What is your favorite food? Can you think of any foods from different countries? Do you like to try new foods?
Food is an important part of everyday life. What and how people eat can tell you a lot about their culture. Being on an island, there is a lot of fresh seafood here. The food is a mixture of Caribbean, Spanish and Canarian influences which all combine to create tasty and unique dishes.
Potatoes are a very important part of the diet here. There are many different types of potatoes, some of which only grow on the island! One of my favorite dishes so far is called "papas arrugadas." It literally translates to "wrinkly potatoes." It is a dish of very small potatoes boiled in very salty water, sometimes even seawater! It is served with different sauces: aioli (like mayonnaise), mojo verde (green sauce with cilantro) and mojo rojo (red, spicier sauce).
The first time that I tried papas arrugadas, I was at a restaurant with my friend. We were right next to the water and could see the boats of the fishermen. We ordered a freshly caught fish and a side of papas arrugadas. They are really tiny potatoes, but so yummy! I love salty foods, and the skin of these potatoes was very salty and delicious!
