Faena Hotel - A Phillippe Starck wonderland

An amazing decision was made in 2006 to build a Phillippe Starck designed hotel in the Puerto Madero area of BA. What a treat. We visited and had lunch in this restaurant called 'Mercado'

The luscious entry hall

In Mercado the decoration was eclectic to say the least, but all added up to a great atmosphere. Richard had Risotto with Osso Buco (proclaimed excellent) and I really enjoyed the local speciality called Milanese - which turned out to be Veal Parmigiana. The 'Portenos' as the locals are called just love it - smothered with grilled cheese in copious amounts - they do LOVE their grilled soft cheese...

A few details of the decoration

These two photos are of inset boxes in the wall of the red lobby above - each one about a foot square

 

The sumptuous evening dining room - chandeliers are designed by Phillippe for Baccarat. In fact he re-designed their whole showroom in Paris

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=baccarat+showroom+paris&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.49784469,d.d2k,pv.xjs.s.en_US.MpiVkF51mpA.O&biw=985&bih=485&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=-pjzUY7dHI2d0wXco4HwDA

We got chatting with the hotel manager - more on that later...

A wonderful evening at IL Latina

 ...with the owners of Home Hotel, Tom and Patricia. This is the second "Puerto Serrado" (closed door restaurant) that we have been to with them. What a great evening we had. Lots of laughter and fantastic food

The kitchen is right next to the tables. Immaculate and I want one just like that

The entrance

The entry courtyard

 With Tom and Patricia trying out the chairs

The starter - octopus in a broth with pumpkin

There were five courses, but this was the standout for all of us. Local fish ceviche  with threads of green mango and diced sweet potato

 Pudding was an exotic pannacotta

Looking remarkably coherent at the end of the evening, considering the five courses were paired with excellent Argentinian wine from Mendosa

Mustn't forget the in-house bread which was fabulous - small moist cheese rolls that we couldn't stop eating. I will have to find the recipe for these beauties.

Tom and Patricia have just come back from a trip to Bolivia where they went to 'Gusto' the new restaurant opened by the a co-owner of 'Noma' in Denmark - voted best restaurant in the world for three years running, knocked off it's perch this year by a place in Spain.
Do read this:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-08/noma-owner-opens-gustu-in-bolivia-to-replicate-no-1-copenhagen.html

Images in and from the street

Making the new Coca Cola sign with live plants - for their new product, just released. An unusual Eco billboard. Are they all over the world?

 

A lot of work in this folded paper in a dress shop window

 

An old portrait in the Ralph Lauren Outlet shop window

Croc by Carlos Regazzoni 
On the pavement just outside the entry to his workshop

More images

https://www.google.com.ar/search?q=carlos+regazzoni&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=6-nrUfiBGabRiwLVm4GACA&ved=0CDcQsAQ&biw=985&bih=485

Graffiti on the wall at Cafe Dada

Just around the corner from where we live

Wonderful wall in a cafe in Palermo

...and last but not least an artistic rendering by DM of a local laneway. Creeeepy