Southern Style Cooking: Colombian Arepas Are a Scrumptious Addition to Any Meal

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Colombian Arepas Are a Scrumptious Addition to Any Meal

Colombian Arepas Are a Scrumptious Addition to Any Meal

Victoria Heydt

I am writing this fresh from an incredible 10-day trip to Colombia. Please, take me back to crystalline blue waters, fresh shrimp ceviche served with a side of plantain chips, and endless jarras of sangria!

It was my first time visiting Latin America. Let me tell you, traveling during COVID, especially internationally, was interesting to say the least. Not to worry, we took all the safety precautions outlined by the CDC and the Colombian government, and found that even while wearing a mask and sanitizing everything we came in contact with, we still had a marvelous time.

Both my travel buddy and I love sampling foods, so travelling around Medelíin—affectionately called "the teacup" because of how the city sits surrounded by mountains—and the coastal city of Cartagena was a blast.

We tried a variety of insanely delicious regional dishes: cazuelas de mariscos, arepas, patacones served with salsa verde, limonada de coco (my new favorite beverage), and beef carpaccio, just to name a few.

The first time we tried the creamy, dreamy limonada de coco was in Medellín, but it was in Cartagena's Old Town at Alma's Restaurant and Bar where we fell head over heels in love with it. Made with fresh coconut cream and limeade (plus a rather large splash of rum, because why not), this refreshing frozen beverage was a respite to the South American sun.

When we weren't indulging ourselves with limonadas de coco, we were sampling sangria from every establishment we visited, each one with its own unique flavor, and each jarra more delightful than the last. My favorite was the warm, spiced red wine sangria from La Garza Cafe.

In between these boozy moments, we hiked El Peñol, stopping to have a michelada at the top and enjoy the view; walked through Comuna 13 with its awe-inspiring graffiti; indulged in coffee lemonades with our guide; and bonded with our driver over bandeja paisa, Colombia's quintessential dish of red beans and rice, chorizo, plantains, black pudding, arepa, egg, and avocado.

For breakfast, we frequented a small café near our AirBnb, making sure to start the day off with beef and potato empanadas, pan de bono, and a steaming cup of Colombian coffee. I'm dreaming of brewing my own in an espresso machine at home.

All-in-all, it was an absolutely lovely trip, filled with great food, wonderful drinks, and hilarious company.

What was your favorite food or beverage that you had on one of your travels? Let us know on Instagram @thespruceeats.

- Victoria Heydt
Editorial Project Manager, The Spruce Eats