Additionally, lunch is generally a full experience where you go out with friends for at least an hour to talk and enjoy yourself as you work your way through your big lunch.
While this is the traditional type of lunch, Chileans are also very fond of a couple of other types of food. You can't talk about Chilean food without mentioning the "completo" which is a hot dog covered in ingredients. The most popular type of "completo" is called the "italiano" which is a hotdog blanketed in avocado, tomatoes and mayonnaise. It is called an "italiano" because the colors look like the Italian flag. Completos are everywhere and you can get many different types. It is also worth mentioning the Empanada, which is a well-loved staple in ball of South America. Each country has its own special style of Empanada which they fiercly claim is the best. Chilean Empanadas are generally baked and traditionally full of meat, hard-boiled eggs, spices and olives. Be careful because the olives have pits and I have heard of unknowing tourists breaking a tooth while enthusiastically biting into a hot Chilean Empanada!
I am still getting used to the idea of lunch being the main meal of the day. I really like the idea of having a break in the middle of the day where you get to put down work and just enjoy yourself. Many Chileans return home and spend an hour with their family to talk and laugh before they have to go back work. This part of the Chilean lunch tradition, I really like.
