Locro
Ōamaru restaurant Cucina is Pablo and Yanina Tacchini’s “baby” and the classic Argentinian soup Locro is a staple on the menu in the cooler months.
Locro is an “extremely filling” soup, which Yanina remembers from her childhood.
“I remember, when I was little, going to church and then eating that, and it was the military with a big pot feeding everyone, because I used to live in an extremely poor area.”
The soup is also traditionally served on May 25 to signify the Argentine Revolution.
Each cook has their own version of the substantial soup, and the Cucina version contains corn, beans, pumpkin, homemade chorizo, bacon hock, chimichurri and is served with toasted house-made focaccia.
The soup is always popular on the menu, Yanina says.
“Because everyone that tries it, they cannot believe the flavours. I really love it. Yeah, it's a must.”
Cucina is the restaurant Pablo and Yanina long dreamed of owning.
“It's our baby. It's the food that Pablo gets to do what he likes, a hundred percent,” she says.
“It shows a little bit more of our culture, but also showing our mix, you know, we are not Argentinians only. Pablo's family is originally from Italy, and my family is from Spain, and we were both born in Argentina.”
Yanina first came to Ōamaru as an exchange student and she and Pablo moved here permanently in 2008.
It is “definitely the people” who keep them in the town.
Their teenage son Ian has autism, and people here look out for him.
“I don't think there's a person in town that doesn't know him,” she says.
“Sometimes I dream about living in a big city, I will not lie, I miss that, but then seeing people being so good to Ian and always helping, and just that he can actually belong here, you know, just makes you put everything into perspective.”
Pablo’s two brothers have now moved here, as well as Yanina’s sister.
“I love it. I love family. Family is the most important thing - even if it's not your real family, you know?”