La Biela de Recoleta

Buenos Aires is a big city (13 million+) but feels much smaller because it is a really collection of distinctive neighborhoods. We are staying in Recoleta, a quieter upscale part of town with lots of parks and tree-lined streets.

Neighborhoods need hang-outs, places for people to gather, and Recoleta has La Biela, where we stopped for lunch today. It is a large, light airy place that extends out into the park. La Biela means "connecting rod" and it carries a double meaning in this case.

First, it refers to the literal connecting rod that holds an auto's pistons to the crankshaft, the piece of forged metal that keeps the engine from tearing itself apart as gasoline explodes in the cylinders. This meaning honors the auto racing champions and fans who have for decades gathered in this room to drink coffee and talk their sport.

The cafe is decorated with auto racing photos, posters and trophies from the 1930s to the present. It was very interesting to see two young women excited to have their photo taken in front of a portrait of Juan Manuel Fangio, the great Argentinean Grand Prix world champion of the 1950s.

The other type of connecting rod? Well, as I said before, every neighborhood needs someplace where people can gather, connect and re-connect. La Biela seems like the perfect social connecting rod to me.

What did we eat and drink? Sue had a sandwich of Serrano-style ham, a fruit salad and sparkling water. I drank "chopp" (the local term for a small draft beer) and the cafe's signature sandwich of pounded beef tenderloin with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and hard-boiled egg. Very tasty and satisfying!