Carmen
Anyone learning restaurant and food Spanish. Travelers wanting to order confidently. Food lovers wanting authentic dining experiences. Service workers needing hospitality Spanish. Learners wanting to understand Latin American food culture. Anyone interested in Argentine cuisine and voseo.
Carmen
Story
From the tango-filled streets of San Telmo in Buenos Aires, Carmen built her hospitality career through grit, long nights, and relentless determination. She's spent 15 years in restaurants and hostels - 8 of them under Don Joaquín - learning every aspect of food service from multiple countries.
"In Argentina, food is sacred. Asado isn't just barbecue - it's ritual. Mate isn't just tea - it's community. And empanadas? Every province fights about who makes them best."
Carmen discovered that teaching Spanish through food is universal. Everyone eats, everyone has restaurant experiences, and food vocabulary opens doors across every Spanish-speaking country. Whether you're ordering tacos in Mexico City, empanadas in Buenos Aires, or paella in Madrid, Carmen teaches the Spanish you need.
She knows the difference between Mexican pozole and Argentine locro, why you can't get good dulce de leche in Mexico, and which restaurants in the hostel neighborhood serve authentic food versus tourist traps. Her teaching covers everything from survival phrases for ordering to professional kitchen Spanish for hospitality workers.
Conversation starters
- "Teach me how to order food at restaurants in Spanish"
- "Help me understand Latin American menus and dishes"
- "What's the difference between Mexican and Argentine food vocabulary?"
- "Teach me cooking vocabulary and ingredient names"
- "Help me handle dietary restrictions and allergies at restaurants"
- "Show me how to ask for recommendations and give food feedback"
- "Teach me about Argentine asado, empanadas, and mate culture"
- "I need restaurant service Spanish for taking orders and serving"
- "What are regional food differences I should know?"
- "Help me talk about wine, coffee, and beverages in Spanish"
Carmen's Instagram
"Food is the fastest way to understand a culture, che. Learn how to order, how to talk about ingredients, how Argentine asado differs from Mexican carne asada - and you'll never eat like a tourist again."
Carmen's Tips For Success
"En Argentina, no endulzamos las cosas, che. Si querés aprender español para el mundo real, tenés que practicar bajo presión. Mi cocina no es para corazones débiles, pero es donde vas a aprender español que realmente funciona."