Four Inane Questions with Buenos Aires Restaurant Owner Claudia Luna
Photo Courtesy of Claudia Luna
Claudia Luna has designed her new Downtown Shawnee restaurant with an inviting welcome-to-my-home vibe. In addition to tables and booths for hungry customers, she has plenty of comfortable nooks and hideaways for patrons to enjoy. Want to just enjoy an espresso? Eager to strike up a game of chess? Her eatery, Buenos Aires Restaurant & Bakery, is the perfect blend of old-world mystique meets South American homespun charm. (Trust us, you need to see it to believe it.)
Open for just a couple of months, Luna’s new restaurant showcases her Argentinian heritage. “I have lived in many countries, learning their culture, traditions, and cuisine,” she says. “Traveling the world with my children—especially through Europe, where my ancestors are from—I perfected some of the family recipes passed down to me.”
Our suggestion? Order Chef Claudia’s Taste of Argentina. It’s the ultimate sampler platter of all her favorite dishes in small plate form. There was so much food we lost track after the fifth (sixth?) course. As she told us, “My approach is simple: cooking delicious food from scratch, pure and authentic.”
That being said, do not go there and rush the process. Everything is made in-house and to order. (Yes, our leisurely lunch took 2+ hours. Yes, it was worth the wait. Pretend you’re in Europe on vacation.)
Even though her tasty fare is impossibly filling, be sure you save room for her homemade desserts. If afternoon tea is your thing, you need to stop reading this article and go partake of her myriad of sweet treats.
We caught up with Chef Claudia after the lunch rush to query her with our questionable questionnaire. We’re still full three days later. Bless.
Photo Courtesy of Claudia Luna
The Pitch: What is a recipe you love to eat but find too complicated to make?
Chef Claudia Luna: Homemade meat ravioli. I love it, but making homemade pasta is a lot of work. I cook it anyway—I just complain!
What’s a candle scent you absolutely cannot stand or tolerate?
Spiced pumpkin. I am so sick of it!
Photo Courtesy of Claudia Luna
Name a song that always makes you turn up the volume when you hear it on the radio.
“Mr. Brightside” by The Killers. Why? Because I am an incurable optimist. I am Mrs. Brightside!
What famous tourist destination is at the top of your must-visit bucket list?
Ireland—for all the shallow reasons! I love the country and the pubs. Oh, and I just saw P.S. I Love You. It’s a movie that showcases Ireland and I really enjoyed it.
Bonus 5th Question: In one day, how many espresso shots are too many?
Zero! I get wired up without any external sources. Caffeine is too much for me. I am (sadly) a decaf coffee and decaf Diet Coke drinker.
