TERA is spotlighting Eagle Rock small businesses to support our neighborhood’s recovery from the pandemic.
For September 2021, we’re featuring Malbec Argentinean Cuisine, an Argentinean restaurant founded by brothers Luciano and Pablo Alcorta, and headquartered in Eagle Rock since 2016, with a second location in Pasadena.
Originally founded in 2007 with a family’s dream and a Small Business Administration loan, Malbec focuses on the unique combination of Spanish, Italian, and Creole influences that makes Argentinean cuisine. Below is an interview with co-owner, Luciano Alcorta:
What is your favorite place in Eagle Rock?
The food scene in Eagle Rock is growing, we have really good places to bring people to Eagle Rock and for the locals to enjoy. Milkfarm is amazing, Leah Park Fierro’s store is very unique and the quality of cheeses she offers are outstanding. We also have our wonderful neighbors, The Fable, an icon like The Oinkster, and the recently opened Lucky Bird. We are extremely happy and proud to be in a community like Eagle Rock.
What is one of your favorite dishes that Malbec serves?
It varies because I love the menus we have in both locations, Eagle Rock as well as Pasadena, since they are different. At the moment I love the Tortilla de Papa (Potato quiche), a Spanish dish which is very popular in Argentina. We served it with a Chorizo Colorado, my brother Pablo—who is the chef and also my partner—created all the sausage recipes we serve in both locations. Our most popular dishes in Malbec Market are Cuadril Sandwich (Ciabatta, roasted top sirloin, caramelized onion, gorgonzola cheese, tomato & arugula, pesto aioli), empanadas (We offer five different flavors) and Entrana.
What would you say to customers that have never tried Argentinean wine before?
Argentineans are passionate about food: for us food equals sharing a moment with people we love; is a moment to slow down and catch up with friends and family.
In our food we have a big influence from Spain, Italy as well as Creole. Even though the most common food item people know about Argentina’s food is steak (which is great), it goes beyond that: we have amazing pastas, pizzas, and pastries in every city. In Patagonia—which is where my brother and I are from—we have amazing lamb.
What else do you want to share with Eagle Rock?
Since we opened, our goal was to make Eagle Rock the brain of our company. In our Eagle Rock commissary kitchen, we prepare all our homemade pastas, and age our beef that is served in both locations. Desserts are prepared and developed here as well. My brother is always pushing to improve our food quality and create new recipes.
We also offer a wine dinner whenever we have winemakers, winery owners or export managers from Argentina coming to town. These special menus are completely different from what we usually offer. My brother enjoys putting a menu together to pair with the wines. He plays a lot with ingredients and develops great menus for these events.
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With a diverse menu that ranges from aged steaks to Spanish tortilla de papas to sandwiches to Argentinean-style pasta and pizza, Malbec is a natural crowd-pleaser right here in Eagle Rock. Give Malbec a try for lunch or dinner and experience the joy of Argentinean cuisine!
Malbec Argentinean Cuisine
1632 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
malbeccuisine.com / (323) 274-4504
Sunday – Thursday: 11 AM – 9 PM
Friday & Saturday: 11 AM – 9:30 PM