World Country Guide

Social Profile

Food & Drink
The majority of Uruguayan restaurants are parrilladas (grill-rooms), which specialise in the country’s most famous traditional dish, the asado (barbecued beef). Beef is part of most meals and comes in many forms, including the asado de tira (ribs), pulpa (boneless beef), lomo (fillet steak) and bife de chorrizo (rump steak). Costillas (chops) and milanesa (a veal cutlet) are also popular, usually eaten with mixed salad or chips. Chivito is a sandwich filled with slices of meat, lettuce and egg. Other local dishes are puchero (beef with vegetables, bacon, beans and sausages), pizza, pies, barbecued pork, grilled chicken in wine, cazuela (stew), usually served with mondongo (tripe), seafood, morcilla dulce (sweet black sausage made from blood, orange peel and walnuts) and morcilla salada (salty sausage). Desserts include dulce de leche (milk sweets), chaja (ball-shaped sponge cake filled with cream and jam), mossini (cream sponge), lemon pie and yemas (crystallised egg yolk). Table service is usual in restaurants. Cafes or bars have either table and/or counter service.
Uruguayan wines are of good quality. A popular drink is medio-medio (half dry white wine and half champagne). Beers are very good. Imported beverages are widely available. Local spirits are caa, grappa and locally distilled whisky and gin. There are no set licensing hours.

Nightlife
Theatre, ballet and symphonic concerts are staged in Montevideo from March to January. Tango is nearly as popular as in Argentina, and the ‘La Cuparsita’ club in Montevideo fills up quickly. There are discos in the Carrasco area. There are several dinner-dance places in Montevideo. Large Montevideo hotels have good bars. When there is music for dancing, the price of drinks increases quite considerably. There are also several casinos.

Shopping
Special purchases include suede jackets, amethyst jewellery and paintings. The Tristan Narvaja Market is famous for its antiques and there are many antique shops in the Old Town. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200 and 1400-1900, Sat 0900-1230.

Special Events
The principal festival is the national Carnival Week (starting Feb 7 in 2005). Although this ‘fiesta’ is officially only for the Monday and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday, most shops and businesses close for the entire week. Houses and streets are appropriately decorated and humorous shows are staged at open-air theatres. La Semana Criolla, or Holy Week (Mar in 2005), offers traditional activities like asados (barbeques), folk music and horseriding/cowboy stunt riding. For a complete list of special events, contact the Ministerio de Turismo (see Contact Addresses section).

Social Conventions
Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. Uruguayans are very hospitable and like to entertain both at home and in restaurants. Normal courtesies should be observed. Smoking is not allowed in cinemas or theatres or on public transport. Tipping: 10 per cent when no service charge is added. Taxi drivers expect a tip.