course, being Argentina, it’s heavy on the carne. So visit on an empty stomach, and don’t even think about cycling through the wineries afterwards.

Argentine art duo Toba Toba makes fantastical dioramas and installations that look like scenes from an extra-terrestrial nature documentary full of glowing, marble-eyed animals, luminous plants, and florescent colors.

Argentine illustrator Juan Weiss makes great use of pattern and texture in his surreal images. His treatment of every day people and common animals such as milk cows and pigeons imbues his subject with a mythic power.

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El Bolson is a beautiful village located in a fertile valley at the Comarca Andina, near Bariloche, in Argentina. Close to national parks and Los Andes, it’s a perfect place to stay before starting a trek trough lakes, rivers and the mountains. In the town, you can enjoy good music, handicraft market in Plaza Pagano, delicious local ice-creams, and the view of Piltry Mountain.

The city is a small refuge of hippie souls. If you want to try this atmosphere, a good way is to camp near the Quemquemtreu River. If you like organic food, and to sleep in the forest, Carlota and Mario can offer you a nice place to stay at Ni Nada Camp, where you will learn more about organic farms. Music is always present in the village, and you can go out on all nights to listen local bands.

Osv Aldo Furrer Vigneaux welcomed me into his small kitchen with enthusiastic hand gestures and a warm smile. He was stocky, balding and bounced when he walked. It was unassuming and homely. There were several medium sized pots on the stove and a young woman at the sink. It opened to a larger guest area that was filled with natural light. We spoke about his many dips and liquors. He had particular favourites and passionately informed me of the flavours and the inspirations of each. I was particularly interested in the pink coloured liquor containing a rose petal. He assured me I could taste it but first wanted to show me his ‘baby olive trees’.

Ovs’s eyes widened and glinted as he gently fingered the young saplings leaves. ‘You see the Greek olives? They are much larger than the Argentine olives.’ ‘When did you start the olive farm?’ I asked. His eyes narrowed, ‘Oh, many years ago. It was at first a hobby but then I suffered, how you say … a breakdown. I was ordered to stop working and change lifestyle.’

Curious, I pushed ahead, ‘What were you doing before the farm?’ ‘Ahhhh …’ he said, eyes widening again, ‘I was engineer at global firm. Very stressful, but we don’t talk about that now, we eat!’

I tasted while Osv spoke about his wife and daughters. They had moved from Buenos Aries and now lived on the farm. He seemed happy and I admired him. ‘Now …’ he said, reaching for the pink liquor ‘this is special present I make my wife for 25th wedding anniversary.’ He poured a small amount in a shot glass ‘you must smell first. Smell.’ It smelt sweet like a warm spring evening. ‘Now you taste’ he said raising his glass. ‘Cheers.’

It tasted like perfume floating in the air and I told him so. ‘Haha, yes, yes, wife very happy.’ He laughed. ‘You are very happy, no?’ I questioned.
‘Yes, happy and fat!’ he said giggling his stomach. We both laughed.

Drawing from art nouveau, classical mythology, and surrealism, Argentinian illustrator Santiago Caruso creates some of the most arresting images I’ve seen in a while. His illustrated version of H. P. Lovecraft’s short story The Dunwich Horror perfectly visualizes the late horror writer’s words.

For those that dream of spending their days on their own vineyard somewhere, Algodon Wine Estates helps to make that fantasy real – sort of. Set in Argentina’s wine producing region of Mendoza, where the snow-capped Andes irrigate the vineyards, Algodon Wine Estates offers vintner wannabes a chance to create, tend to, visit, taste, brand, and then take home, their own barrel of Argentinean wine.

Here’s how it works: first, choose your preferred flavor oak barrel (doesn’t everyone have one?) and then select the grape varieties you fancy, from Malbec to Merlot and many in between. Wait a year before heading down to Argentina to visit the vineyard, taste your own creation, and make plans for your 290 bottles to make it home – all while staying on the estate or a nearby resort. From vine to barrel, every step is included in the price and while it’s undoubtedly cheaper than purchasing your own vineyard, at costs upwards from $5,500, it’s definitely pricier than that duty-free wine you’re used to.

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Dario Argento’s 1982 film Tenebre isn’t a typical Argento film. Shot in icy, pastel colors, the film remains rather subdued throughout, saving the real over-the-top craziness for the very end, which is worth waiting through the ridiculous twists and improbable plot for. The soundtrack by ex-Goblin members is also worth checking out.

Sonotipo is a Buenos Aires-based band that produce a smooth combination of pop, rock and electronic music. Somewhat dark and melancholic, their music has a sweet beat to it that makes you want to dance all night long. Ciro Cavalotti and Sebastian Quintana are the musicians behind it, with guest musicians such as the Argentinian legend Daniel Melero.

We checked in recently with New York based Argentinean illustrator, Fernanda Cohen. How’s the illustration scene in New York at the moment? ‘Over crowded, sometimes repetitive and predictable, but there are always jewels here and there. I believe most of the emerging stars in the illustration field in the past few years came out of New York, mostly SVA graduates’. What colours to you tend to gravitate towards? ‘Aqua Green’. Is there a time of the day you feel most creative? ‘Between 2 am and 6 am’. What’s usually playing on your stereo when you’re illustrating? ‘Languis, Jens Lekman, Belle and Sebastian, The Lovers, and Françoise Hardy’.

Argentinean artist Benito Laren’s illustrations roll through the mind like a restless childhood memory. They remind me of building blocks — solid, inviting and always full of potential.

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