Uruguay Is One Of The World's Most Underrated Countries, Per Anthony Bourdain
By Hillary Louise Johnson
VACATIONS
The late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain told National Geographic he considered Uruguay the most underrated country, having filmed there twice during his career.
While Uruguay is usually overlooked, Bourdain explained, "It's a very laid-back place, the people are really nice, the beaches are incredible, and there's great food."
The celebrity chef described Uruguay as "a tough place for vegetarians." The country is 80% grassland, so many meals have beef, such as its national dish, asado, or barbecue.
Bourdain found some eateries while there, including Estancia del Puerto, which had a traditional mixed-grill asado, and Chiviteria Marcos, which served the Chivito sandwich.
Bourdain also praised Uruguay's beaches, such as those found in the coastal city of Montevideo and the off-the-grid beach village, Cabo Polonio.
Other places include the resort town of Punta del Este, which has La Mano, a whimsical sculpture of a set of fingers rising through the sand like a giant is digging out.