[caption id="attachment_6732" align="aligncenter" width="702"]Bariloche's week long gastronomic festival: Bariloche a la Carta Bariloche's week long gastronomic festival: Bariloche a la Carta / source[/caption]

Bariloche is already on the map for its artisanal chocolate and craft beers, but now its carving its place as a premier gastronomic hotspot in Patagonia with a week long food festival taking place this month, from 6-13 October. Bariloche a la Carta, or Food Week, aims to give visitors a different taste of Bariloche - if you'll excuse the pun!

The various food and drink establishments in Bariloche, from the historic town centre stretching all the way down the short circuit to Llao Llao, have been organised into one gastronomic circuit, with over 70 participating establishments.

[caption id="attachment_2518" align="aligncenter" width="540"]4 seasons in one week at Bariloche a la Carta 4 seasons in one week at Bariloche a la Carta / source[/caption]

Adopting a theme of four seasons in one week, restaurants are offering menus tailored to each of the four seasons, with fresh summer desserts and hearty winter meals, from traditional Patagonian lamb, trout and picadas, to authentic European dishes celebrating Argentina's immigrant heritage. Whether you're lusting after a big hunk of top quality steak at El Boliche de Alberto's, traditional Dublin cobble at Blest brewery, Austrian-style Schweinshaxe at Der Tiroler, or fresh Patagonian trout at Llao Llao, you'll find plenty of choice of sumptuous menus to suit your taste buds.

Once you've satisfied your wildest food dreams, be sure to pay a visit to Bariloche's famous chocolate shops - even if you have to roll yourself downtown! Local favourites like Rapa Nui are not only offering their usual mouth-watering range of chocolates, but have also created custom desserts for the festival.

[caption id="attachment_2519" align="aligncenter" width="540"]Rapa Nui, one of Bariloche's most famous chocolate shops, will also be taking part Rapa Nui, one of Bariloche's most famous chocolate shops, will also be taking part / source[/caption]

In addition to the reorganising Bariloche's map to highlight its gastronomic offerings, Bariloche a la Carta will also host a number of activities throughout the festival. Events include talks and demonstrations, coffee, wine and beer tastings, food pairings, cooking masterclasses and an array of children's activities.

The festival is also offering a benefits card, which you can use throughout the festival to enjoy discounts on everything from your restaurant bill, chocolate tastings, food purchases and sightseeing tours. All you need to do is sign up for the benefits online.

For all the details on the festival, events and participating restaurants, visit the event website or follow them on Facebook.

If you're passing through Argentina during this time, make sure you don't leave Bariloche off your itinerary. Read our Bariloche travel guide to help you plan your trip!

Written by: Nicole Eberhard For: Argentina4u