Port of Call: Learning About La Plata, Argentina

Each month, residents in participating affiliated communities will learn and immerse themselves in a different culture through fun activities, interesting facts, and delicious cuisine through the Port of Call program. For the month of August, the Port of Call is to La Plata, Argentina! Come find out more about La Plata and how the residents at the participating affiliated communities plan to celebrate this month.

About La Plata

La Plata is a South American city in eastern Argentina located southeast of the Argentinian capital city of Buenos Aires. La Plata sits just inland of the Samborombón Bay, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.¹ Argentina was founded by Juan Díaz de Solís in 1516. In the mid to late-1500s, settlers from the Spanish colonies of Chile, Peru, and Paraguay.² About three centuries later, a large influx of Italians immigrated to Argentina.³

Currently, there are over 45 million people living in Argentina. La Plata is Argentina’s twentieth most populous city with over 195,000 people.⁴ While there is not an official language, Spanish is the most spoken language in Argentina. It is also common for some Argentinians to speak Italian, English, and German.⁵ La Plata has a mild climate with the average temperature at 62.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and an average rainfall of 3.26 inches a month.⁶

Things to Do in La Plata

La Plata is a beautiful city with a diverse history, gorgeous scenery, and historical sites to explore! One attraction you can visit is Catedral de la Plata. The Catedral de la Plata, located in Moreno Square, is a historical Neo-Gothic church built in 1884.⁷ You can learn more about the Church’s history by visiting their museum. After taking a tour of the museum, you can take an elevator to the top of the church and see the city’s beautiful views.

If you love science or are looking for a family-friendly place, you could visit the Planetario Ciudad de La Plata. The Planetario is a globe-shaped building located in northeastern La Plata. During your visit, you can choose from three different tours. On the Institutional tour, visitors learn about the history of the building and have the opportunity to see the library, park, and telescopes. The Thematic tour consists of a video presentation on astronomy, geophysics, or meteorology. Finally, the Night tour gives visitors the chance to look through telescopes and make astronomical observations.⁸

If you enjoy the fine arts, you could go to the Teatro Municipal Coliseo Podesta in central La Plata. The theater was built in 1886 and later abandoned in 1971. It was later reopened in 1986 and continues to serve as a venue for theatrical productions. There are a variety of shows that you can watch as well as take a tour of the theater’s museum where you will learn about the theater’s history.⁹

Food in Argentina

Argentinian cuisine is heavily influenced by Spanish and Italian immigrants who settled in present-day Argentina in the late 19^th to mid-20^th centuries.¹⁰ Spaniards introduced new crops and ways of cooking, which resulted in Argentinian empanadas. Italians brought over pasta, pizza, and Milanese or Milanesa.¹¹ Today, typical Argentinian meals consist of beef or pasta, and vegetables.¹²

Here are some of Argentina’s traditional dishes:

Picada is a traditional Argentinian appetizer that is similar to a charcuterie board. Picada is made up of sliced meats, cheeses, and olives. It is often served alongside a glass of wine.¹³
Medialunas are a traditional breakfast meal that is very similar to croissants. Medialunas are sweet, moist, and sometimes topped with a rum and sugar glaze. They are served alongside a cup of coffee.¹⁴
Asado is one of Argentina’s most popular dishes. Asado consists of grilled and sliced beef, pork, sausages, and ribs with chimichurri sauce on top.¹⁵
Empanadas are baked or fried dough that can be filled with meat, cheese, sweet potato paste, or dulce de leche. Argentinians enjoy empanadas for lunch or dinner.¹⁶
Alfajores are a classic Argentinian dessert that consists of two or 3 biscuits with dulce de leche, mousse, or fruit jam.¹⁷

Our Menu

The affiliated Dietary Departments at the participating communities create menus centered on each Port of Call city and country. Please keep in mind that these recipes are tailored for the communities but feel free to adjust the quantities to fit your needs. This menu is subject to change. Check out these Argentinian inspired recipes below!

Fire Roasted Corn Salad

1 CAN of Corn, Poblano and Fire-Roasted Onions
3 TBSP of Paprika
1 CUP of Brown Sugar
2 CUPS of Mayonnaise
½ CUP of Lime Juice
½ CUP of Vinegar
1 CUP of Vegetable Oil
2 CUPS of Chopped Cilantro
1 TBSP of Salt
1 TBSP of Ground Black Pepper
2 TBSP of Minced Garlic

Method:

Combine corn vegetable mix with oil, sugar, salt, and pepper and mix well. Lay flat on a sheet pan over parchment paper.
Roast in a 350 F oven for 25 minutes. Then, remove from oven and cool down completely.
Combine corn vegetable mix with all other ingredients and fold gently. Cover, label, and refrigerate until needed.

Pork Milanesa, Tomato Gravy, with Red Cabbage Slaw and Roasted Chimichurri Potatoes:

Pork Loin Milanesa

50 Pork Loin Sliced ½” thick
2 TBSP of Salt
2 TBSP of Ground Black Pepper
5 CUPS of Panko Bread Crumbs
2 CUPS of Grated Parmesan
1 CUP of Dried Parsley
2 CUPS of Mayonnaise
1 CUP of Dijon Mustard
2 TBSP of Granulated Garlic

Method:

Lay each slice of pork under plastic film and pound gently to slightly flatten.
Combine mayonnaise and mustard and coat all flattened pork slices.
Combine bread crumbs, parmesan, parsley, garlic and seasoning, and mix well. Coat both sides of each slice with bread mix.
Lay on a sheet pan over parchment paper. Then bake in a 350f oven for 35 minutes or until breading is fully golden brown.

Tomato Gravy:

1 #10 CAN of Marinara Sauce
1 PACKAGE of Pork Brown Gravy Powder
1 TEASP of Salt
1 TEASP of Ground Black Pepper
10 CUPS of Water
2 CUPS of Red Wine
2 CUPS of Diced Yellow Onions
2 TBSP of Minced Garlic
5 TBSP of Olive Oil

Method:

Combine brown gravy and water in a sauce pan and bring to a simmer. Set aside.
In another saucepan, heat oil and sauté onion and garlic until translucent. Then deglaze with red wine.
Add marinara and brown sauce and mix well. Season and lower heat to simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with pork.

Chimichurri Potatoes:

15 LBS of Gold Size B Potatoes Cut in Half
2 CUPS of Olive Oil
1 CUP of Fresh Stem and Leaves Cilantro
1 CUP of Fresh Stem and Leaves Parsley
1 CUP of Red Wine Vinegar
3 TBSP of Chopped Garlic
1 TBSP of Salt
1 TBSP of Ground Black Pepper
1 CUP of Mayonnaise

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a blender and process into a saucy consistency.
Combine sauce with potatoes and coat well. Cover it and set aside to marinate for an hour.
Lay evenly on a sheet pan over wax paper and roast in a 350F oven for 45 minutes.

Nutella Sugar Cookies:

100 1.33 Ounce Sugar Cookie Dough
50 Nutella Jars

Method:

Bake cookies according to box instructions and serve with hazelnut Nutella.

Activities for the Port of Call

The Life Enrichment Departments at the affiliated communities will offer fun and engaging activities that celebrate the culture of La Plata, Argentina! All activities are subject to change and these lists are not final. Here are some examples of the activities the affiliated communities plan to offer.

Midtown Oaks

Midtown Oaks plans on making a paper plate llama craft and decorating sombreros. They also plan on cooking beef empanadas and Fugazza (Argentinian Focaccia). Lastly, they plan on playing a soccer game.

Saber Healthcare

Saber Healthcare is an organization that provides consulting services to more than 130 buildings across the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, and Delaware. To learn more about our company and services, click here.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long-term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

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