A Food Lover's Paradise

1/28/2018

The Estancia is a true family stay which means that everything is included in your daily rate - from the lodging to the activities to the amazing meals and drinks you are offered. I generally do not like 'all-inclusive' types of experiences so my expectation for the food was not high. But the Beggs, being well traveled themselves, understand how important good food is to discerning visitors. Los Potreros has a professionally trained chef and assistant who whip up some of the dreamiest things you can imagine.

Warning: Unless you have really strong willpower, you will gain weight during your stay here BUT isn't that what vacations are for?

Here is just a small taste of what I experienced...

Afternoon BBQ

When on a cattle ranch, you obviously will get some killer burgers. These mini burgers, served alfresco, with locally made white wine was the delicious beginning to my stay. Impossible to only eat one, challenging to stop at two.

At lunch, I was immediately struck by how lovely the other guests were. They were helping pass along the plates, pouring me a glass of wine, and so welcoming that you in fact felt like you had just arrived at a friend's house. I may of gotten completely lucky but I sense that the Estancia tends to attract very warm guests.

Teatime

Every afternoon, after a long nap but before the evening ride, the kitchen prepares some perfect English tea and probably the best desserts you will have ever eaten in your life. Chocolate bombs, chocolate tart with mocha mousse, everything is dangerously delicious.

Chef's Night

As a special treat one evening, guests were invited into the kitchen to partake in a chef's night - small part cooking class, large part drinking wine watching the real cooks effortlessly pull our meal together. I finally learned how to fold empanadas - turns out once fired in oil, they taste great regardless of how they look!

There is a lovely vintage pasta maker which was used to create perfectly delicate raviolis. We also helped make a few loaves of fresh bread, which are oddly simpler to make here than in my own kitchen. After a main course of pork chops and cabbage, and a dessert cheese plate - I literally needed to be rolled back to my room!

Start of the Day

Fresh eggs, fresh orange juice and homemade yogurt made it almost impossible to not have a huge breakfast every day! They also put out a bar full of goodies to make the breakfast bowl of your dreams so I was loving life.

A Hearty Lunch

The morning horse ride can be anywhere from 3-4 hours long so by the time you return to the Estancia and sit down for lunch you are famished! The menu planning seems to take this into account and lunches are generous feasts capped off with a fresh fruit dessert. Perfect meal to take you into nap time!

Napkin rings are personalized with the names of the various horses that live on the Estancia. Each guest is given a specific napkin ring for their stay (I was Flopi!) and used for the place settings during each meal. This naturally changes who sits next to each other at meals and is a wonderful way to foster connection among the guests.

Holiday Dinner

With the glow of the candlelight and the Christmas tree in the corner, my last dinner at the Estancia was a special evening. For me, there is no stronger connection than ones made over a home cooked meal. And I am never happier than when I am traveling and discovering a new place. That night was the perfect combination of the things I love the most and I am so grateful for this experience!