This is where things get interesting. As is the case in much of Latin America, lunch here is eaten late and tends to be a larger meal, especially on weekends. Restaurants are empty until at least 1 pm and then stay full til 3:30 or 4:00.
Lunch can fall into three categories during the week. First, there is the basic "fast food" empanadas.
They are cheap and very good. The most popular kind is pino, which includes meat in a sort of savory sauce, a hard boiled egg, and at least one olive, although one never knows if there is a pit in it (I can only assume this is in conjunction with the Chilean Association of Reconstrutive Dentistry).
The next most popular collection of lunch foods I'm going to sort lump together and refer to as "Chilean Soul Food" heretofore known as CSF. CSF consists first and foremost of hot dogs slathered in a wide range of amazingly unhealthy combinations that include stuff like mayo, cheese, bacon and some less lethal things like tomatoes, avocado (palta here), and onions.
If you aren't up for a hot dog there is also something in the pantheon of CSF called a Churrasco. This is sliced beef (or pork) in a round sandwich, again covered with the same selection of stuff available on the hot dogs.
My personal favorite is called A Lo Pobre which has a fried egg, cheese and sautéed onions. It has tremendous and magical healing powers after a night of Chilean wine enjoyment.
Finally, for some folks lunch is the "main" meal. Amy and I have a favorite place near my office where some meat or fish is available to comsume.
Maybe a little pasta instead?
It can make for a long afternoon but since dinner is typically eaten well after 8 you have lots of time to digest. More on dinner later this week.
No comments:
Post a Comment