In the past week I have met quite a few people who have just recently arrived in Chile. Most of those who I met were anxious to to taste typical Chilean food. And who can blame them? Tasting native cuisines is one of the best parts of traveling. What would you guess native Chilean food looks like? Lots of beans and rice? Heafty amounts of meat? Well folks, I´m sad to report that if it´s fast food then it´s Chilean food. I have yet to see a bean in a restaurant yet and as for rice, the most I´ve consumed it in restaurants is alongside Indian food or Sushi. Ha. That said, there is quite a lot of good foreign food in Santiago. A high population of Japanese people insures the sushi is good (they pronounce is suchi).
There are a few dishes that are considered typically Chilean but they are either fried or loaded with sugar. Humitas for example, look like a Chilean version of tamales except less soft and with a cup of sugar cooked into it. I can´t say that I´ve ever actually finished a humita before because they´re just so damn rich. Another typical Chilean dish is empanadas. I learned on the farm that Chilean expatriates sooth homesickness with an empanada and a glass of vino tinto to take them back home.
Another culinary definition of Chilean food is salty food. I now put salt on everything. Eggs, salad, vegetables, fish, bread. You name it I, and a lot of other Chileans, salt it. Sometimes I feel bad when I reach for the salt, but it just makes everything taste so damn good. I´m curious to see what happens to my salt intake once I´m state side.
Now the third hint for detecting if what you´re eating is Chilean is if it is covered in Mayonase. Sandwhiches, some salads and a bevvy of other things fall victim to mayo suffocation. One part food and one part mayo? That´s how they like it. Okay perhaps I´m exaggerating a bit. I haven´t had nearly that many bad experiences with mayo because I´ve mostly been eating vegetarian dishes and somehow the two are mutually exclusive. But Nora did tell me that with every meal her host mother makes sure to let her know that there is mayo on the table. And she can use it if she wants to. And here´s a knife for the mayo. In case you want it. MAYO:
I must say, upon rereading this, that it's not entirely fair. Chile has a plethora of regional beverages that are quite tasty to claim. It also boasts some delicious, fresh squeezed juices in the summer time. Essentially any fruit you can imagine (mangos, strawberries, kiwis, apples, oranges, grapefruit, bananas, chirimoya (an interesting and delicious fruit that simply doesn't exist north of the equator, etc.
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