GRIP, Internships Abroad Comida Por Peso

Social Impact in Buenos Aires - Buenos Aires, Argentina

In my time in Buenos Aires, I have started making myself at home. I’ve fallen into familiar routines. For example, each workday around 1 PM, I start making my way to my favorite lunch place. A few blocks away, the owner of the restaurant greets me with a smile. Immediately, I am delighted with the variety of food available to me. I ask myself what I want as to not try everything. I fill a to-go container and make my way back to the office to eat with colleagues.

Comida por peso (food by weight) has quickly become my favorite way to eat in Buenos Aires. Food is served buffet-style. Customers pay by weight for the food they choose. Hot plates brimming with empanadas, pizza, pasta, chow mein, and spring rolls make that choice difficult. Each meal, even at the same place, can be unique. I enjoy the novelty of trying new dishes each day. Plus, for someone whose diet consisted of dining hall food for the past year, buffet-style food provides some familiarity in a new city. Coming back to work with a plate of warm food makes the chilly trek to the restaurant worth it.

Comida por peso has also deepened my understanding of Argentina. I have learned that, like the United States, Argentina is a country of immigrants. My favorite comida por peso place, for example, is run by a Chinese-Argentine. Her food reflects the waves of newly-arrived Argentines. Alfredo pasta from the Italians, squash and cheese empanadas from the Spanish, and egg fried rice from the Chinese remind me of the unique cultural heritage of Buenos Aires. Like the US, Argentina has become a melting pot for various cultures. For me, food has become a delicious cultural education. Going off the beaten path into my hole-in-the-wall comida por peso place has both educated me and fed me.

The other day, I bought a fortune cookie to finish off my lunch of empanadas and tartas. Inside, it read “he who knows he has enough is rich.” Every time I finish a plate of delicious comida por peso, I feel rich.