Meat

• One of the primary sources of economy in Uruguay is livestock, so beef has become a central focus of Uruguayan cuisine. Dishes such as Asado (beef cooked with olive oil, herbs and garlic), Parillada (a platter of beef and entrails) and Chivitos (hot beef sandwiches with lettuce, tomatoes, eggs and cheese) are popular today, and considered some of the signature dishes of Uruguay.

Pasta

• As a result of Italian influences on the culture, the national dish of the whole country is pasta, and people traditionally eat pasta each Sunday. Some of the most popular pastas include fettuccine, gnocchi, ravioli and cannelloni.

Desserts

• The national desert of Uruguay is "dulce de leche," a type of candy that is very similar to caramel. It is made with milk and sugar that has been cooked slowly for more than two hours until it has reduced and become almost solid.

Drinks

• In Uruguay, tea is made from a plant called Yerba mate and is widely consumed throughout the country. Traditionally this drink was brewed inside of a gourd and sipped through a metal straw, called a "bombilla." Coffee is also popular in the form of espresso. One of the traditional wines of Uruguay is "cleric," which is made from a combination of different wines and apple juice.