Food and Drinks (Things to Try)

FOOD (5 to try)

• Empanadas:  Empanadas are savory pastries filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables.  They are often filled with minced beef, onions, olives, and hard-boiled eggs. 

• Asado:  Argentine barbecue that includes various cuts of beef, including ribs and chorizo that are slow-cooked over open flames. The meat is seasoned simply with salt. 

• Milanesa:  This dish is similar to schnitzel.  It is a breaded and fried cutlet, typically made from beef or chicken.and is served either plain or topped with cheese and tomato sauce. 

• Choripán:  This is the classic street food in Buenos Aires.  It is grilled chorizo sausage served on crusty bread and topped with chimichurri sauce.  Foster, this is for you.

• Provoleta:  This is a unique appetizer that is typically available at steak houses.  It is grilled provolone cheese that is crisp on the outside and soft in the middle.  It is usually topped with a sprinkle of oregano or a little olive oil.

DESSERT

• Alfajores and Dulce de Leche:  Alfajores are sweet, crumbly cookies that are filled with creamy dulce de leche and covered in chocolate or powdered sugar.  They are available in most coffee shops and are an afternoon treat.  Dulce de Leche is a caramel-like spread that is used in many desserts.  Order alfajores and enjoy two of Argentina's iconic treats. 

DRINKS

• Wines:  The best wines from Argentina are Malbec and Torrontes.  Malbec is the signature Argentine wine, and this red wine is best paired with meat.  Torrontes is the most popular white grape wine.  It is fruity and floral, often served as a dessert wine, but pairs well with empanadas.

• Hot Beverages:  Yerba Mate is by far the most popular.  It is made from chopped yerba leaves and is typically sipped through a metal straw.  Coffee is also a favorite. Or, you could try a submarino, which is a chocolate bar that is melted inside a glass of very hot, foamy, milk.  Maryann will love this.

• Cocktails:  Fernet and coke is the most popular Argentine drink.  It is also known as a Fernandito.  Fernet is a bitter italian liquor that is made from saffron, myrrh, rhubarb, and cardamom.  Or if you like sangria, try clerico. Clerico is prepared from Torrontes wine, fresh fruit, sugar, and soda water.

• Beer:  Quilmes is the most popular beer brand in Argentina.

FOOD

• Completo:  This is a Chilean-style hotdog.  It is a grilled sausage on a soft bun, that is then loaded with mayonnaise, sauerkraut, diced tomatoes, and pebre (spicy Chilean salsa).  This is typical street food and is a local favorite.  The Italiano completo includes avocado, mayo, and diced tomatoes so that it looks like the Italian flag.  I dare you Foster.

• Empanadas:  A savory turnover that is typically filled with seasoned meat, cheese, or seafood.  The most traditional Chilean empanada is the empanada de pino, which is an empanada filled with seasoned ground beef, olives, and onions.

• Ceviche:  This local dish is made from raw fish or seafood that is marinated with lime juice, onions, cilantro, and a hint of chili.  It can either be served as an appetizer or as a light entree.

• Pastel de Choclo:  This is a traditional comort food.  It is a casserole that is made from ground corn, seasoned meat, onions, olives and topped with a golden cornmeal crust.  Should be good with a glass of red wine.

• Cazuela:  This is a typical stew that is made from either chicken or beef.  The meat stock is cooked separately with chopped onions and carrots.  Then a vegetable stock is added.  It is usually served with either a piece of squash, a potato, green beans, or sweetcorn and is topped with cilantro or parsley.

DESSERT

• Tota de Mil Hojas:  This is a layered cake with dulce de leche filling.  

DRINKS

• Wine:  The national wine of Chile is carmenere, which is a full-bodied, dry red wine,  but the country also produces some of the best Cabernet Savignon and outstanding white wines..  

• Hot drinks:  Yerba mate is also popular in Chile, thanks to Argentina.

• Cocktails:  The national drink is the Pisco Sour. It is made from Pisco, a brandy that is high octane distilled grape juice.  Or if you are not in the mood for alcohol, try a Mote con huesillos.  This is a juice made from peach nectar, sugar, cinnamon, and husked wheat.  Sorry Kelly.

• Beer:  In Santiago, the most popular beers are light lagers.  Crisal, Escudo, and Becker are the three most popular.  There is a growing craft beer industry, so try anything that catches your fancy Brian and Sandi.

FOOD

• Umu Rapa Nui:  This is the island's most traditional dish and is a steaming delight with a deep, earthy flavor. It is based on the slow cooking of food in an earth oven with red-hot volcanic stones. Covered with banana leaves, layers of meat, chicken, fish, and seafood are interspersed with sweet potato, taro, and cassava. It is usually a festival food, but we can try umu at the Te Ra’ai restaurant.  Let Pam know if you are interested and she will try to make reservations.

• Tunu Ahi:   This is another of the island's traditional foods. It is freshly caught fish that is cooked over hot volcanic stones.  Its name in Rapa Nui means "cooking with fire". It can include any fish, but tuna is the classic.

• Rapanui Ceviche:  This is a star of Easter Island cuisine.  It is fresh tuna, cut into cubes and marinated with ingredients such as lemon, chili, coconut milk, or soy sauce, depending on the culinary influence to be highlighted.  It is typically served with sweet potato, rice, or salad, making it a refreshing dish that is perfect for warm days on the island. 

• Tuna Carpaccio:  This light option is prepared by cutting thin slices of fresh tuna and seasoning them with salt, lemon juice, olive oil, capers, and grated Parmesan cheese. Tuna is of high quality on Easter Island and this dish allows one to enjoy the pure taste of the fish with a touch of acidity and saltiness.

• Tuna Empanadas:  These come in different varieties.  The most popular are tuna with cheese, followed by tuna with tomato and shrimp. We can find both fried (traditional) and baked versions.

DESSERT

• Po'e rapanui:  This is the traditional dessert of Easter Island. Po'e  is a fluffy sponge cake that is made with banana, pumpkin, or cassava, flour, milk, and sugar. It is available in individual portions in supermarkets and local stores, and is a good snack for when we go on excursions around the island.

Note:  Easter Island honey is supposed to be incredible and is a recommended souvenir, so while you are buying your Po'e, pick up some local honey.

DRINKS:

Wine:  Easter Island has recently been designated a wine area in Chile.  Most likely, there will be wines similar to those in Santiago.  If you think you will want wine while on Easter Island, your best bet however is to bring it with you from Santiago.  It will be cheaper and you can have what you want.

Hot Drinks:  Coffee and tea are readily available.

Cocktails:  As part of Chile, the Pisco Sour is also popular on Easter Island. Or you may want to try a Pina Colada Rapa Nui that is made with fresh pineapple, coconut cream, rum, and ice.  

Beer:  The must try beer is a Michelada.  This is a beer served with lemonade in a frosted mug lined with salt and with a chili rim.  Sounds delicious.