Sunday Brunch and a Day at the Races

The group at Olsen for brunch

Just got back from Olsen Brunch and the horse races with Jenny, Annemarie, Damian, and Ben. Brunch was delicious. I had been warned that the meal would be carísimo, pricey, but it really wasn’t all that bad. This is what I ate for only $32 pesos, which is about ten bucks:

1. Un café con leche (coffee with milk)
2. Tres tostadas con mermelada y manteca (toasts with jam and butter)
   
3. Un jugo de naranja exprimida (fresh-squeezed orange juice)
4. Un omelette sin panceta (cheese omelet, no ham)
5. Una ensalada de frutas (fruit salad with plums, pineapple, pears, strawberries, peaches and green apples)
6. Un yogur con cereales y fruta (yogurt with granola and fruit)
7. Una copa de champagne (a glass of champagne)
   

It was really good. And I love the ambiance at Olsen. The service is slow, but our reservation was for noon and the first race didn't start until 2.30, so we had a nice leisurely brunch. It was Damian's first brunch, the concept of combining breakfast and lunch is completely foreign to him, but he enjoyed it so much he has found another location for brunch next week at Home Hotel. I'm glad he enjoyed it. But what's not to like: a late breakfast with lots of food because you're combining two meals? And you get to drink without looking like a total lush! He ordered a beer instead of champagne, and was very confused when it came out with his medialunas and coffee. In fact, it all came out at once and there was tons of food on the table. He asked the waitress to take his beer back until he was finished with his coffee, and she obliged. I tend to think of brunch more as being mimosas or Bloody Marys, but here the options were champagne, wine or beer. To each his own, I suppose. The food really was amazing though. Now I want to go back for dinner some night. Mom and I went in November and to this day it remains one of my best meals in Buenos Aires. I forgot what I ordered, but apparently Scandinavians know how to do seafood. And they start your meal with fresh bagels and cream cheese, which I missed with brunch. (As if I didn't get enough food.)

From brunch we took a cab to the races, although I wouldn't have minded the walk. I only bet once. On #7 to place, but he came in fourth so I stopped betting. I only bet $2 pesos, less than a dollar, but I like to play it safe. And usually I have some sort of beginner's luck. Notsomuch today. Annemarie bet on the prettiest horse to win; he came in second to last. So we explored El Hipodromo a bit more and grabbed some coffee and postres at Confitería París, which was built in 1912 and is part of the grounds. They were playing such awful early American slow-rock ballads that we asked for the bill in a hurry, paid, and went to see the casino. It's all underground and there are thousands of slot machines. Apparently gambling is illegal in the city of Buenos Aires, but not electronic gambling. (I guess you have to draw the line somewhere.) So there are only slot machines and virtual roulette. I didn't even try my hand at the slot machines before we walked to the Palermo station and rode the D Line home.