Buenos Aires Photo of the Day - Strawberry Shake

This strawberry shake, or a licuado, is made with the deep red strawberries (smaller than the ones we generally get in California) I saw all throughout Buenos Aires. The Argentinean term for strawberries is fruitillas (pronounced something like frut-shah-as. The Argentineans pronounce ll and y as kind of a cross between jah and shah.) This particular licuado was made with water, but was also available with milk or ice cream. It was very satisfying on a hot muggy day . It was served with a small square of cake topped with quince paste. The whole strawberry is impaled on a clever holder suspended from the rim of the glass.

I had this at the Cafe Alameda along with a mixto -- a grilled ham and cheese sandwich.

Update: Here's a recipe for a strawberry shake, from a grower in Ecuador. Recipe courtesy of Accion, a microloan provider my family supports.  And here's how I make them at home -- about 2 cups ripe berries, 1 cup ice and 1 cup water. Whirl in blender until smooth.  Taste. Add sweetener if necessary and additional water if desired.  Slurp.