Southern Cone
The "asado" barbecue is a culinary tradition typical of the Southern Cone. The asado developed from the horsemen and cattle culture of the region, more specifically from the "gauchos" of Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil (and Southern Chile) and the "huasos" of Central Chile. In the Southern Cone, horsemen are considered icons of national identity; they are featured in the epic poem "Martín Fierro". Mate is popular throughout the Southern Cone.