Short Order dined at Argentine staple Las Vacas Gordas on Normandy isle last night. While many people complain about the service (rightly so, we never received our appetizers and our waiter tried to hide the fact that the gratuity was included), there is one element that receives universal praise at this casual eatery - the piquant chimichurri sauce. In fact, it's the first thing that diners see when they sit down. Heaping metal bowls of the herb-flecked condiment are placed on each table.

For the uninitiated, chimichurri is a traditional Argentinean sauce that goes well with grilled meat. It also complements the eatery's bread, chicken Milanese, empanadas and French fries. Hell, I was tempted to just eat it straight from the bowl.

While their recipe is top secret, I detected the following ingredients: Parsley, olive oil, garlic, peppers, jalapeno, red wine vinegar and onion. Garlic does seem to be the dominant item in this mixture. (Prepare for breath that would scare away Sookie Stackhouse.) There's also a strong dose of heat.

And while we did encounter service issues (this seems to be a running theme of the restaurant), one of the owners ran across the street to rectify the situation and refund us the appetizers we never got. Regardless, the chimichurri was worth the hassle.

Las Vacas Gordas
933 Normandy Dr., Miami Beach
305-867-1717