Chilean Food

One of the cultural distinctives of any country is the food and Chile is no exception. We had wonderful food, and we had food that was OK. We enjoyed our empanadas fried on a little stove behind the counter of a bazarre vendor almost as much as the seafood platter at the oceanside restaurant. Keith couldn't get enough of the fresh fruit and delighted in the stands along the roads. He was thrilled to get huge bunches of grapes, peaches, and huge plums for just a little more than a dollar.

Fresh fish is abundant seeing that this country has over 3,000 miles of coastline.


This was a meat platter (vegetables were not abundant at most of the meals we had) that included pork, beef, sausages, and cow's udder (the yellow meat). I was the only one brave (translate: stupid) enough to taste it.


I thought the children would be interested to know that we ate "prickly pear" (the fruit in the song of Baloo in "The Jungle Book"). It grows on this cactus looking plant, has sharp spines, and must be picked early in the morning before the spines dry out into sharp points. The fruit itself is green and is filled with seeds that I likened to large raspberry or blackberry seeds. They're too big to chew and too numerous to spit. I was told they are to be swallowed and are good for cleaning out your digestive tract. It was kind of like not-too-unpleasant medicine, we didn't eat it just for the pleasure of eating it!


Keith was in his element under this arbor of fresh green grapes--his favorite fruit. Jorge plucked several bunches for us to take to our hotel!


Jorge also grew nuts and we ate these fresh walnuts right off the tree as well as fresh almonds.


Keith's final stop at a fruit stand.