Aetna Global Benefits® World Spotlight

ETIQUETTE/RECIPE

Argentina Etiquette

Business

Business relationships are often very formal, and very close. Several meetings will often be required to allow time to develop a close relationship. Also, be sure to include time for small talk before a meeting begins.

Business dress and demeanor should be conservative.

It is important to be on time to meetings, though the person you are meeting will often be late. It is customary to make later business appointments wait if a meeting is going well rather than cut a business meeting off in the middle of negotiations.

All business deals must be signed contracts, and all parts of the agreement must be signed.

People work very late, often past 10 p.m. Do not be surprised if you have an appointment scheduled for 8 at night!

Business meetings over dinner are common.

Dining

Eating in the street or on public transportation is considered rude.

Wait for your host to sit down before sitting. Also, allow the host to open the door for you before leaving.

Cover your mouth when yawning or coughing.

Most meals are eaten in the home, not in restaurants.

Crossing the utensils on your plate indicates that you are finished with a meal.

Keep hands on the table, not in the lap.

Do not pour wine backhanded, it is impolite.

Conversation topics to avoid are the Peron years, religion, and the Falkland Island conflict. Soccer is always a successful conversation topic.

Gift Giving

Avoid giving leather items and personal gifts such as shirts and ties.

Imported liquor is appreciated because of high import taxes. Scotch and French champagne are especially appreciated.

If you are entertained in an Argentine home, arrange to send candy or flowers to the hosts. Bird-of-Paradise flowers are a popular gift.

Greeting

Handshakes are the most common form of greeting in Argentina.

Women may expect a kiss on the right cheek.

Argentines are very animated and place a large emphasis on hand movements. Avoid using your hands to speak if you are not familiar with the gestures so as not to accidentally offend someone.

Maintain eye contact when being introduced or when having a conversation.

Titles are very important, especially among the elderly.

Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil

• 2/3 cup sherry wine vinegar

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 1 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh
oregano leaves

• 3 tablespoons minced garlic

• 2 tablespoons minced shallots

• 3/4 teaspoon fresh cracked
black pepper

• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red
pepper flakes

• 1 (1.75-2 lb) skirt steak

Directions:

1. In a food processor, combine
    the olive oil, sherry vinegar,
    lemon juice, parsley, basil,
    oregano, garlic, and shallots.

2. Pulse until well blended but
do not puree.

3. Add 1/4 teaspoon of the black
pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of salt
and the crushed red pepper.

4. Remove 1 cup of the
    chimichurri sauce from the
    processor and transfer to a
    bowl, cover with plastic wrap
    and reserve at room
    temperature for at least two
    hours. If cooking sauce
    another day, refrigerate sauce
    and return to room
    temperature before serving.

5. Season the steak with 1
    teaspoon with salt on each
    side, as well as 1/4 teaspoon
    black pepper per side and
    place in a large resealable
    plastic bag.

6. Add the remaining chimichurri sauce from the processor.

7. Seal bag and refrigerate the
steak for at least 2 hours.

8. Once the steak has finished
    marinating, remove it from the     refrigerator and let it come to
    room temperature for 30
    minutes.

9. Preheat a grill or oven to
medium heat.

10.Brush the excess chimichurri
     sauce off the steak and set
     the steak over the hot grill or
     oven.

11.Cook for 6 minutes on the
first side.

12.Rotate steak 45 degrees and
cook for another 6 minutes.

13.Turn steak over and continue
to cook until the steak is
done.

14.Once cooked, lay the steak on      a clean cutting board, and
     allow it to rest for 5 to 7
     minutes before slicing across
     the grain into 2-inch wide
     strips

15.Serve with crusty warm bread,      the reserved chimichurri
     sauce, baked potatoes, and
     some nice greens.

Argentina Etiquette

Business

Dining

Gift Giving

Greeting

Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. In a food processor, combine the olive oil, sherry vinegar, lemon juice, parsley, basil, oregano, garlic, and shallots.

2. Pulse until well blended but do not puree.

3. Add 1/4 teaspoon of the black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and the crushed red pepper.

4. Remove 1 cup of the chimichurri sauce from the processor and transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and reserve at room temperature for at least two hours. If cooking sauce another day, refrigerate sauce and return to room temperature before serving.

5. Season the steak with 1 teaspoon with salt on each side, as well as 1/4 teaspoon black pepper per side and place in a large resealable plastic bag.

6. Add the remaining chimichurri sauce from the processor.

7. Seal bag and refrigerate the steak for at least 2 hours.

8. Once the steak has finished marinating, remove it from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes.

9. Preheat a grill or oven to medium heat.

10.Brush the excess chimichurri sauce off the steak and set the steak over the hot grill or oven.

1. In a food processor, combine
the olive oil, sherry vinegar,
lemon juice, parsley, basil,
oregano, garlic, and shallots.

2. Pulse until well blended but
do not puree.

3. Add 1/4 teaspoon of the black
pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of salt
and the crushed red pepper.

4. Remove 1 cup of the
chimichurri sauce from the
processor and transfer to a
bowl, cover with plastic wrap
and reserve at room
temperature for at least two
hours. If cooking sauce
another day, refrigerate sauce
and return to room
temperature before serving.

5. Season the steak with 1
teaspoon with salt on each
side, as well as 1/4 teaspoon
black pepper per side and
place in a large resealable
plastic bag.

7. Seal bag and refrigerate the
steak for at least 2 hours.

8. Once the steak has finished
marinating, remove it from the refrigerator and let it come to
room temperature for 30
minutes.

9. Preheat a grill or oven to
medium heat.

10.Brush the excess chimichurri
sauce off the steak and set
the steak over the hot grill or
oven.