Comida...comida, comida

Aka, food food food!!

I tend to pay close attention to what I eat (unless of course I have spent a night on the town in which case I can be easily distracted by the piping steam of French fries and other deep-fried, grease-drenched delicacies). Of course here, drunk food also does exist (minus kebabs)but there are a couple of extra perks. For less than 20p there are the most delicious little empanadas that can cure any alcohol filled belly. Little stuffed pastries filled with cheese or onions or meat or mushrooms or all of the above are just big enough and just right!


But life definitely doesnt consist only of drunk food and for that I am grateful. Chileans seem to be big on eating lots of fruits and vegetables. The avocados called ´paltas´ (not aguacates) are delicious here and so are the rest of the fruits. I have fell in love with pineapples. Teressa the maid makes the most delicious smoothies.

Breakfast isn´t a meal grande like it is in the UK. In fact, people usually drink a little coffee (cafecita) or tea, eat a little bread and cheese or fruit and they´re done, no greasy ulster frys. Since I am never on time in the morning (or really any time for that matter) I never have time to sit down and eat before running out the door to get to school so really not much has changed.


As for lunch, however, its a biggger story. Lunch, or almuerzo, is the most imporant meal of the day. People eat a lot for lunch. Almuerzo usually consists of 3 courses soup, salad then main course and dessert with a coffee. Oh, and wine of course, wine. While its nice to enjoy a wee glass f wine everyday, I am beginning to understand the incredible importance of the siesta.
Dinner is not dinner its ´once´. Once is bread and manjar also for once there is cheese and jam, ham and avocados and other fruits. Dinner and lunch is kind of like in reverse. Wine is usually a part of once and coffee and tea are always a part of once. It is kind of nice to eat a giant meal at 1 or 2 and then have a small meal and tea before bedtime. Really nice, actually.


So that´s the food issue. My Chilean family tells me that I eat ´como un pajarito´ which means like a little bird. Well thats the food issue :)