A little slice of Argentinean slow cooked goodness with a kiwi twist in Nelson. Come and experience love at first bite!
About Us
Matias is a trained chef with over 15 years experience who has worked in fine dining restaurants in his homeland Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and a Michelin starred restaurant in Spain. He is the inspiration behind Viva La Vaca and loves to work with his partner Chelsea, a kiwi, to create amazing food for their family, friends and clients.
Viva La Vaca started as a dream for Matias and Chelsea, when they first met in Australia. Whilst travelling throughout Southeast Asia, South America and New Zealand they developed the idea further and turned the dream into a reality when they returned to New Zealand to settle in 2015.
The food cart itself was custom built by Matias and a creative genius by the name of Sir Harold Brian Townsend (or Gunna as he's affectionately known) in Wellington. Matias designed the parilla based on BBQ's from his homeland, and Gunna took that idea and turned it into something brilliant. It was then brought down from Wellington to it's home in Nelson where Viva La Vaca had it's first day of trading in July 2015.
Viva La Vaca has a wood-fired parilla (BBQ), where tasty meals are slowly cooked over hot coals - the smoky flavour is awesome (if the chef does say so himself!). All products are sourced from local suppliers and meat is all free range and from sustainable sources. Meat and vegetarian options are available, with flavours to suit all taste buds. Everything can be made gluten free and the meat products are all free of preservatives and gluten.
Viva La Vaca is available to cater events, including weddings, birthdays and business functions, and can also be found at the many events held in the Top of the South. They promise a "Love at first bite" experience, and hope that you won't be disappointed!
Catering Menu's
Foodcart style menu
Choose 3 options from the below:
- Steak Argentino
slowed cooked sirloin steak cooked on manuka charcoal, served with lettuce, caramelized onions, tomatoes, garlic aioli and chimichurri (typical Argentinean sauce based on pickled herbs) served on a freshly baked ciabbatta. - Choripan
handcrafted 100% free-range pork chorizo sausage, served on a freshly baked bun with watercress, and a red onion and tomato salsa or chimichuirri. - Pechito de cerdo
slowed cooked pork belly, with lots of crackling served on freshly baked ciabatta, spiced onions, chipotle chilli aioli, spinach and fresh apple. - Lamb
marinated with spices, lettuce and cucumber, onion and harissa sauce on freshly baked ciabatta. - Andean pita pockets
with quinoa, feta cheese and seasonal vegetables
You can also add salad options to accompany the food cart menu.
- Coleslaw with a twist
walnuts, green cabbage, feta, lemon juice, herbs and toasted fennel - Green Salad
- Roast Potato Salad
with gherkins, capers, red onion, herbs and an aioli dressing - Roast root vegetable salad
- Carrots, lentils, herbs and goats cheese.
- Chick peas, broccoli, almonds and roasted onions
with basil pesto. - Beetroot, Carrot, couscous salad
with dukkah spices. - Rocket, roasted beetroot & goats cheese salad
with orange and pomegranate dressing - Grilled seasonal vegetable salad
grilled seasonal vegetables with feta and pesto - Greek Salad
cucumber, tomatoes, Feta, red onion and herbs - Pumpkin and chickpea salad
with fennel, feta and walnuts
All salads are served with Modena balsamic vinaigrette, lemon and pepper vinaigrette, garlic aioli and local olive oil.
Banquet style menu
- Sirloin Steak
- Free Range Pork Belly
- Lamb
- Handcrafted Argentinian Chorizo
- Beef short ribs
Whole legs of ham are also available at an extra cost. The ham is served with mustard sauce – with your choice of glaze: orange, cloves and whiskey; apricot and spices; or cranberry and maple. The ham is sourced from Havoc Pork in Dunedin who have only free range happy pigs and will be cooked and prepared by us from scratch.
All meats are served with Chimi Churri (spicy and non-spicy) and smoked paprika oil.
- Coleslaw with a twist
walnuts, green cabbage, feta, lemon juice, herbs and toasted fennel - Green Salad
- Roast Potato Salad
with gherkins, capers, red onion, herbs and an aioli dressing - Roast root vegetable salad
- Carrots, lentils, herbs and goats cheese.
- Chick peas, broccoli, almonds and roasted onions
with basil pesto. - Beetroot, Carrot, couscous salad
with dukkah spices. - Rocket, roasted beetroot & goats cheese salad
with orange and pomegranate dressing - Grilled seasonal vegetable salad
grilled seasonal vegetables with feta and pesto - Greek Salad
cucumber, tomatoes, Feta, red onion and herbs - Pumpkin and chickpea salad
with fennel, feta and walnuts
All salads are served with Modena balsamic vinaigrette, lemon and pepper vinaigrette, garlic aioli and local olive oil.
for nibbles or to compliment the main course
- Cheese platters
a platter can feed anywhere between 10-20 people. These consist of a selection of cheeses (can include blue cheese, goats cheese, camembert and hard cheeses), a selection of crackers, nuts, dried fruit, quince paste or caramelised figs, caramelised onions or plum chutney and fresh fruit. - Whole baked gratin cauliflowers
served as part of the salad table with bechamel sauce and parmesan cheese - Butter boards
We offer different types of butters to accompany the meat, each board has 2 flavours which you can choose from the following:- Roasted garlic and rosemary
- Café de Paris butter
capers, spices and red onion - Lemon, Thyme and pepper
- Smoked chillies
- Gravlax Salmon
1/2 or whole fillet, cured with your choice of:- Lemon, herbs and Gin; or
- Orange, beetroot and vodka.
- Ceviche
South American style raw fish. Thinly sliced (sashimi style) fresh catch of the day white fish, cured in lime juice with red onion, capsicum, chillies and (optional) coriander, served with corn tortilla chips and seasonal salsa (tomato, mango or avocado).
Viva La Vaca recently did the catering for our wedding of just under 100 people....it was AMAZING! The salads and veges were great but the star of the show was the meat which was spectacular with slow roasted honey glazed ham and of course their famous beef with chimichurri sauce. It all seemed to flow so easily and our guests LOVED it. We would highly recommend Matias and his team to anyone looking to cater a special event.... thank you guys you made our day! xo
Alexandra Isherwood
Holy cow, on all fronts! Totally brought me back to my time in Argentina, but even better as EVERYTHING is homemade. Nelson is so lucky to have this gem of a couple and their delicious comida. Had the choripan and a chocolate alfajor for nostalgia sake (highly recommend both), and can't wait to go back as I'll be working my way down the menu. Also loved the community vibe, you guys clearly are passionate about your food and Nelson. Muchas gracias.
Sahra Covello
