When you travel to new destinations, you will find that one of the most memorable aspects of your trip will be the cuisine. Don't be surprised if when you return home you find yourself describing the delicious dishes that you ate in detail to friends and relatives.
Of course, there are lots of good reasons to study Spanish in Chile, including world-class tourist destinations, a gorgeous coastline, cultural activities, and hiking and rock climbing in the Andes. However, the top-notch cuisine in the country is yet another solid reason to choose to travel to Chile and attend Spanish school in Santiago.
Chilean cuisine is actually very unique, as it was not only influenced by Spanish cooking, but also by other cuisines throughout Europe like Germany, Italy, Croatia and France. Even Middle Eastern food influenced Chilean cuisine. Of course, the traditional Chilean ingredients also had a hand in creating the region's food. As you would expect with Chile's super long coast, seafood finds its way into the food. Salmon is popular as is the world famous Chilean sea bass. Other types of seafood that you will typically see in Chilean food include squid, sole, cod, abalone, prawns, lobster and eel.
Also the country has a diverse terrain, which produces many varied fruits and vegetables. Some of the most popular foods in the region include olives, potatoes and quinoa. Other more unusual offerings include chirlmoya, which is a native frui, and lucuma, a nutritious fruit that is native to Peru. Maize is also a staple of the diet in Chile.
You will also find that as you travel through Chile, there are different cuisines that correspond with the various regions. For example, the food of the Central Coast will be different from the cuisine of Northern or Southern Chile. Some of the local dishes that you shouldn't leave Chile without trying include Cazuela, a soup with meat and vegetables, and pastel de chocio, which is a tasty corn pie made with vegetables, olives, eggs and meat. You will also likely encounter a good amount of curanto (a hearty seafood stew) and arroz con pollo, which is a traditional chicken and rice casserole.
Be sure to pair the food that you will be enjoying when you attend a Spanish school in Santiago with some famous local wine. The country is one of the largest producers of wine in the world. Over 20 varieties of grapes are grown in the region. Vines were brought to Chile all the way back in the 16th century by Spanish conquistadors. The wine's history in the region has been most influenced by France, although many people would assume that it is the most similar to Spain's wine. Interestingly enough, people have described the climate in Chile as being between that of California and France.
Of course, when you study Spanish in Chile, you can't spend all your time eating and drinking. However, be prepared to sample a wide variety of local food. You may be surprised what your new favorite dish turns out to be!
Author Resource:
Latin Immersion organizes Spanish immersion courses in Latin America,
including two spanish schools in Chile: Santiago and Viña del Mar. For
more details about learning Spanish in Chile visit latinimmersion.com.
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