According to Wikipedia, “Farm to table (or farm to fork) refers to a movement concerned with producing food locally and delivering that food to local consumers. Linked to the local food movement, the movement is promoted by some in the agriculture, food service, and restaurant communities. It may also be associated with organic farming initiatives, sustainable agriculture, and community-supported agriculture.”
But farm to table is a way of life in San Rafael, especially for many of the area’s estancias and vineyard properties such as Algodon Wine Estates. “The menu of our San Rafael restaurant, Chez Gaston at Algodon Wine Estates, only serves food that is produced either right here on our estate, or on a neighboring farm” says Scott Mathis, Chairman & Founder of Algodon Wine Estates. “This is as fresh as you can get. Our locally produced food is typical of the entire region’s restaurants, really. This is indicative of a lifestyle that attracts so many Americans to Mendoza in their retirement years. These are people seeking natural gourmet options, affordable luxury living, and a clean and healthy lifestyle. San Rafael has all of that, and more.”
Fodors confirms that Chez Gaston at Algodon Wine Estates is a “charming restaurant, nestled between a golf green and tennis courts, [and] the center of culinary activity in this luxury golf, tennis, and wine resort about 20 minutes’ drive from the center of town. Surrounded by ancient olive groves and vineyards, you can sit outside on the brick patio where pine-log tables are surrounded by comfy couches with puffy white cushions. Here you listen to birds singing while you sip Algodon wine and dine on high-quality (but never pretentious) regional dishes such as goat from nearby Malargüe (spring and summer) with quinoa. Many of the products used, such as the olives, fruits, and walnuts, are harvested right on the property, and bread is baked daily in a clay oven.” And WineHotelsCollection says, “Chez Gaston at Algodon Wine Estates typifies the best in Argentine traditional gourmet fare and provincial atmosphere. Chez Gaston features a traditional clay oven and flame broiling pit, and specializes in authentic Argentine gourmet cuisine.”
Fodors also notes “Most of the region follows national culinary trends–beef, lamb, chicken, and pork a la parrilla (grilled). Second- and third-generation Italian restaurants serve family recipes enhanced with fresh ingredients like wild asparagus and mushrooms. Olive oil, garlic, melons (ripe February-March), and many other fruits and vegetables are grown locally.”