What is an Asado?

Asado is a technique!
Asado is a type of grill!
Asado is a kind of meal!
Asado is a type of cooking!
Asado is a social event!
Asado is delicious!
Asado is fun!

Asado is a technique for cooking cuts of meat, usually consisting of beef alongside other meats which are cooked on a specially constructed grill called a ‘parrilla’.  Cel Dor Asado uses a custom built parrilla constructed right here in the restaurant!  Asado is very popular in the Pampa region of South America, and is the traditional dish of Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Uruguayan asado (barbecue in American!) is the country’s national dish.  Uruguay’s meat is famous not only for its quality, but for its style of preparation.  Cel Dor Asado uses top quality meats procured from our local butcher who also custom blends meats and spices to produce our chorizo sausage using Uruguayan recipes.  Like Westcliffe, Uruguay is famous for its cattle operations said to be started by one European immigrant named Hernandarias.  He brought about 100 cattle to the land that would become Uruguay centuries ago.  You could say that Uruguay first populated extensively first by cattle, then by people.

Asados are social activities.  Charcoal is not used in cooking.  Instead, meat and vegetables are roasted after making a fire from various kinds of wood, and then the burning embers are used to cook.  Temperature is regulated by the height of the embers beneath the grill surface, and also by various placements for the food.  It is a time consuming process, but the flavors generated are worth it.  Typically, an asador will put some provolone cheese on the parrilla to make for some delicious snacks while patrons await their main course.

Meat cooked asado style is not marinated.  The only preparation is usually the application of salt before and/or during the cooking process.  Grease from meat is not encouraged to fall directly on the embers; this can create the wrong kind of smoke which can adversely flavor the meat.  Sometimes, meat and vegetables are kept clear of the embers, and the asado heat does all of the work.

Asado foods are usually placed upon a tray or dish to be served immediately.  Chimichurri, a sauce of chopped parsley, dried oregano, garlic, salt, pepper, onion, and paprika with olive oil can accompany asado.  Also, a sauce of tomato and onion in vinegar are common accompaniments to asado.

Cel Dor Asado welcomes you to experience Uruguayan flavor in our unique mountain  setting.  Set at 7,878 feet above sea level, Cel Dor Asado takes cooking to new heights.  Our custom made asado was constructed from several tons of quality steel right in the restaurant.  We used a variety of different woods like oak, hickory and pecan to fire the asado.  Enjoy your delicious food with wine or beer or another beverage of your choice.