I was recently invited to a really impressive press dinner at Chimichurri Grill East. I went in expecting a typical steak house/ grill affair but ended up with a fine dining experience that I am still savouring.

Carlos Darquea is a deeply passionate and extremely talented chef who has about two decades of experience in serving up carefully curated Argentinean food. Along with his wife Alicia, he owns the very popular Chimichurri Grill in the theatre district, which has been drawing loyal crowds for several years now.

Chimichurri Grill East is an elevated version of this Westside staple. Whilst the menu is essentially similar, the East Side one brings with it a sophisticated flair.

We were privy to a multi course tasting paired with the finest Argentine wines. Chef Carlos expertly crafted each dish with the flavors of his country using the best ingredients.

Take for example the “Grilled Veal Sweetbreads” – a dish I was sure I would not enjoy- turned out to be such a delicious surprise. Served on a crisped purple potato, topped with a roasted red pepper parsley sauce, it was delicious.

Each course we were served surprised and delighted us. Something as seemingly simple as a “Grilled Romaine Hearts Salad” topped with crispy lardons was a crowd favorite.

The crowing glory of the meal of course was the steak. This however was no ordinary steak. It was a grass-fed black angus, that has been wet aged for over 32 days.

Cooked on wood charcoal to a perfect medium rare, this gorgeous piece of meat was served with a smoking piece of charcoal, topped off with rosemary adding both the aroma and flavor to finish the dish.