Criollo

Long before becoming a celebrated chef, author and restaurateur Hugo Soca was a simple country kid living in the south of Uruguay, tending to his family’s farm, and savoring the richness, the aromas, of his beloved grandmother Petrona’s delicious from-scratch cooking. With warm memories of the sacredness of mealtime, of shared community events where everyone was welcome, and where culture itself was created at the table, Soca takes us on a scrumptious trip through his motherland’s rich and varied cuisine, inspired by a rich mix of Swiss, German, and Indigenous traditions, and the colorful cast of characters who make it all happen. From the salty, weathered fishermen whose catch forms the basis of a truly incredible stew to the artisans of Emmental cheese, following methods and recipes passed down through countless generations; from the gauchos of Curtina and the artistry of wood-stove cooking to the masters of the slanted grill whose smoked meats are matched only by richness of their conversation. Pour yourself a glass of homemade wine, pull up a seat at the table, and enjoy this hearty, mouth-watering celebration of the soul of Uruguayan cooking from director Pablo Banchero.

— Hebe Tabachnik