Empanadas and traditional Argentinian pastry class with a pastry chef

Meet Florencia

Florencia grew up in the La Plata region, about 40-minutes south of Buenos Aires. The child of a large family of six children, Florencia remembers cooking in their kitchen at the age of 4, and that food and cooking was an integral part of growing up. Her grandmother in particular absolutely loved cooking, and every weekend when the family gathered for family meals Florencia would join her grandmother in the kitchen to help prepare. Florencia liked cooking so much that a few years ago she decided she wanted to do it more professionally and she began studying to be a pastry chef. She says, “It was a struggle to leave aside my other studies, but my grandma was a great inspiration. I just love food. When you cook you put so much of yourself, and so much love, into the food. It is such a beautiful bonding experience to be able to give to someone.” After finishing her pastry and advanced pastry degrees, Florencia recently left her job at the embassy to follow her passion for food and now creates pastries and cakes full-time for weddings and other events. <br> <br> Florencia lives with her husband Patricio, who grew up not only in Buenos Aires but in the same building where they live now! Patricio's parents live in the same building. Florencia says Patricio loves eating and loves food, and that is why he married her!

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal (1 - 4 guests) Join Florencia for a traditional Argentinian meal in her apartment in Barracas, a traditional, centrally-located neighborhood in Buenos Aires. Florencia’s home is on the main avenue of Barracas in a large apartment on the building’s eighth floor. Start your experience with an appetizer of small homemade empanadas, which might be filled with mozzarella with caramelized onions or spinach and ricotta, or a traditional picada, a platter of assorted meats and cheeses. Argentinian cuisine often focuses around the country’s high-quality meat and your main menu will feature some of the region’s delicious meat offerings (although Florencia is also happy to cook vegetarian if you like). You might enjoy dishes like beef milanesa (meat finely cut and breaded) topped with cheese and homemade tomato sauce, Florencia’s husband’s favorite dish, or tender succulent roast beef served with a side of roasted vegetables and a salad. As Florencia says, Argentinian meats are the best, so the preparation is often incredibly simple. To end, enjoy a homemade dessert that Florencia, a trained pastry chef, will have prepared in advance. Your dessert might be a dulce de leche trifle, dark chocolate mousse, or Queen’s tart, a traditional buttery quince tarte from the north of Argentina.

Cooking experience (1 - 4 guests) Join Florencia in her Buenos Aires apartment for a traditional Argentinian pastry cooking class in which you will learn to cook something savory (empanadas) as well as sweet. Begin your experience with a small picada (a traditional Argentinian meat and cheese platter) and welcome drink. Then you will begin making your empanadas, starting with making the dough and preparing one filling from scratch. Your filling might be traditional ground beef with spices and onions, caprese (tomato, basil and mozzarella), or humita (a northern Argentinian filling with corn and a béchamel-like sauce). While the empanadas are cooking, begin to make your pastry dish. You will learn to make two or more traditional Argentinian pastries such alfajores or membricho tart. Then sit down to enjoy your sweet and savory creations together! (4-5 hours total experience)

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