Argentina Pens In Sales of Iconic Food

In an extraordinary decision, the government this week announced a six-month ban on most beef exports from the world's third-largest purveyor of the meat.

The government hopes that meat targeted for overseas sale will now stay at home. Increased supplies will reduce domestic prices, which skyrocketed 20% last year, surpassing the worrisome inflation rate of more than 12%.

"It doesn't interest us to export at the cost of hunger for the people," Kirchner declared.

The president's edict took effect Friday. Delighted shoppers rushed to butcher shops to inquire whether prices had dropped yet from the $2 or so a pound for the prime cuts that can go for 10 times as much in the United States and Europe.

I'll be going down to Buenos Aires on Thursday night for a week and am looking forward to packing on some pleasantly priced protein poundage.  Or kilos of carne as they might say there.

I'll be spending most of my time here at La Tranquera restaurant.  You can see my in-law's apartment complex in the background of the "Playa de Estacionamiento" picture. Clasica Victoria on the same block (M. Sucre 664) is where I'll be having coffee and pastries most mornings.  Starbucks is a poor substitute for the cafe culture of Europe (and countries pretrending to be in Europe).