From Argentina With Love

Especias ~Kler--Kler Spice Shop

 
 

In December, I had the opportunity (and pleasure!) to sit down with Graciela Schmukler, one of the proprieters of Especias ~Kler, located in the heart of the trendy Palermo district in Buenos Aires.

A couple of years ago, Graciela's son, Daniel (an Argentinean-American friend of ours who lives here in Denver whose wife is behind Maria Empanada) mentioned that his mother was the owner of a spice shop in Argentina's bustling capital.  He thought I would be interested--and he was right!  I was immediately intrigued.  And then I fell in love with ~Kler.

Have you ever wanted to pursue a dream?  Something you're passionate about, and even as you spend many years doing other things, (a job or raising a family, maybe) that dream is still in your mind, held until the timing is right?  ~Kler is the culmination of a dream held by two Argentinean sisters.

The shop got its start when spicy siblings Graciela and Edith settled down after years of traveling and living abroad.  While Graciela lived in the US and raised her three children, Edith traveled to far off places in the Mediterranean and Middle East.  She was so inspired by the open-air markets she found on her adventures that when she returned home, she collaborated with her sister (recently returned to their hometown) and the two opened ~Kler.

~Kler is derived from their last name, Schmukler, and is unique among the shops dedicated to gourmet foodstuffs in Buenos Aires.  The pair's passion for cooking is what makes the shop so diverse--it's the starting point for everything they do. And they strive to share new flavors they've discovered with patrons of their shop.

The shop is a spice-lover's fantasy for home cook and professional chef alike.  The store stocks bulk spices (like paprika, ginger,and cardamom) and aromatics (like lavender and rosemary) and also creates exclusive blends and rubs to introduce customers to new flavors and cooking ideas. 

~Kler carries a number of condiments--olives, oils, vinegars, and pastes--to inspire cooks and round out the meal.  An impressive variety is available--from unusual mustards, jarred peppers and artichoke hearts, and Middle- Eastern delicacies items. ~Kler's staff is eager to assist with your needs and questions, to bring their knowledge to the consumer, and to share their dream.

Sweets are also on the menu--macarons, honey, chocolates (aka bombones--the term for truffle that doubles as a term of endearment).  There are also candied nuts and homemade jellies--and not your garden variety line-up, either: rose hip jelly, spaghetti squash jam, and 'Ofelia's' orange marmalade, among others.

 Are your tastebuds awake yet?  Because if you're too tired to cook, ~Kler offers a line of 'Casi Listos'('almost ready') foods, including soup mix, risotto, curried vegetables with rice and 'Imperial Lentils' that come in a neat little package spiced and ready to cook in less than a half hour.  They're a quick and easy way to introduce something new like lentils or curry to the average weekaday dinner. If you need a gift for your favorite foodie; teapots, spice shakers might be just the thing.

And they cater.  The sisters will create a gourmet spread according to the needs and tastes of your event, be it custom gift baskets or a smorgasbord for a holiday party.  The duo is committed to creating a wonderous atmosphere, inviting clients to explore new tastes from around the globe while stocking the highest quality ingredients.  Can you see why I'm in love? ~Kler is a dream come true!

If you're looking for a little love, ~Kler is on facebook, and their website (in Spanish) is spectacular.  Poke around and read some of their featured recipes, or join Club ~Kler for discounts and updates on new products.

It's definitely one of my first stops on my next trip to Buenos Aires--hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Especias Kler

Bulnes 1815 (CAP 1425)

Buenos Aires, Argentina 05411

4822-6314

www.kler.com.ar

info@kler.com.ar

 

Casa de Fader--Fader House

Not far from busy downtown Mendoza is Lujan de Cuyo, a sleepy suburb dotted with wineries, restaurants and private residences.  It's also home to the Casa de Fader, Mendoza's Museo de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum).  In 1889, the Casa de Fader was a derelict mansion surrounded by almost 200 acres of tangled vineyards and overgrown orchards.  Wealthy couple Emiliano Guiñazú and his wife Narciza Araujo bought the mansion as their summer home and began restoration.  The mansion became a social center of Mendoza high society in the early 20th century. 

A notable improvement was hiring the artist Fernando Fader to paint a number of murals throughout the residence.  Though born in France, Fader moved to Argentina at age three and was raised in Mendoza.  His mother was French viscountess Celia de Bonneval, and his father was a German naval engineer important in Mendoza industry for introducing the first pipelines and gas lines to the city.  Fader left Argentina as a young man to study art in Europe, returning in 1905. 

Guiñazú met young Fader through various social events, and hired him to paint four murals in his home.  He began the project in 1906, and completed it in 1915.  However, the Post-Impressionist painter was doing more than painting--he was also courting Guiñazú's daughter, Adele.  The pair married in a lavish ceremony in the mansion's gardens.  During this time, Fader's own father died, leaving him to settle the family debts--which resulted in bankruptcy.  However, things were looking up for young Fader--his work had just been exhibited in Buenos Aires to rousing success.  He spent the next decade painting and touring Europe.

By age 33, Fader had developed Tuberculosis.  The family moved to the drier climate of Cordoba, where he continued to paint despite his condition.  He died at age 52, leaving behind his wife, Adele, and their three children.  Guiñazú himself died in 1945, and his widow donated the mansion and its grounds to the government as a fine arts museum which opened in 1951.

Today, the museum is the perfect place to while away a sunny afternoon, strolling through the grounds or exploring the collections inside the museum.  The museum houses four collections--from Fader and other Argentinean artists to international artworks; while the garden is full of reproductions of famous statuary.  The museum is used by many students as a learning museum, while residents and visitors alike enjoy the beautiful mansion and gardens.

The museum is open Tuesday to Friday 8:30am-7:00pm and Saturday and Sunday from 3:00pm-8:00pm, with guided tours Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.  Phone: 54 (261) 4960224   Address: San Martín 3651 Av. - Mayor Drummond - Luján de Cuyo.

 

Turrón de Avena--Chocolate Oatmeal Wafer Bars

 

 As I've mentioned in previous posts, one of the best things about this blog is the emails I get from readers requesting recipes--I hope that From Argentina With Love is a reference point for those folks who have married into it (as I have), who have traveled to Argentina and fallen in love with it,  for those readers who are the descendants of immigrants from Argentina, and even those who are expats, themselves! 

Not long ago I got just such an email from Alex, requesting a recipe "I used to have as a child when I went to my grandmother's house, but she has passed away and my father (and his family) have no trace of a recipe for it. "