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Chile is happening.
By Andrew Zimmern on April 8, 2008 5:51 PM | Permalink | 67 Comments
Of all the places I have visited so far this year, Chile is my favorite. You are always only an hour away from snow capped mountains or stunning beach-scapes. The wine scene here is second to none and is easy to plug into, much different than in the USA or in Europe. The countryside is rustic, with teeny beach towns that remind me of the way Malibu must have looked 100 years ago. The people are friendly, the weather is perfect and the food is fantastic. I could live in Chile!Santiago is an amazing city, great theater, great landmarks, superb restaurants, and a buzzing vibe is in the air, everyone here senses that Santiago is ready for it's moment. Yet the rustic charms are still easy to find, check out the neighborhood Feast Day fest I participated in if you doubt it. Seafood is everywhere, and the meal I had at Ana Maria or the day I spent at Mercado Central stuffing my face with oceanic oddities is all the proof you need that is truly a seafood lovers paradise. I even found an edible invertebrate called a piure that I had never even heard of, let alone ever saw. The scene that made it into the show is extraordinary. Truly the most bizarre food we have ever encountered. But the parrillada restaurants that specialize in grilling and roasting all cuts of beef are everywhere, and believe me after a few days of eating barnacles, mussels, congrejo, oysters, seaweed and abalone I was ready for some red meat.
I ate my fill on the last day in town, even eating grilled cow udders, a very tasty treat, but the real meat eating lay a few hundred miles inland. So I took off for Fondo Collanco, a 10,000 acre spread a few hours outside of Temuco.
Fondo Colanco is a private ranch that I visited on the day of the Spring castration. We watched about 30 bulls get snipped and then retired to a barn for the day. We stripped the balls from the scrota, taking them to a giant plow set over an open wood fire for searing in oil, garlic, and chiles before parking them between two homemade rolls for hand sandwiches. The scrota were sauteed with onions, tomatoes and wine into a capullo, or sac-stew! After braising for 3 hours they melted into your mouth, heavenly. But the real treat was yet to come. The Mapuche Indians who work the ranch have been there for generations, working for the owners family for hundreds of years, a true feudal system. When they castrate the bulls, they make a sacrifice of 2 lambs. They string them up by their feet, put a knife behind their tracheas and bleed them into a pan. The blood is seasoned with onion, cilantro and lemon and it sets, into an instant pudding. You eat it before the blood even has a chance to cool. While we were eating this dish, called a niachi by the locals, the lambs were skinned and seasoned, put on a rotisserie and hand turned for 2 hours while we ate the ball sandwiches and the capullo cooked. Several salads of tomatoes and avocados were made and then we all sat down, lord and serf, guests and family friends to a feast that ranks as one of my all time faves. Moises and Christina, our hosts, were the kindest, most wonderful people I have met in years, and their willingness to invite me to share not only in the meal, but to see a ceremony that no one ever experiences outside of a handful of Mapuche, was the icing on the cake.
Anyone thinking of taking a break in a beautiful country, steeped in history, with vibrant cities and rolling country side, cool mountains and warm sea ports would be silly to ignore Chile, my new destination of choice in South America.
67 Comments
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- rolex: hi
- nathalie : Your show ROCKS!! i watch reruns over and over and it still amazes me every time :) More power...
- Alma : Andrew I am a huge fan of Bizzare Foods and Bizzare World. I watch your show every chance I...
- Endang: Thanks Andrew for visiting and let people in America especially to see beautifulness of Bali....
- Charlie: Chalk me up as one of those who was instantly made ill by watching this episode. The...
Dear Andrew, love your show. I am from the island of Trinidad, therefore I was extremely happy when you visited. You may have found out that Trinis will eat anything, just add some curry and spices and some roti. I have eaten, armadillo, iguana (which does taste like chicken) possum, snake, monkey, frog's legs,goat's brain, horse meat, fish egg sacks, souse (pickled pig) and i am easy to tolerate and willing to try, just follow with some white rum. I bet you didn't think that you would hit such a nerve with your show,there are a lot of people like you, who eat a lot of strange food. My family in Triniday loves your show. My daughter at college and her friends are a following, of your show also. The strange food phenomenon, I think it boils down (pardon the pun) back to basic survival, and need. Once people were hungry and they could prepare whatever they could catch to eat to fill a need, there goes, it becomes food. So keep on travelling my friend, I am definitely a fan, and will continue to join you on your exploits :)
dear andrew: well i have to say that watch and love your show, everytime i ask myself how do you do it, and how people can eat all kind of food!!!, and that is what i love the most in your show, but now seeing and reading of what you think about my country`s food (i´m chilean)and can now understand cause`i have eat piure and niachi and fish of all kinds, and now i see the cultural background of every country you have shown. i´m very happy that you like my country. you and every one else are always welcome. and keep up the good show.
Hi Andrew, Just want to let you know that we love your show. Have you visited my beloved Peru? By the way, we peruvians are very proud of our Lucuma, which is actually from Peru :)
Hi Andrew, Just finished watching your show on Chile and I was truly amazed at how well you captured the magic of my country. I have seen many specials on all that Chile has to offer and your show was the most complete and interesting by far. Kudos to you and your staff, and I truly hope you enjoyed Chile the way you described. Many thanks, Jaime
My friend and I adored your show on Chile, although we found the subtle theme of genitalia was a bit giggly for our inner thirteen year olds. You've managed to make me miss my childhood staple of Brazilian and Spanish food- and you're not even in that country! I'd also like to say if Marciano ever wants to come to the United States, he already has a fan club forming in Boston.
Dear Andrew, I follow your program from time to time but today you said that Lucuma is originally from Chile. Please be more carefully when researching for information; lucuma is a fruit from the inter-andean valleys of South America (Peru, Ecuador, and Chile). Please go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucuma to verify this. Don't always trust what the people from that country tells you since that could be false. By the way, Pisco Sour, is also peruvian (even if Chilean say the opposite), and the best Ceviche is from Peru. You should try it before commenting otherwise......
Dear Andrew, Your show about Chile was amazing. I am chilean married with an american and both had a blast watching your program, you really showed the most bizarre food from my country. You can't imagine how much I miss the "congrio frito" and the "locos". Of course both with a good chilean wine or with a "pisco sour". Thank you! You made me feel so proud of my beautiful country. Paola E.
Andrew, All your shows are great specialy this one in Peru, it was very interesting. When will u be in Mexico filming and episode there?
Wow! Chile was fantastic. Amazing beef, seafood, and produce. Excellent.
Andrew, Thank you for your visit to Chile, I was born there and you really captured the taste of my country; I enjoyed every minute of it and even saw my dad going into a taxi, can you belived that? Thank you again.
Dear I am Chilean and I moved to USA, Florida, four years ago (because my wife is American) My family and me really enjoyed your program about Chile. I think through your exploration of people, places and food your show was able to display the complexity and charm of Chilean culture. I know some people is already complaining that pisco and lucuma are Peruvian and the best parrillada is Argentinean, but what make Chile's food –and culture- special is the blending of Amerindian and diverse European elements in a homogeneous and almost geographically isolated society. Chile doesn't taste or smell like the picturesque Lima neither like the cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, rather like something hard to define but we know is located between the Andes and the Pacific.
Ok....I only watched because I had to find out what that horrible creature on the preview was...the Sea Squirt. I want you to warn viewers when you cut apart living creatures. I couldn't switch the channel quickly enough. Really, please give ample warning. That made me want to throw up.
Andrew - great show in Chile. I love your show and I was so excited to see that you were visiting my homeland. I am so glad you see the wonderful potential Chile has. To me, Chile is like a cornucopia, it has plenty to offer to anyone! Empanadas de locos(abolone) is probably one of my favorite things from there. Thanks for a wonderful write up! Glad you enjoyed and def come back as many times as you want, you will always be welcomed with open arms :)
Andrew, I just discovered your show a few weeks back and I absolutely love it! Your show on Chile was both wonderful and humorous. I hope you consider doing a show on Peru one day. When I visited Peru I ate the most delicious food that you could imagine. Muy Rico!
Dear Andrew: What can I tell you...As a chilean living in the USA, it just made me so happy to see that people have the opportunity to know about a country that is located at the end of the world.Thank for showing some of my ancestor's traditions (mapuches) Great food, great people and great country.
Andrew - love your show, never miss one, usually watch them over and over. I especially loved the Chile episode so much I've almost got my wife talked into moving! Got a great idea for your show - take an ordinary midwesterner from the U.S. with you. I'd love to see if the "ordinary" eater like myself would enjoy some of those foods like you do. I'd love to try! Keep up the great work.
Dear Andrew: I just finished watching your show about my beatiful Chile for the 4th time!!!, I actually recorded it and this time my parents got to watch it. Your production crew did an awesome job creating this show about Chile. I've been in USA for ten years and even though sometimes I can get my hands on some of our chilean food, most of the ones that you showed on this episode, I missed a lot. My whole family is from the port of Valparaiso and when you showed that scene of the bay, I felt like I was there. Thank you for this great episode, and Thank you for trying all the food and liking it. We are having "completos" for our tea time(once). Thanks again, Daniela
Dear Andrew we have seen your show about Chile, our beautiful country and we really enjoyed it. I was born in Vina del Mar and i used to go to Horcon all the time so for me was a delightful trip to my past. thank you so much for this episode and i must tell you that we love your show. Mahalo!
Dear Andrew, I could not even finish watching the episode on Chile as if the horse meat wasn't bad enough the castration of the young bull did me in. Do these poor animals even get any sedation for this horrendous procedure? Your show is really making me think I should become a vegetarian.
Look, you needn't travel all that far to eat unusual foods and drink good wine. Come to the Finger Lakes region of New York State in the summer or early fall, and enjoy fantastically fresh produce and world-class wines. And if you absolutely must eat something weird, my mother would be happy to marinate a venison heart for you. Now, what's the recipe for the seviche you ate at that Sunday dinner in the Chile episode? I must have it!
congratulations on sneakinga (live) donkey penis past the censors @ the 18 minute mark (includes commercials). as donkey#1 is being milked in the foreground, donkey #2 is dangling in the background
Hi Andrew...If you wanted the best seafood why did you skip Peru???????.....I think you would have enjoy the best seafood and wonderful ceviche....the weird food of the jungle and the delicious beef, anticuchos(heart) and guinea pig....from the high land...besides the imazing geography and scenary!!.....Love the show..and i love eating interesting food like you!
Hi Andrew...If you wanted the best seafood why did you passed over Peru???????.....I think you would have enjoy the best seafood and wonderful ceviche....the weird food of the jungle and the delicious beef, anticuchos(grilled heart) and guinea pig....from the high land of Peru....besides the imazing geography and scenary are unique!!.....Love the show..and i love eating interesting food like you!!...I hope next time you stop in Peru!
Hi Andrew, Although I've reduced my TV time to only 2 hours a week, I never, ever miss your show. Tuesday 10pm sharp baby, back to back with another rerun!! I enjoy it to the fullest and hopefully will travel to the same places. The twist is, I stopped eating meat since watching some PETA videos about 3 years ago. So I occasionally have to cover my eyes during your show (recall: fluffy, the guinea pig in Peru!). But nevertheless, I respect everyone's life style and embrace your moto: "if it looks good, then eat it!" Do continue to make awesome shows and do continue to be the down to earth awesome guy!
thanks for the info
Why is this the only episode not available on iTunes? I bought a season pass but can't get this episode! Help!
Hi Andrew: I couldn't stop watching the repeats on Chile. I was at most of the places you were back in March of this year. I loved chile and I agree with you, I could live there too. Fantastic country, fantastic food and awesome wine. Thanks for going there and making me relive my unforgettable trip.
Dear Andrew: First thanks for visiting my country you bring me a lots of memories of my heritage and cuisine. Im glad you enjoy the visit and I cannot wait to go soon too. Pisco, seafood and lucuma is good in Peru as well in Chile, so Hugo G. stop hating. Thanks Andrew for bringing me joy. Take care Man you ROCK. Rodrigo P.
Hi Andrew, Your show from Chile was outstanding! I felt you did a marvelous job at showing variety from a country which has much to offer. Hopefully someday you will travel to the extreme south of Chile to try some Curanto or Chapalele, or to the extreme northern desert, driest in the world, and experience alfajores from Matilla, pejerreyes al dedo, and of course, Acha, which is only found in the northern Humboldt current. Buen provecho, y muchas gracias!
Why is the Chile episode not on itunes? What gives?
We love your show. We are always captivated by you. Your show combines food, world cultures, international & domestic travel, humor, good nature, along with that bizzare twist. We watch you instead of the other guy that smokes cigarettes. Nothing against cigarettes. We love your good nature.
Andrew: Thank you for your great comments about Chile. I am a chilean teacher living in Colorado and married to a great peruvian guy (we can love each other instead of hating all the time... just a thought!). I haven't yet watched your show about my country, but I read your blog and it really melted my heart. Thank you for all the wonderful things you said about the people and the places in my homeland. I sure miss all of them so much than it hurts, but it is a great feeling when somebody like you says something like... "I could live there". You can move there anytime, my mom is the best "empanada" and "pastel de choclo" cook in the country (at least to me). She will be happy to feed you. Marisol
Hi Andrew! I haven't watched your show on Chile yet but I am dying to see it! I have been living in the U.S. for 10 years but am originally from Santiago. I can't wait to see all of the foods I've missed so much on your show. Thanks for doing a show on Chile! I'm glad you enjoyed the food, culture and natural beauty of our country! :)
Hi Andrew, With the 102 reality-crap tv shows & the 75 Law & Order franchises...your show is one of the most original, fascinating, interesting, exciting and culturally educating programs on TV! I love it! I admire your bravery. The Chili episode kept me riveted. The Sea Squirt part alone was enough to make me want to watch. Ooh that thing was horrific! Just wanted to say I think this show is awesome! Tammy - NYC
Thanks for the pointers on Chile. We'll be visiting this SA country next February/March. We're ready for the wines, the coast, the ranches, and the volcanoes! Muchas Gracias, Usted es un Maestro do Comida!
My wife keeps complaining about Chile trying to hijack the best foods from Peru by claiming the foods originate in Chile. Of course it's unethical and a sincere form of hatred, but Chile understands the value of hijack marketing. If you're going to be a professional food show, please do not be disrespectful to the origins of the foods you present.
I love your shows! Your Chile show tempts me so much I think I'm gonna look into going there this year.
Hi Andrew I was very happy when I knew that you were here. I must tell you that I ate piure during my childhood so for me it's bizarre that you find bizarre piure jajaja I haven't seen the show about my country but by your comments I find that you had very good guides. Anyway... I love your show!
thank you for visiting such a beautiful country!!I love this episode,and I love piure!1while I was watching the program my mouth couldn't stop watering,I'm very sorry about some of the comments that have been posted about this episode though,I think these people shouldn't be jealous ,because you think chilean food is the best,who cares if the lucuma or pisco is shared between chile and peru,the food you ate was prepared in chile,besides,chilean pisco doesn't get same destilation than peruvian,also chile is the greater exporter of this liquor,(whenever you look for it,it says its belongs to chile)congratulations,wonderful program
Andrew, If you wanted to try some bizarre foods for you show...WHY DID YOU SKIP PERU???...here we have the most bizarre drink I can think of (and I am not talking about ayahuasca)...I am talking about a beberage made with yuca...the yuca is chewed by the people from the jungle,then they put it under the sun for some ours...and to show your manners you must at least place the mug in your lips...its called Masato...thats bizarre. Then we also have Antichuchos (grilled heart)...chicha de jora (an alcoholic drink from the andes)...and we also eat animal interiors...you eat "Watita" in Ecuador...we have Mondonguito a la Italiana...made with the same meat...its crunchy...but good. If you want an experience out of this world...try ayahuasca...I have never done that. We have Chamans here as well...a lot of them...here there are more than in Ecuador. You should come...you wont regret...I swear...jajaja.
By the way...Peru and Chile DO NOT SHARE PISCO...Pisco is Peruvian...thats all...if you doubt...come to Pisco, Peru...try real Pisco...and then we will talk. Sorry if perhaps I am being rude...its not my intension..
Im chilean and i admit pisco is peruvia, but chileans use pisco way more than peruvians, and ass for the ass sandwiches zimmerman haha not even i have the stomach to chew on that, im really glad chile is your new found favorite destination in south america. tell your alcoholic friend bourdain to take a trip there, im prety sure hes gonna love the 1 liter bottles of bear.
I totally agree with you the scenery and the food in Chile are amazing. I have been to lots of places around the world but the seafood there was as good if not better than any where else i had been to.
Andrew, You are great, but why do you use the phrase, "mucho gracias" to say thank you, in spanish speaking countries (over and over again)? It grates on my nerves because the proper term is "muchas gracias". So, (recuerdo) remember,thank you in espanol es, muchas gracias!!!!!!!
Andrew, You crazy man from the states. My sister made me watch your program and i thought i was going to be sick. hahaha. No, just joking, but i enjoyed the show. Have you ever been to Jamaica? Your've heard of jerk chicken? Well, we jerk a whole lot more than that. I'm not being nasty. We have a varitable cornacopia of indigenous dishes to share with you that i think you'll enjoy. Keep up the good work and hope to see you in Ocho Rios someday.
Hi Andrew. Great show. Thanks for the information on Chile. This is truly a place to be seen. We may have to consider taking Jet Set Life there to shoot some video.
Andrew I must commend you on a beautiful and delicious show from my beloved country Chile!!I miss it so much you'll make me go sooner than I thought I would..and to those Peruvians, stop being jealous GET OVER the fact that we are better!!I always watch your show Andrew and will keep watching, the only thing though, we don't have Mariachi bands in Chile, its Huasos..but I forgive you...
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR SHOW. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I JUST WANT TO TURN THE CHANNEL BUT I WHRN I DECIDE TO DO SO YOU PULL ME BACK IN. YOU ARE A VERY INTERESTING MAN. I WISH THAT I HAD THE MEANS TO TRAVEL THE WORLD LIKE YOU.
nice. i'm from chile.
Dear Andrew I just love your show and to see you featuring my country made it all the more special. I could see that you really were able to appreciate our culture and our foods. It truly was as if I was there walking with you. I enjoyed it immensely, it really made me think back to my childhood and happy days spent in Chile. I like how you respect the people and cultures in your travels and must admit that I sometimes have to turn my head because there is a lot you eat that I wouldn't. Thank you again and God Bless.
Hi Andrew. We love your show. I think you have enjoyed
Andrew should make an appeal that not everything should be eaten until there has been a survey to ensure thats its sustainable i am sure people have eaten certain spieces to extinction and his show must take some responsibility
Will the Peruvians just stay out of this!!! God, what a pain in the arse!!
Please. It's like children constatntly complaining cos' they didn't get their ice-cream.
Lucuma, ceviche and the papa (yes, papas), as well as many other foods are found in Chile as well as in Peru. Quit whining! Get over it!
Hey Andrew, i live in Clarksville, Tennessee and I just want to say I love your show I watch everyday. Now if I could I would be doing what you do but I'm only 13. So every place I go I get something new. I hope to do stuff like you whan I grow up. And if not I'll make sure it's a hobby for me.oh one more thing I'd love to be on a show with you one day. Please let me be on a show with you!!! =)
Hi Andrew, I just arrived from South America, and to be honest, I found that Lucuma is from Peru, and also Pisco!. Ok, they probably also make lucuma ice cream and pisco sour in Chile (most because of peruvian influence), but those are not typical or natinal dishes, not even originally from there. Greets from Denmark! :-)
Dear Andrew,
My boyfriend and I enjoy so much your show that we watch it almost every day. I’m from Chile, and of course, the show that I liked the most was your visit to Chile, I think that you took great shots of the places that you visited as well as the food. Pretty soon I will be flying to Chile and I would appreciate if you can provide me with the names of the restaurants that you visited in Santiago, the two first restaurants. One was a seafood restaurant and the other was a parrilladas.
Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon,
Dear Andrew, Thanks for your show on Chile, besides the great food you had great shots of the countryside and gave a sense of the what the local people are like. I lived there for 6 years in the 90's, ended up marrying a chilena and want to go back to live. You're right, the food is fantastic. Pastel de choclo, congrillo, empanadas,and "los mariscos" I just love. Thanks for a great show,count me in as one of your loyal fans.
We just said goodbye to Juanito today...a foreign exchange student from Chile who has stayed with us this past week. So today is bittersweet for our family. I am totally intrigued by Chile...I remember this show and wish I could have shared it with Juanito.He spoke little English, we spoke little Spanish...Thank you google translator but we enjoyed our mealtime with the laptop planted between us! Thank you for your travels, your experiences, and giving me insight into Juanito's country!
I recently returned from Villa Alemana Chile where I was able to visit with all of my family. I wish I could be able to live there after retirement. How can I purchase a DVD copy of this show?
MAN WHAT CAN I SAY..YOU EAT ALOT OF THINGS..BUT THAT DURAIN SHUT YOU DOWN! ALSO THE THE HOUSE OF STINKY TOFU THOUSAND YEAR OLD ANYTHING IM NOT TOUCHING IT.YOUVE GOT BALLS. AMAZING SHOW. HOPE TO SEE ANOTHER SEASON.GREAT T.V. H TOWN
Dear Mr. Zimmern, I love your show,I am watching your show from Chile right now, and I noticed that perhaps the authentic food from Chile has been mislead by your visit to El Peron, Peron was a President from Argentina, and Parrillada is native from Argentina not Chile.
I love that u visited Chile. Chile is a country which is absolutely beautiful to visit and enjoy. I was born there so I know .... I am glad you enjoy cow balls, for me is a delicasy which I like it grill with a chili, is very tasty. If u go up north of chile you can absolutely enjoy other meats like llama. And the south of chile it is amazing for the seafood you can get and especially how it gets to be cooked which is unforgettable. I am very glad that u enjoy and learn about my amazing country CHILE. Don't forget to go in its indepedence day in september 18, enjoy the food better.
Ai, ¡huevon!
My best friend is from Santiago. She comes over once a week and cooks great Chilean meals for me....Mmmmmmmm....
Can't wait to go to Santiago with her and experience the scene IRL.
Also, La Ley is one of my favorite bands (from Chile).
when you visit chile do you need know pomaire and eat empanadas 1kg and do you need travel south of the chile do you need eat Truee curanto.
in valdivia los molinos restaurant Bahia. in this restaurant you need eat trueee empanadas
best r egards,
leandro
Great Chilean's Show Andrew! I'living in Connecticut, I grew up in South of Chile (I recomend you next time to go to Valdivia, Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt (angelmo the most famous seafood market in Chile) and Chiloe ( a magic land with their own traditions) you will see in the south a mix of german and mapuche culture. Thanks again for the show in Chile and around the world. Good Luck!!!
Andrew - YOU ROCK!!!! You have no idea how much my husband and I love your show! And we couldn't believe it when we saw the one when you came to Chile, our country!! I admire your bravery - being able to put almost anything in your mouth! My mama taught me to always try everything so I feel a bit identified with you - but my husband! He "watches" half of the program with his eyes covered!
I think you went to the best places in Chile, but there are so many more! If you ever have the oportunity to come back, go south!!
Lots of love and good luck!!!
ANDREW
YOU DO NOT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT GOOD FOOD, UNTIL YOU DECIDE TO VISIT PERU, A COUNTRY WITH ALL THE WEATHERS OF THE WORLD, ALL IN ONLY ONE COUNTRY, WITH COAST, HIGHLANDS AND JUNGLE. GO THERE AND ENJOY