The Bronx Pizza Brings Back Memories

It's been six years since I've had anything remotely similar to a huge slice of New York style pizza. Don't get me wrong. Ugi's is amazing! But the slices are still standard size. My husband and I miss those humongous, greasy, heart-attack inducing pizza slices we used to order from John's Pizza in the Bronx. Thankfully, we found a place in Buenos Aires appropriately named The Bronx Pizza, so we decided to check it out.

What can I say about the establishment's interior? It speaks for itself. The wall has pizza inspired messages and New York city skylines. 

The tables are wrapped in printouts of The New York Times newspaper headlines. And the overhead menu is all in English! But would the pizzas be the same as the ones we used to eat back home?

Overhead menu

The pizza slices on displays were certainly a lot bigger than the shrinky dinky sizes they serve in Argentine pizzerias. So that was certainly a good sign. They had a variety of menu options. But I was looking forward to a pepperoni pizza slice because pepperoni is virtually a myth here. The closest thing you can get to it here is Spanish sausage (not as dirty as it sounds), which is too expensive and no one really buys it.

The photo doesn't do the slices justice. I was holding the pepperoni slice while taking a selfie and half of the cheese fell off. My bad. Not theirs.

So we ordered a slice each and the pizzas did not disappoint. The slices were big and greasy. They even stuffed the crust with cheese. Alright so there wasn't as much cheese in the crust as the ones you'd get at Pizza Hut, but it was a pretty nice bonus. But did the pepperoni meet our expectations?

The pepperoni on the pizza was decent enough, but I think it was cut a bit too thick. The pepperoni slices in the States are usually paper thin. These weren't, but who cares? It tasted great, and our taste buds were satisfied.

So we got a little taste of home and friendly service all at the same time. The next time I visit B.A., I will definitely be making a stop (or two) at The Bronx Pizza in Ayacucho 1188.

SIDE NOTE: I know I said I was done with this blog. But when I spoke with my blog (yeah, I do that. It's really weird!), I quoted Jack from Brokeback Mountain and said, "I wish I knew how to quit you." But clearly, I don't know how. So expect more entries in the near future. See you soon!

Farewell 2018!!!

Wow! Another year has passed. I'm sorry I haven't posted in like forever, but I've been busy working on some special projects, which will carry over into 2019. But before the new year begins, I wanted to take a moment to say thanks for the life I have.

I turned 41 back in July and I have to say, I've managed to retain my youthful appearance. I hope I can still say the same when I turn 42.

We've had tons of fun celebrating birthdays and hanging out with our friends. I've also gone on movie dates with my hubby, and traveled!

I'm either doing my Trump impression or the flash is too bright!

Oh B.A.! We'll see each other again!

I've been pretty busy writing a bunch of stuff I hope to get published by 2019. But Zach beat me to the punch by publishing his novel, "Last Friend Standing." Click on the link to buy. It's one major thrill ride, and I'm not just saying that because he's my husband. Here's the synopsis.

Sex. Lies. Envy. Narcissism. Frienemies do it with class. This is not your ordinary "bff" story. You're invited to the best birthday party in the world. Everyone is guaranteed to have a blast.

Did someone say Halloween?

Those closest to me know that October is one of my favorite months because I get to celebrate one of the coolest holidays ever, Halloween. 

By Thanksgiving, I realized I had a lot to be grateful for. For starters, I haven't had a single health issue since I almost went t*ts up back in January. I have some amazing friends, and most importantly, someone to share my life with.  

I'm also glad I married a chef. I can't boil an egg to save my life, but he can do wonders, especially around Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, I may have gone overboard this year when I bought my third, and biggest tree, yet.

We've been in Argentina for six and half years. That's longer than most people (including ourselves) predicted we'd stay. We've run into some obstacles and dealt with some shady people. But we also formed a surrogate family of our own. Although life and scheduling conflicts don't always allow us to get together at the same time, we find ways to celebrate as many special moments as possible.

So, as 2018 comes to a close, I look forward to the challenges 2019 will bring. I want to thank those who have followed me on my journey. But I've decided that this will be my final entry... at least for now. I just needed to drop by one last time to say goodbye properly and give my best wishes to all you travelers, potential travelers and travelers of the imagination.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Clayton: The No Way Buffet

Have you heard of the saying, no way, Jose? Well, now there's Clayton, the No Way Buffet!

In 2017, Las Tinajas, a popular buffet located in Boulevard San Juan 32 in Cordoba province had shut down. But like Doctor Who, it didn't stay gone for very long. It came back with a brand new face, but was the food any different?

In February 2018, the buffet restaurant reopened, but was now called Clayton. During their first month in business, they charged about the same price for lunch and dinner per person as they did when they were named Las Tinajas. I assumed that the prices would eventually go up after the month was up, but they didn't.

Las Tinajas - Prices in 2017

Prices for Clayton's first month

Current Price for Clayton as of July 2018

Another thing that didn't really change was the quality of food. Actually, I'm lying. It was actually worse. Everything was ice cold and the trays at the buffet were half empty. Sadly, the people in charge of filling the food trays were nowhere in sight during the hour and a half we were there. 

The only positive things I can say about Clayton are that the waiters and waitresses were friendly, the desserts were... acceptable, and the restaurant was clean.

But ten minutes after we ate, we were rushing home and fighting to see who was going to use the restroom first, and in my experience that's usually the result of poorly prepared food and cross-contamination. Of course, everyone has an off day, even restaurants, so it could have been that they were short-staffed that day. Who knows? But first impressions make a big impact on my personal decisions. So, would I go twice? No way!

Mr. Bagel Saves the Day... Well Sort Of

(2019 Update: Mr. Bagel is permanently closed)

I was disappointed when Starbucks stopped selling plain bagels in Argentina, but I was even more frustrated with Walmart. They only sell a few plain bagels once a month, and if you're lucky, you might find them two or three times a year. But now, Mr. Bagel has come to the rescue... or has it?

Mr. Bagel is located at Independencia 468 in Córdoba Capital and offers a fresh take on bagels. In the States, bagels come in all kinds of flavors—plain, poppy seed, onion, apple-cinnamon, cinnamon-raisin, salty, blueberry, sesame seed, and the list goes on. But no matter the flavor, most of us just slice a bagel in half, toast it, and spread on some cream cheese. That’s my go-to way of enjoying bagels. The only time I strayed from this routine was when I lived with my in-laws in New York. Bagels with mayo, ham, and cheese were a quick meal in our household. But when I stood at the counter at Mr. Bagel, I was impressed by how differently they prepared their bagels—and I’m not saying that in a bad way at all.

You have three menus above the counter, each with three steps:

The first step is to choose the type of bagel. You can go with classic (plain), wheat (integral), garlic (ajo), onion (cebolla), or skip the bagel altogether and opt for a salad.

The second step is to pick a main ingredient for your bagel. Options include salmon with cream cheese for $160 Argentine pesos ($5.83 USD), smoked salmon for $150 Argentine pesos ($5.46 USD), tuna for $140 ($5.10 USD), cheese for $120 ($4.37 USD), or vegetables for $90 ($3.28 USD).

The third and final step is to choose three toppings at no extra cost. You can select from lettuce, onions, bell peppers, lentils, olives, avocado, sauerkraut, mushrooms, corn, carrots, eggs, tomatoes, and Yamani rice. If you’ve already picked your three toppings but want an extra one, it will cost you an additional $10 Argentine pesos (about 36 US cents) per topping.

Placing your order at Mr. Bagel is a bit like ordering at Subway. You choose your type of bagel, main ingredient, toppings, and dressing. They offer a few dressing options, including tartar sauce, Italian dressing, mustard, mayo, and ketchup. Oh, and I almost forgot—you'll also be asked if you want your bagel toasted.

The customer service is amazing, which is pretty rare here. I ordered the bagel with sesame seeds and cream cheese with chives. I think the server was a little surprised that I would spend $120 pesos ($4.37 USD) on a simple bagel with cream cheese when there were so many other ingredients and toppings available, but that’s just how I am. I like to keep it simple. Fortunately, my partner was a bit more adventurous with his choice.

Zach had a plain bagel with carrots, cream cheese, and chives, while an acquaintance of ours ordered two bagel sandwiches. One had salmon, sauerkraut, and avocado slices, and the other featured tuna with sautéed peppers. I have to admit, it looked delicious!

Plain bagel with carrots, cream cheese and chives

Bagel with salmon, sauerkraut, and avocado slices

Bagel with tuna with sauteed peppers

Compared to a plain bagel from Walmart or Starbucks, Mr. Bagel's bagels are thicker, crunchier, and tastier. For those lucky enough to live near Mr. Bagel, you can place an order through an online food delivery service called PedidosYa, which will bring the bagel right to your doorstep. Mr. Bagel also follows Jewish dietary regulations, so if you're looking for kosher options, you're in luck.

As for seating, Mr. Bagel doesn't have individual tables inside, but they do offer two bar-style tables with stool chairs along the wall and glass window. This setup works well, especially during Argentina's winter when most people prefer not to sit outside in the cold. However, they do provide outdoor seating as well, which is where we chose to sit.

Mr. Bagel also sells donuts (called donas here in Argentina). Unfortunately, they had sold out by the time we arrived in the afternoon. The server recommended coming in the morning to get our donut fix. So, I'll definitely be back soon to try their donuts, especially since their schedule is pretty accommodating. Thankfully, they don't follow the typical Argentine siesta hours.

Hours of Operation:

• Monday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

• Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

• Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

• Thursday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

• Friday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

• Saturday: 9:00 PM - 12:30 AM

• Sunday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Mr. Bagel has created a welcoming atmosphere where people can gather, chat for hours, and enjoy bagels (or donuts), coffee (or a soft drink). Honestly, I'm glad I found it because, while I love Starbucks, I was craving something a bit different—and I definitely found it here. So, would I come back? Absolutely!