Plata, which directly translates to “silver,” takes its name from the capital city of the province of Buenos Aires. La Plata is home to the Spampinato family where Francisca Spampinato, grandmother to Cristina, hosted countless gatherings. The family spent hours telling stories and enjoying Francisca’s homecooked meals. Cristina was learning how to prepare ñoquis, ravioles, and empanadas by the age of two. Inheriting her grandmother’s cooking prowess, she went on to earn her  bachelor’s degree  in culinary arts from the Art Institute of San Francisco. After graduating, she worked in restaurants in Spain and Italy, ultimately embarking on a pilgrimage to Argentina where she learned to fuse the flavors and techniques that define her culinary style–blending indigenous food such as cordero al palo and gaucho fare like the traditional nose-to-tail asado with Italian and German inspired dishes. It is Plata’s great pleasure to bring these eclectic flavors to the Bay Area–a place as beautifully diverse as Argentina itself.