The Absolute Best Of Argentinian Empanadas In Texas
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Did you know that in the Tucuman province of Argentina, there is an annual festival dedicated to the empanada? The Argentines are mighty proud of their empanadas, and rightly so. They want you to have the best possible experience of eating one, and that is the ‘leitmotiv’ of Argentinian taste, a brand that produces and serves one of the finest Argentinian delicacies.
Born and brought up in Buenos Aires, Dan Barreto was passionate about Argentinian cuisine since a young age. From very early on, she decided to go for it and pursue her dream. Holding a graduate’s degree from the Gato Dumas chef school, a Masters in bakery, and the experience of running her own successful business back in Argentina, Dan moved to Austin TX and made it her home.
“I frequently visited Austin before moving here for good because this is where my in-laws live. So, the city is like a second home to me.”, says Dan. “We can really relate to the Texan barbecue as we share the same passion for the taste of grilled meat back in Argentina in the Asado”.
“Observing how Austin is a cosmopolitan city with lots of ‘foodies’ excited to try new flavors and products, I just knew I had to bring a part of Argentina here to Austin and share our love for the food”.
“We started working on several farmer’s markets! The best part about the markets is interacting with our customers directly and watching their reaction when they try our creations. That is the “fuel” we use to develop new products on a regular basis”.
What Were The Challenges You Faced While Establishing The Argentinian Taste?
At the beginning the hardest part was getting the raw materials to recreate authentic Argentinian recipes and flavors to perfection, but we were successful in sourcing them.
Alfajores De Chocolate at Argentinian Taste. Photo Courtesy of Argentinian Taste.
Can You Share With Us Some Secrets For Making The Perfect Empanada?
In Argentina, there are more than 10 different kinds of empanadas, with different fillings and cooking methods. One major secret behind the perfect empanada is that everybody is involved! The kids usually prepare the olives and eggs while the grownups help with the disc preparation. We then bake or deep fry them as per individual preferences.
Baked Spicy Empanadas at Argentinian Taste. Photo Courtesy of Argentinian Taste.
What Are The Best Offerings From Argentinian Taste That Are Always In Demand?
Our empanadas are hands down our bestselling product. The Alfajores (Dark Chocolate and Gluten Free)- delicate cookies filled with dulce de leche, always sell like hot cakes and there is certainly demand for our much-loved ChimiChurri sauce. We tried hard to achieve recipes that we are proud of and it shows!
What Is It About Argentinian Taste That Sets It Apart From Other Bakeries?
The 3 main pillars we stand on are:
Products: We ONLY use the best raw materials, premium quality, with no preservatives or chemical substances. It’s the only way to obtain a high quality and authentic product.
Experience: We want to give customers a part of Argentina when they bite into our products.
ChimiChurri Sauce at Argentinian Taste. Photo Courtesy of Argentinian Taste.
Customer Service: From the moment you order one of our products, we strive to provide the best customer service possible. We are glad to arrange the finest details of a birthday party, business meeting, or even a wedding, so that every guest enjoys the true taste from Argentina.
You Also Offer Coaching Lessons For Passionate Bakers-Kids And Adults. This Is Remarkably Interesting. Could You Share A Proud Moment When One Of Your Students Re-Created One Of Your Recipes Perfectly?
I remember one day a customer asked me to teach her daughters how to make empanadas. Naturally, I was really thrilled to take my flavors and culture to a new home!
The 3 little girls readily worked on the dough and with each other’s assistance added the fillings. We made beef, jam and cheese and the excitement with which they waited while the empanadas cooked was something else! The empanadas came out wonderfully and the satisfaction shared by the girls was very rewarding for me. Children are eager learners and their curiosity to try new experiences is contagious!
How Has COVID-19 Affected Your Business?
Our business was really affected by this crisis, we saw almost a 95% decline in revenue, especially in Business Catering sector, our main revenue stream.
We are looking forward to continuing with the farmer’s markets as soon as state, county, and city restrictions are lifted. As almost all other businesses, we are offering free delivery and take-away options from our commercial kitchen.
Are There Any COVID-19 Special Offers You Would Like To Share With Our Readers?
Yes! We are doing a special discount when ordered by the dozen: 15% off on frozen empanadas, or a 10% off on Alfajores. We also offer free delivery in Bee Cave/Lakeway for both frozen or warm or ready to eat empanadas.
Where Can We Find Argentinian Taste Products In Austin, Tx?
Right now you can find Argentinian Taste products on our website:
www.ArgentinianTaste.com
We are usually at the:
Lakeline Texas Farmers Market: Cedar Park, TX - Saturdays 9am-1pm
LoneStar Farmer’s Market: Bee Cave, TX - Sundays 10am-2pm
Hoekstra Bros Store in Spicewood, TX
If reading this interview has you dreaming of Argentinian cuisine, you know where to get it from!
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