Buenos Aires, Argentina

I just got back from my third trip to my new favorite international city -- Buenos Aires.

The city is clean, easy to navigate, full of the best wine and food I've had in ages and the people are helpful and sweet. I only wish I could remember all the good places I went the last two times!

This time, though, I made a really fun discovery thanks to http://www.nytimes.com/. It's a teeny little restaurant I never would have walked into had it not been for these recommendations.

It's called Dada and it's located at San Martin 941, not far from the galeria that spreads from San Martin to Calle Florida, where I do most of my shopping.

I wasn't expecting much, but on my work budget, I wanted good food, at least a glass of wine and a relaxed atmosphere. Dada definitely delivered and exceeded expectations on all three.

I went two nights for dinner. The first night, since room service empanadas had cost me my dinner budget, I stuck to pasta and went for the raviolini with sweet potato filling. Mouthwatering! I couldn't get over the smooth sweet potato that filled me with a richness and warmth, much needed in the winter months when you can see your breath outside!

The second night, I went for the special of shrimp and risotto that fulfilled my much higher expectations yet again. I am looking forward to going back for the Dada Lomo (sirloin) that I very much wanted to try. The waitress swayed me by pointing out that the Lomo is always there but the risotto may never return. What can I say, I'm a sucker.

Both nights, I paired my dinner with a traditional glass of Malbec, a very flavorful and deep red wine. Every time I have a glass, it renews my disdain for the 3-1-1 rule that doesn't allow for me to take a bottle or 10 home with me.

Total costs --

Night 1: $12.50

Night 2: $20.07

For my one lunch away from the convention center, I wandered to Las Nazarenas, an asador just across the street. Because it's an asador, there is meat hanging on the back wall and the place smells divine (well, unless you're a vegetarian, I suppose). Luckily for me, there was a lunch special well within my price range that included a drink -- wine if you wanted, but I had to go back to work -- then an empanada for appetizer, a choice of meat with side and even a dessert.

I went with a very yummy pork and mashed potato combination followed by the famous Argentinian ice cream. It's gelato-ish without the weight of the Italian classic. The mixto of vanilla and chocolate was the perfect end to my trip.

Total cost: $12.50

Two tips:

1. Most places (these two included) don't allow for adding the tip to your credit card payment so always have some cash on you to tip the friendly waitstaffs.

2. ALWAYS get to the airport early and always try to eat before you get there or at least before you get through security.

For some reason, the Buenos Aires airport is always a fiasco and the only food past security and not packaged in the Duty Free shop (though they do sell slabs of meat in there!) is a very sub-par sandwich shop. I did eat in a decent restaurant just outside of security, though.