Central, South and North Americas Food Trail

Hi! My name is Diego. As a lover of the arts, I’m a natural observer, so I don’t like to rush but rather move slowly through the world, capturing the beauty of the places I visit. I have so much to share from my travels to the Americas thanks to the rich cultures from artists of colour, Indigenous and Latin Americans. As for the food, I cannot help but look back and salivate at all the delicacies I enjoyed there. You don’t have to fly all the way to the States or Argentina to get your fix of burgers, barbecue pork ribs and aromatic arepas, it’s all right here in Chatswood!

Here's some of my favourate finds:

1. Pulled Pork Burger at Chimichurri

The Argentine mountain ranges remind me of fresh air and fresh ingredients, characteristics common for anyone travelling to Argentina. Chimichurri sauce is made up of a combination of aromatic and fresh herbs such as shallots, garlic, parsley, oregano and olive oil. Mixed together, it is a wonderful condiment to any meat. This glorious pulled pork burger from Chimichuri Cafe blew me away transporting me back to the clean airs of Argentina. A juicy burger brimming with flavour, the chimichurri lifts the porky affair to levels I never knew a city like Chatswood could bring. The caramelised onions and melted cheese add lovely rich flavours to balance the freshness of the chimichurri.

1/6 Help St, Chatswood NSW 2067

2. Betty’s Classic at Betty’s Burgers

I was looking through some old photos of my time traversing the states of California and North Carolina finding delicious burgers littered everywhere. Walking past Betty’s Burgers, the minimalist interior and the aroma of sizzling patties drew my gaze and compelled me to buy a Betty’s Classic. The Angus Beef patty is succulent and seared nicely combining well with the lettuce, tomato and cheese offering a burger that has all the goods. The special sauce not only binds but lifts the entire affair to ensure there is sufficient moisture and tangy spice is present in the burger. Similar to the burgers in America, Betty’s offering is humble in its delivery of the tried and tested product but perfect in execution.

Westfield Chatswood, Shop 377-378, 1 Anderson St, Chatswood NSW 2067

3. Monster Arepa at La Latina

They do not hold better fiestas anywhere else in the world than Caracas, Venezuela. From amazing arepas to terrific tamales, the flavours, the noise and the care put into those delicious street foods captivate in every sense. Walking past La Latina, I could not believe my luck when I saw their arepas leaving the kitchen and onto the table. The picture of the Monster Arepas immediately captured my attention and it was not a mistake to order it. Filled with shredded beef, pork, chorizo, cheese and sour cream, this weighty arepas packs a punch of flavours that will floor you with the first bite. The cornflour bread provides a soft pillowy cushion and soaks up the flavoursome oils of the various meats that fill the sandwich. The only thing missing from this wonderful sandwich is the lively streets of Caracas!

82 Archer St, Chatswood NSW 2067

4.  Freshly Fried Chicken (Size 6s) at Butter Chatswood

The first stop of my brief stay in this city brings me to Butter Chatswood. I can still hear the deafening crunch of fried coating of Butter’s mixed set of fried chicken. The same crunch rings a similar tune to when I reminisce about my travels back home in America, especially in parts like Louisiana and Tennessee where fried chicken specialists are an institution. Butter’s rendition of the famous deep-fried bird is delicious and addictive. The hard coating, juicy meat and savoury seasoning make for a symphony of delights.  The hot sauce that comes with the chicken adds another dimension to an already incredible flavour profile.

Chatswood Chase, Shop B/39 345 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067

5. Fall-off-the-bone BBQ Pork Ribs at Ribs & Burgers

To cap off my last night here in this charming city I knew I needed to go off with a bang. There is only one dish to eat when celebrating and that is a marvellous rack of BBQ ribs. No one celebrates big like they do in Texas where they host some of the greatest barbecues and smokey ribs available. When the BBQ Porks from Ribs & Burgers landed on the table with a thud and the smells of home permeated my nostrils, I knew only magic was going to be the result. The sticky barbecue sauce coats the smouldering ribs like maple on bark providing contrasting notes of sweet and sour flavours with the smokey spice. Rest assured, the tender meat did slide off the bone as one would expect meaning these ribs were both succulent and delicious.

Shop 3, 129-135 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067

Written by Digest with Dan

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Chatswood Mall Lower, Victoria Ave, 2067, View Map