Arepas are diverse in terms of their filling but are always made of a maize flour and then can be baked, boiled, steamed or fried, before being stuffed with various ingredients. In Colombia, the most popular arepas are those stuffed with cheese or egg, but my favorite arepas are those stuffed with a lot of meat and guacamole!
Other foods I’ve tried are sancocho (a type of soup containing various meats, corn, herbs, yuca and potato), suero (a type of artisanal sour cream with a unique flavor), arroz de coco (coconut rice), arequipe (almost like caramel but not quite!), and a very long list of fruits and juices, animal body parts (cow eye, chicken feet, anyone?) and more!
All that said, the most typical lunch on the Colombian coast consists of some type of rice, a cut of meat or fish, a small salad and, occasionally, a soup. The flavors are usually fresh and neutral, and the pastries are always extra sweet!!
I love to try new foods! When I first started travelling, I made it a habit to never say no to any foods that came my way, no matter how odd they might seem at first. This approach has not only allowed me to gain experiences of eating food of so many flavors, but it has also helped me bond with the people I meet! Even if I don’t like something (which is rare!), I find that people are always happy that a foreigner is interested in their cooking.
Saying no to a food offering in Colombia can be seen as a little rude, so that habit of saying “yes!” has helped me out a lot in terms of connecting with other people here.
