Little Uruguay, sandwiched between
Argentina and
Brazil, is a Latin American success story. It ranks first in the region for democracy, peace, and press freedom, and has legalized marijuana, same-sex marriage, and abortion. Sure, Uruguay is often overshadowed by its larger neighbors, but travelers who do visit are generously rewarded with coastal breezes, fine wines, and excellent cuisine.
Uruguay is also the home of the world's best sandwich: EL CHIVITO!!! I don't say this lightly, but after trying one at El Carrito in Colonia del Sacramento, I can positively confirm that the chivito is a superior sandwich. It's filled with a thick slice of beefsteak (churrasco) and piled high with grilled ham, bacon, fried egg, melted mozzarella, tomato, lettuce, onion, olives, corn, green peas, pickled chile peppers, and mayonnaise on a toasted bun. Seriously, though, take a look at this thing and tell me it isn't glorious!
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El Chivito -- the best sandwich in the world! Mi Carrito, Colonia, 2019
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| Colonia del Sacramento, 2009 |
Colonia del Sacramento is a beautiful seaside resort town, just a short one-hour boat ride away from Buenos Aires. Its cobblestone streets, cute cafes, and relaxed pace make it the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city. I've visited Uruguay twice, first in 2009 and again in 2019. Both times I came to Colonia, it was fun to retrace my steps a decade later, albeit with a bit more cash in my wallet, as well as a mission to find the best steak in town. And we found it —a gigantic beast of a tomahawk steak served perfectly medium-rare at
Charco Bistro, accompanied by roasted sweet potatoes and pumpkin mousse, and perfectly paired with a glass of local Tannat wine. We ate a lot of steaks on this trip through Argentina,
Chile, and now Uruguay, but I think this tomahawk was the best one of all, and I wholeheartedly give it five stars of grilled excellence. In fact, it was so good that we came back the next day to eat another one before heading back to Buenos Aires!
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| Tomahawk -- the best steak of the trip! Charco Bistró, Colonia, 2019 |
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| Grilled prawns, Charco Bistró, Colonia, 2019 |
We spent the rest of our time in Colonia, wandering around the old city and exploring the cafes and shops that line the main street. It's a very relaxed place, and things here move slowly; there's no rush to see or do anything (except eat the tomahawk steak!). Even the street dogs are calm and happy to follow anyone, locals and tourists alike, just for the company and the chance that some food might come their way. I really enjoyed returning to Uruguay for the second time, and it might not be my last time either!
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| A chill buddy that friended us for the day in Colonia, 2019 |
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Colonia del Sacramento, 2009
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