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Montevideo Restaurant Review: Rocco Resto

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This restaurant review for Rocco Resto is long overdue. We discovered Rocco Resto our first week in Montevideo (since it’s just a few blocks from Punta Trouville, the apart hotel we stayed at when we first arrived in Uruguay) and we quickly became “regulars.”

Rocco Resto is a great place to eat at or enjoy a bottle of wine, whether you’re just visiting or living in Uruguay. The owners Ali and Gerado and the entire staff are extremely friendly (and most of them speak English).

The prices at Rocco Resto are reasonable, similar to other restaurants in the Pocitos area of Montevideo. The atmosphere is casual and they also have a bar in the restaurant where you can watch the futbol match and have a liter of beer.

They have a little bit of everything on their menu and everything is good. Brian’s favorite is the beef stroganoff and Chrystal’s is the chicken curry (sorry, we don’t have pictures of either of these, but they are great!).

The lomo (similar to filet mignon) dishes are also wonderful:
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They typically have a fish of the day, and every time we’ve had it, it has been good:
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For you vegetarians and vegetable lovers, their vegetables al wok, which is one of the house specialties, are also delicious:
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If you’re looking for a good appetizer, try the mini pollo (chicken) brochettes. You can also order them with lomo (beef) if you prefer:
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We were just in Rocco Resto over the weekend and found out that they’re having a deck built this week, just in time for summer. So if you’re in the area, stop by Rocco Resto and enjoy a meal or drink.

Rocco Resto is located on 21 de Setiembre and Francisco Vidal, one block from the Rambla.



Zoe’s Big Week of Firsts

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Zoë had a really great week. She started saying a few new words: “mommy” (instead of mama), “grandma,” “happy,” “yummy,” “tasty” and “cheers” (as she knocks her water cup against ours) are the most memorable ones.

She also decided she has her first favorite pair of shoes, which used to belong to her cousin Dayla. Every morning when she wakes up, she brings them out to us to put them on her. It doesn’t matter whether she’s dressed or not, she loves to wear her shoes:
Shoes
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Her weekend was also filled with fun and exciting firsts. Friday night she got her first rose, compliments of Daddy… She only put it down when she went to sleep on the couch and we could take it out of her hands:
Rose

Saturday afternoon, she went to her first country music festival. We found out that she likes punk music more than country… again compliments of daddy:
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Then Sunday, we finally made it out to another Expat Meeting at Fellini. Zoë had a great time digging into her first taste of chocolate mousse. She sure does love chocolate, taking after her daddy!
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By the time we got home, she was so exhausted that she passed out on the couch watching Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure:
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Zoë is a wonderful joy… We’re excited to see how she acts when Kaylee gets here in 9 weeks. Zoë is VERY jealous when we hug, because it’s her mommy, and daddy is not allowed to hug her mommy. But, on the other hand, she is fascinated with babies (both real babies and baby dolls)… When she’s sees a picture of herself she says “baby” then points to the picture and back to herself repeatedly with a huge grin on her face. 

As Zoë would say, “Chau chau!”

Babies



Recipe of the Week: Spicy Meatloaf

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Meatloaf

This Spicy Meatlof is one of our family's favorites. It's very easy and fast to make, and goes great with mashed potatoes.

It's best if you use homemade ketchup (recipe can be found in The Expat Cookbook), but it's still good if you use store bought ketchup.

Meatloaf Ingredients:

  • ½ cup onion, diced
  • ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 tablespoon jalapeño, minced (optional)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
  • 1 kilo (2.2 pounds) very lean ground beef
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons red Tabasco sauce (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 teaspoons Oregano
  • 2 teaspoons Basil
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • ½ teaspoon rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional)

Meatloaf Glaze Ingredients:

  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1-2 tablespoons red Tabasco sauce (depending upon your desired spicyness level)
  • Dash Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 180° C (350° F)
  2. Heat grapeseed oil in sauté pan
  3. Add onions and bell pepper and cook for 3-4 minutes
  4. Add jalapeño and garlic and cook for 2 minutes
  5. Set aside to cool
  6. Add remaining ingredients to a large bowl
  7. Add pepper, onion and garlic mixture to bowl
  8. Mix thoroughly with your hands until everything is well blended
  9. Transfer to a loaf pan
  10. Mix meatloaf glaze ingredients in a small bowl
  11. Spread glaze over meatloaf
  12. Cook in oven for about 1 hour
  13. Serve

Make sure to get your copy The Expat Cookbook while it's on sale for 50% off through the end of 2009.



What You’ll Find at the Feria de Tristan Narvaja

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The Feria de Tristan Narvaja is the largest open-air market in Montevideo, Uruguay. We’ve visited several times and are always amazed at the wide assortment of goods available there.

You can purchase many different types of animals at one vendor, including chickens, rabbits, birds, puppies…

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…and even peacocks!

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You’ll find row upon row upon row of used books (in Spanish). If you search through long enough, I’m sure you can find a few gems.

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There is also a large section of new items that you would see at a traditional swap meet in the US, like household goods, clothes, shoes, toys, bootlegged video games and computer software, CDs and more.

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Then, of course, there is a large flea market section of used goods that fill so many streets I can’t count. This is what the Feria de Tristan Narvaja is famous for.

You can find things like antiques, old engine parts, guns, records, household items, collectibles and more. You can literally wander this section of the Feria de Tristan Narvaja for hours without running out of things to look at.

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The produce is about 20-25% less expensive at the Feria de Tristan Narvaja than the produce at the Villa Biarritz feria in Pocitos. I think we paid less than UY$300 for the produce, pasta and dried garlic shown in this picture:

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If you’re looking for something to do in Montevideo on a Sunday morning/afternoon, check out the Feria de Tristan Narvaja, located at Tristan Narvaja and 18 de Julio.

For a list of other Montevideo ferias, click here.



Just Try and Find Me…

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Recently, Zoë has taken to hiding from us. At first, it was just hiding behind the curtains in the living room, waiting to see how long it would take us to notice that she was gone (even though we were sitting right there).

One day I was out for a bit, I think maybe at a doctor’s appointment and Brian was home alone with Zoë. Well, she gave him the fright of his life. He went to check on her and she was nowhere to be found.

Not in her room. Not in the living room. Not in our room. Not in the kitchen. Or the bathrooms. And, nope, not on one of the balconies either. Where was she?

Hiding in her stroller, underneath her Kelty Kids Carrier
(which, by the way, is a necessity for us here). This, is her new favorite hiding spot ☺

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Hiding



Jose Mujica is Uruguay’s new President

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Mujica Montevideo is alive right now with horns honking and people who support the Frente Amplio yelling “Viva Pepe” in the streets.  Fireworks are popping off in the distance and very dark storm clouds are rolling in soon to drench this great city.

“Pepe” is President Jose Mujica’s nickname.  As the new President for Uruguay, Jose Mujica will bring a colorful rule to this great nation. 

Jose Mujica spent 14 years in prison during Uruguay’s military regime; because he was the founder of the Marxist Tupamaros guerillas.  He’s friends with Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez and Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.  He’s vowed to bring change to Uruguay.

In July Pepe made a speech and vowed to repent “the stupid
ideologies that come from the 1970s – I refer to things like
unconditional love of everything that is state-run, scorn for
businessmen and intrinsic hate of the United States.  I’ll shout
it if they want: Down with isms! Up with a left that is capable of
thinking outside the box! In other words, I am more than completely
cured of simplifications, of dividing the world into good and evil, of
thinking in black and white. I have repented!”

Often outspoken and causing controversy with his speeches calling Argentina “a nation of morons”… It’s definitely going to be an interesting ride with Mujica as President of Uruguay.

No matter what happens, I’m sure it will be colorful.



Recipe of the Week: Blueberry Crumb Pie

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Pie

Blueberries are in season in Uruguay, so we’ve been using them to make lots of yummy treats in the last few weeks. I thought I would share one of our favorite blueberry recipes this week, for Blueberry Crumb pie. If you’re like us, this one won’t last long in your house!

Crust Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • ¼ cup lard
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 1/3 cup cold water

Filling Ingredients

  • 4 cups fresh blueberries
  • 7 tablespoons corn starch
  • 2/3 cup granulated white sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Crumb Topping Ingredients

  • ½ cup flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup butter

Directions:

Crust

  1. Combine the flour, sugar, butter and lard in a mixing bowl until well blended
  2. Sprinkle in the water a little at a time and mix just enough to make it hold together – don’t over mix
  3. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes
  4. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface
  5. Place the dough into the pie pan (don't worry if it breaks; you can patch it in the pan)
  6. Press the dough into a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan
  7. Seal any broken areas and shape the top edge into a pattern if you like

Filling

  1. Preheat oven to 190° C (375° F)
  2. Rinse blueberries in a colander, removing stems and mushy berries
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, corn starch and cinnamon, and mix well
  4. Add lemon juice and water and mix well
  5. Add the blueberries to the pie crust (if they are taller than the pan, it’s okay – they’ll cook down)
  6. Pour the liquid mix over the berries

Crumb Topping

  1. Mix the sugar, butter and flour in a bowl
  2. Sprinkle mixture over the berries   

  3. Place pie in oven and bake for one hour
  4. The pie should be bubbling and golden brown; if not cook for 3-4 more minutes and check again
  5. Serve warm with a heaping scoop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

Tips and modifications:

  1. Pie will keep for 1 week in refrigerator
  2. You can find a recipe for whipped cream in The Expat Cookbook, which is on sale for 50% off through the end of 2009



Happy Thanksgiving!

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We want to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving from Uruguay!

Brian, Chrystal and Zoë

Happy Thanksgiving Pictures, Images and Photos



How Young Expats Make Money Living Abroad

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Aces
We get a lot of questions about how young people can afford to live the expat life, especially in a country like Uruguay where wages are very low. Even without a retirement income, there are many options that allow young people to live abroad as expats.

There are people with online businesses and people that telecommute for companies in their home countries. Then there are people like our friend Lyle, who make their living playing online poker professionally.

Originally from Canada, Lyle currently lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but is planning to move to Punta Del Este, Uruguay next May. He spends his days playing poker and enjoying life as an expat.

He just launched his website and blog, which tell the story of how he makes his living playing online poker. If you enjoy playing online poker, or just want to explore another option for making an income online, check out his website and blog.


Uruguay and Chile Rated Least Corrupt Countries in South America

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Global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International released the 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) last week. The report ranked a total of 180 countries worldwide, 31 of which are from the Americas.

The countries are graded based upon surveys that measure people's perceived level of corruption in the public sector. Rankings are then given to each country using a scale of 1-10, with 10 being least corrupt and 1 being most corrupt.

The 3 least corrupt countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index were New Zealand with 9.4 points, Denmark with 9.3 points and Singapore with 9.2 points. Uruguay and Chile tied for 25th with 6.7 points.

Looking at our North American neighbors (and many expats’ home countries), Canada ranks 8th with 8.7 points and the United States ranks 18th with 7.5 points (lagging just behind the UK, ranking 17th with 7.7 points).

Other rankings of interest:

  • Puerto Rico ranks 35th with 5.8 points
  • Costa Rica ranks 43rd with 5.3 points
  • Brazil ranks 75th with 3.7 points
  • Colombia ranks 75th with 3.7 points
  • Peru ranks 75th with 3.7 points
  • Panama ranks 84th with 3.4 points
  • Mexico ranks 89th with 3.3 points
  • Argentina ranks 106th with 2.9 points
  • Bolivia ranks 120th with 2.7 points
  • Honduras ranks 130th with 2.5 points
  • Nicaragua ranks 130th with 2.5 points
  • Ecuador ranks 146th with 2.2 points
  • Paraguay ranks 154th with 2.1 points
  • Venezuela ranks 162nd with 1.9 points

See more about the Corruption Perceptions Index on Transparency International’s website.

Or read the Mercopress story, which give a great analysis of what the rankings mean for the various countries.