Day 41: River of Painted Birds

Uruguay, the second smallest country in South America, gets its name from the Uruguay River, which means river of painted birds. Uruguay breaks a number of norms for South America: it is the most democratic, has the highest literacy rate in the world, and is one of the least religious countries in South America, with less than half of Uruguayans ascribing to any religion. As such, they have renamed their many of their formerly religious holidays to secular names; Christmas is now family day and Easter is now tourism week.
Beef Done Right
Entraña is a classic Uruguayan recipe of skirt steak and chimichurri.
In a country where cows outnumber people, four to one, you would expect them to know a thing or two about cooking beef. My usual experience in any kind of steak house leaves much to be desired. The waiter asks how I want my steak. I reply, "medium rare." To which they explain to me what medium rare means--trust me, people who walk in and say medium rare knows what it means. Then the steak comes out somewhere just north of medium and I think to myself that for the money, I could have made a better steak myself.
The perfect combination: skirt steak seared over a hot fire and topped with chimichurri
When we went Saldivia's, Houston's only restaurant to serve Uruguayan food, it was a different story. The waiter asked how we wanted our entraña (South American style skirt steak). He gave a knowing smile of approval when, unrehearsed, as a group we said, "medium rare." His reply: "of course." There are few times where how I imagined a food to be prepared is exactly how it was prepared. It was as if the chef read my mind, and it was glorious.
Saldivia's also offers a wide selection of Uruguayan and Argentinian wines. If you want to feel like a high roller, reserve their private dining room in the wine cellar.
Our interview with Houston’s most interesting restaurateur has been more than a year in the making. We have this much awaited conversation on site at her new restaurant, Horn of Africa.
Grab a shawarma at Alsafa, the first halal meat market in Katy.
Phoenicia: a Houston food institution and a “museum of food” that every Houstonian should explore.
Explore the first and oldest Japanese market in Houston, and grab a cream puff while you’re there.
The intrepid explorers sailed around the world and brought back exotic new foods from the Americas while leaving their stamp on the world as far as the Philippines. With plenty of tapas to choose from and some of the only Moroccan food it the city, you need to add Andalusia to your list.
Nepal is where the East meets the West, and the North meets the South. It is also where the Sky meets the land. With the world's highest peak, Nepalis have their own time zone and have an independent spirit that has never been conquered.
Explore a Japanese market new to West Houston, and grab some ingredients to make something tasty and traditional (like Miso Soup)!
Cafe Brussels is not only the final outpost for Belgian food, but is also a cultural hub for Belgians and several other networks of Europeans who live here in Houston.
Whatever you think you know about Asian flavor profiles, forget it. Korean food has its own unique blend. Although it is often reduced to kimchi and Korean BBQ, or not the fried chicken craze (both notable food categories in their own right), today, we go to Go Hyang, which means something to the equivalent of "My Home Cooking"
One of our resident Venezuelans and long-tim fellow adventurer, Gerardo, explains Venezuelan Christmas food and the culture that surrounds this event.