The Uruguayan cuisine has European roots, started with the conquest and colonization and continued by the immigration of the last centuries: mostly Spanish and Italians, but also English, German and other European cultures bringing with them their particular flavors. For these reasons, it has many similar elements to Argentina’s gastronomy and, therefore, differs like Argentina from the rest of the Latin-American cuisine. It is possible to find, as well, native and regional influences, like the ones you’ll find in the asado (barbecue) and in the infusion - and national drink - the mate. Finally, we can say that different immigration groups brought pot, pastas, rice, sandwiches, stews and many other contributions that shaped, all together, the Uruguayan cuisine.
 
The asado is the most emblematic dish of Uruguay, roasted meat to live coals or barbecue. For its preparation they chose selected cuts of meat depending on the type of cooking: ribs and several other cuts of fillet like loin are some of the best appreciated for its delicate flavor. The particular flavor of the roasted meats with firewood live coals and the typical seasoning (sometimes using “chimichurri”) are the keys of the most traditional dish from Uruguay and, certainly, they are inseparable parts of the River de la Plata region culture.

Uruguayan Chivito

It is a very traditional food, prepared in Uruguay. The Chivito is a sandwich, the main ingredient is a grilled loin steak cooked in iron frying pan, accompanied by diverse ingredients: mozzarella cheese, ham, bacon, olives, sliced tomatoes, lettuce leaves, hard-boiled eggs, and it is served between two slices of bread "turtle" or "joss stick", flavored with mayonnaise and mustard.
 
It is also an important part of the gastronomical culture of Uruguay the elaboration of fish and seafood dishes. The port daily scene is the arrival of the fishing boats returning loaded from open sea, production that is immediately sold in the nearby markets. This way we can savour "Valencia style paellas" and a diverse kind of fishes like bass, pejerrey, brótola, dogfish and other specimens.
 
Typical snacks include olímpicos (veggie bites with chicken and bacon) and húngaros (spicy sausage wrapped in a hot dog roll).
 
Tannat grapes are grown in Uruguay, an original variety of south western France, red wine is produced with its juice. At present, the main plantations of this vine are found in France and Uruguay, and the last one is known worldwide for the outstanding variety of this type of wine.
 
There are very popular drinks like clericó, a mixture of white wine and fruit juice, and medio y medio (half and half), part sparkling wine and part white wine. Also, the beer is pretty good.
 
Obviously, mate is drunk in enormous quantities.