My Semester Abroad

Local college students — from the Puget Sound area or studying at a Puget Sound university — are traveling the world as part of their studies; several are sending dispatches about discovering their corner of the globe. They welcome your comments and questions.

Editor's note: Thanks to all the students who shared their experiences on traveling and learning. "Semester Abroad" is being discontinued.

All blogs and discussions:

April 07, 2006

Argentina: Game for deer

Posted by Riana Hensel at 10:30 AM

I could not believe the words had come from my mouth, but tonight for dinner I ordered Ciervo Patagónico or Patagonian Deer. This is coming from a girl who was vegetarian for nine years, and before this semester in Argentina I had not touched beef since I was 8. Nonetheless, last night, the first night of my adventure in the Argentine Lake District with my mother, we ventured to Kandahar, a restaurant that had been highly recommended.

COURTESY RIANA HENSEL

Friday, April 7, 2006 in Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina. Hensel enjoys a local delicacy, Patagonian Deer, for dinner.

There were rumors that this restaurant served wild boar from the region; when we didn't see it on the menu I asked the waiter. He kindly explained that it was a complicated legal situation involving permits for wild boar hunting. So I settled for the deer. Not having ever tasted venison, I had no idea what was coming, but was pleasantly surprised! I actually loved it. My mother and I sat there, both of us in shock as I devoured this regional delicacy, quaffed down with a local artisan beer.

It was the perfect first night for our trip. Tomorrow we leave the Swiss architecture and atmospheric village of Bariloche to explore the "Ruta de los 7 lagos" or "The seven-lakes route."

Jennifer Henrichsen
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