Chimichurris

A juicy piece of bife nostalgia nestled in the streets of Southwark
by Clorrie Yeomans
Image

Having fallen in love with Argentina when I was interning as a wine journalist in Mendoza in 2019, an affair since scuppered by the pandemic, my nostalgia grows for Saturday afternoons spent sipping Malbec watching a juicy bife sizzling away on the fire surrounded by friends and family. Finally, I have found a cure for my cravings and it lies just around the corner in foody South London…

Chimichurris restaurant in Southwark offers an authentic taste of Buenos Aires. The small and intimate restaurant is the joint venture of Nicolas Modad and Federico Fugazza. Head Chef Nicolas has a wealth of experience behind the grill after cooking the famous Cordero Patagonico (Patagonian barbequed lamb) at the Llao Llao Hotel in Argentine Patagonia. He has been working in London’s hipster food scene since 2012, where he began as Head Chef at the Spanish tapas restaurant Brindisa, then worked in Cuba for 8 months before Federico urged him to set up a restaurant in London together.

Nicolas and Federico first met at London’s food mecca Borough Market. Federico has been sourcing great ingredients from Argentina since 2007 when he founded Porteña (Argentine Street Food and Products). Federico’s eye for excellent products together with Nicolas’s mastery of the grill are what led to the birth of Chimichurris.

The small and intimate setting at Chimichurris make it the perfect place to sit back, relax, and step away from the chaos of central London. The restaurant’s approach is very Argentine: great food without the fuss. Chimichurris let their authentic South American ingredients speak for themselves.

The parrillada “el clasico” is a real showstopper dish that gives you a taste of the protagonists of an Argentine asado: chorizo, delicious morcilla sausage (similar to black pudding), sirloin and rib eye steak, and provoleta (grilled cheese similar to the Italian provolone). This sharing plate offers value for money for three meat-eaters with a good appetite! However, Chimis shows that there is more to Argentine food than meat. There are plenty of meat-free options including mixed vegetables on the grill, grilled octopus, and cod to keep the whole family happy.

Chimichurris has developed an extensive Argentine wine list to bring out the best in their authentic produce. The wine list includes wines by the bottle or the glass including some classic Mendoza Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignons which naturally marry themselves with the grilled beef. If you are looking to try something different, the single-varietal Cabernet Francs are an excellent choice for pairing with beef or lamb. If you are going for fish, I recommend the queen of the white wines in Argentina: Torrontes. This grape variety is native to Salta in northern Argentina and has a crispy, aromatic finish. Chimis has earnt its place on London’s growing Hispanic food map.

Find Chimichurri's on 132 Southwark Bridge Rd, London SE1 0DG

Related Articles

Image
Top 10 Argentine Eateries in London

Brits have been importing Argentine beef since the early-twentieth century and the UK is now the second-largest import market for…

Image
Ñoquis con tuco (gnocchi with tomato sauce)
Gnocchi Day: A South American Story

Why do people eat gnocchis on 29th of each month in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay? Clorrie Yeomans unveils the history and…

Image
Gaucho, Smithfield

The chandeliers give the cowhides a definite impression of city opulence than Gaucho's den, but the authentic tastes of the…

Latest Content

Image
luzmila
Music
Birdsong in Quechua

Considered one of the most important indigenous singers to emerge out of South America over the…

Image
october
Music
OCTOBER REGGAETON RECAP

It’s hard to tell what’s dropping faster, the leaves from the trees or the singles and albums from…

Image
omar
Music
We Love Omar Geles

Omar Geles was one of Colombia's most important Vallenato singers and musicians and the most…

Logo

Instagram

 

Most Viewed

Image
Top 10 Argentine Footballers

As one of the biggest football teams in South America and the world, the Argentine Football…

Image
Top 10 Mexican Boxers

Globally, Mexico is known as a boxing powerhouse, boasting some of the greatest champions in the…

Image
Ballads and Boleros
LatinoLife's Favourite Mexican Male Singers of all Time

Since the days when Mexico was a serious rival to Hollywood in terms of film production and quality…