The beef is the primary Argentine dish. Their version of the barbecue is called asado (beef grilled on an open fire pit) and it's a must when you gather with family and friends on weekends. Besides the meat itself it's also very common to eat spicy sausages (chorizo), kidneys (riñones), and sweetbreads (molleja). Bread and salad are the perfect side dishes. During the week days, they prefer to eat milanesas (breaded meat filets).

Being as appreciated as meat, the Italian food and its traditional pasta are also quite common. Though the variety is big, the top dishes are spaghettis (fideos), gnochis and delicious filled pasta such as sorrentinos, canelones and lasagnas. Last but not least, the pizza is always welcome and in Argentina they taste really superb and there are lots of toppings.

The traditional cuisine is called criolla and is represented by the empanadas – salty pastries which can be filled with meat, chicken, ham and cheese, etc. The regional cuisine offers dishes such as matambre (rolled stuffed steak cut in slices and served cold), locro and carbonada (meat and vegetable stews).

When it comes to drinks, one can perfectly claim that wines (vinos) in Argentina are really popular. You will find budget versions that come in tetrabrick packaging as well as the top quality selections that have made the country a renowned wine producer.

However, mate is the most traditional drink and is also very popular. It's similar to tea but it's more of a way of socializing than a plain beverage. The most common way to prepare it is to fill 2/3 of a gourd (also called mate) with the leaves of the yerba plant (available in every market), put a silver straw on it (bombilla) and then pour hot water. When the gourd is filled with water, the leaves expand and fill the mate. Some people also prefer to add some sugar.

For more information on Argentina and it's rich history and culture, please visit some of these sites:

http://www.mibuenosairesquerido.com/wArgentina1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina

http://www.geographia.com/argentina/

https://cia.gov/cia//publications/factbook/geos/ar.html

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107288.html

Source: http://www.mibuenosairesquerido.com/wArgentina3.htm