Buenos Aires is a fabulous city, and the Porteños know how to party. Most nights, dinner doesn't even begin until 9:00 p.m. As in, the restaurants aren't even open until 9:00. The rumors are still true: Good wine and good beef is to be had at low prices, compared to the United States. But for now, let's concentrate on the wine.
David and I spent a lot of time with some of our new friends who we met through our participation in Español Andando. Each of four days, for three hours a day, we would meet up with two other students and our teacher and guide, Tatiana, for an introduction to Buenos Aires language and culture. It was fantastic. Hour one was language lessons in a bar or cafe, and hours two and three were spent learning about the city and pestering local shopkeepers and bus drivers while we completed exercises designed to help us learn the city.
Due to some fortunate scheduling snafu, our last class occurred over dinner instead of lunch, and so the wine began to flow. I believe we had about five bottles of wine for five people, along with our dinner. Some of it was house wine served in a carafe in the shape of a penguin. That is when we found out about the pinguinos of Argentina (here is one pictured with David):
Keep in mind that normally, David would never do such a thing, but it was a festive evening! And, I decided that I simply had to have the pinguino decanter, but when David tried to buy it for me, the waitress said no way, they only had ten, and please do not steal the pinguino!
So, on foot., we scoured the city of Buenos Aires for pinguinos. Come to find out, they are not common items anymore, as we walked many miles without finding any. We did manage to find them online, but not in stock, on Uncommongoods.com (and at the price of $45 each, it would have been much cheaper to swipe the pinguinos from the restaurant - kidding already!):
The Drink Of The Penguins
PATAGONIA PENGUIN WINE PITCHER
Real penguins might live in Antarctica, but this ceramic penguins will always call Argentina home.
During the 1930s, serving table wine in penguin-shaped pitchers or pinguinos was popular among the Argentinian working class. Penguin pitchers can still be found in Argentina today, and this replica is a wonderful and whimsical way to share in a tradition and serve wine in a fresh, new way. Made in Argentina.
This item has been discontinued. When it sells out, it will no longer be available. We apologize for any inconvenience.
$45.00
ITEM NUMBER: 16538
MATERIALS: ceramic
NOTE: Hand Wash Recommended.
SIZE: 8" H x 5" W, holds .75 liters
We are sorry, but the item listed is currently out of stock.
We finally returned to the restaurant to ask where we could find the pinguinos for sale, and managed to find the quaint little shop that was filled from floor to ceiling with kitchen cruft of every type imaginable. I would never have thought to look or inquire in this store.
When we asked the shopkeeper, "Hola, tienes pinguinos por vino?", he replied, "Si" and I about fell over. He reached over to a shelf and pulled a wine pinguino, literally, out of nowhere. We were thrilled. I asked, "Tienes mas?" to which he replied, "Quantos necessitas?" Now if that isn't a loaded question, I don't know what is. Technically, no necesito pinguinos, pero quiero trente. I don't know what I just said, but the intent was to say that I don't need any penguins, but I would like thirty. So, we settled on two. The shopkeeper pulled a ladder out of thin air, climbed up towards the ceiling and shoved some undescript items out of the way to reveal more pinguinos. This guy knew his inventory.
So, two very cherished pinguinos flew home with us, and I am putting them to very good use. And, as the reviewer states, "penguins and wine go together, you just don't know it yet". I have to agree.
