Supping with a chucked fetus

Next they'll just chuck a fetus down the runway! (Edina in Ab Fab, whining about how the models get younger every year)

On Thursday I talked to Robert, whom I hadn't seen yet since I arrived. We met during my first trip to Argentina in 2005 and, as usual for me, stayed in touch off-and-on. Robert is stunning, which is saying a lot considering the elevated standard of male beauty in Buenos Aires. He works as a print and runway model in a city that has at least one potential model per hundred feet of sidewalk. He had been working in Brazil for a while but now that he's back we decided to get together for dinner and catch up on things. He's one of the very few people I know here with a car, so he came by my apartment, picked me up, and off we went. It's his city and he knows where to eat, so I concentrated on our conversation and left the driving to him. Only when he slowed down to look for parking did I realize that we were on El Salvador in Palermo Viejo, just a few blocks from my former apartment.

We were at Mott, a very trendy upscale restaurant. It has a spacious feeling, high ceilings open all the way to the second floor balcony, with a somewhat minimalist decorative style which accentuates the space. One doesn't feel crowded or overwhelmed like in many BA restaurants where space is at a premium. The chairs are more like comfy armchairs than the standard-issue rigid highbacks we normally find.

Mott self-describes its cuisine as cocina de mercado (market cuisine), implying that it emphasizes fresh wholesome ingredients. One restaurant review defines their menu as European eclectic and another calls it nouvelle argentine. I would say all of the above are true; it is eclectic with touches of Italian, Asian, Mexican, French, and of course, Argentine. The food seems more healthful than typical Argentine cuisine with less breading-and-frying and salads having a prominent place on the menu.

We shared a chicken caesar salad as an appetizer. It was quite lovely, the greens some of the best I've had yet in BA, a crunchy mix of croutons and Thai-style chunks of chicken breast, shaved Parmesan, and a dressing that was bright but not overpowering. Robert's main course was Lomo Crépine, a beef tenderloin that looked delicious. I chose Pollo Mex, a nouvelle approach to Mexican cuisine with seasoned chicken breast pieces in an open pastry shell, served with corncakes and frijoles picantes (spicy beans).

The service was more attentive than usual in porteño restaurants. Most of the time, your waiter will not pop by to check on you after your food is served. If you want something, you look for him and catch his attention. It's just the way things are, the assumption is that you want to dine in peace and will let the mozo (waiter) know if anything is required. Mott's staff is a bit more proactive but not intrusive; we didn't have a Cindy or a Shawn hovering over us all night, becoming our new best friend.

Mott is on the pricy side for restaurants here, with entrées ranging from 32-47 pesos. It also features a full bar.

Price for 1 salad, 2 entrees, and 2 beverages: 119 pesos (US $39).