Take a heaped tablespoon of flavor and mix in a bowl full of aromas and then add a cup of culture and history for added freshness whilst washing it down with a smooth glass of diversity and there you have the basis of South American food & drink!
The vibrancy and spirit of South America is best explored through its wide variety of food and drink that changes from city to city and country to country!
From quinoa in the Andes and the African influence on Brazilian cuisine to the very earth that produces some of the best wines in the world; the magic of South American food & drink is waiting to blow your mind and samba its way across your taste-buds!
Discover the explosion of ceviche flavors in Peru
As Peruvian as Machu Picchu, ceviche has been declared a part of Peru’s national heritage and even has National Day of Ceviche which is celebrated on June 28. Composed of chunks of raw fish, marinated in freshly squeezed lime juice with slices of onions and chili peppers and a sprinkling of salt and pepper makes for one of the most spectacular dishes you will taste.
Leonardo da Vinci said, ‘simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’ and this couldn’t be truer when looking at the mouth-watering Peruvian dish of ceviche.
With Peruvian restaurants springing up across the United States and Europe, you might have already tried ceviche and whilst it may have been excellent, nothing compares to ceviche in Peru! Whilst being the most famous dish of contemporary Peru, at the same time, ceviche holds within its creation and eating Peruvian culture and history making this more than just a dish. The refreshing, light flavors and experience of eating ceviche in Peru are part of understanding and discovering the country and culture of Peru.
Explore the carnival of dishes in Brazil
The liveliness and vitality you feel by simply walking along Avenida Atlântica in front of the luxurious Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio de Janeiro is emulated in Brazilian food and drink. Brazil is unique, not only because it is the only Portuguese speaking nation in South America but because it is very hard to put your finger on what is typical Brazilian food.
Traveling around Brazil, you will come to realize than there is not one national dish but numerous and very distinct regional dishes, creating a heaven for foodie travelers.
With a great mixture of cultures, traditions, ingredients and cooking methods; exploring the many dishes of Brazil is similar to a whistle-stop tour around the world. Providing a distinctive insight into Brazil today you can have delicious African infused dishes in Bahia, before heading to the south of Brazil to try Arabic food and with the largest Japanese population living outside of Japan you can’t even begin to imagine just how tasty the Japanese dishes with their individual Brazilian twists are! The melting pot of cultures, nationalities and ethnicities mixed with the Brazilian flair has produced some of the most mouth-watering dishes you can find in South America!
Sip the pure wines of Chile
A hop over the Andes from Argentina and you will land in another great wine producing region of South America. Perhaps more pronounced on the international world stage of wines, Chile has long been recognized for its winemaking potential and accomplishments.
First introduced by the Spanish settlers back in the 1500s, Chile’s soil is now home to a number of Europe’s most prestigious winemakers, from Chateau Mouton Rothschild to Chateau Lafite Rothschild.
With the dry Atacama Desert in the north, the glaciers of Patagonia in the south, the Andes in the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west; these natural boundaries have helped create some of the most pure grapes in the world. Chile’s star grape is without a doubt, Cabernet Sauvignon which arrived in the mid-19th Century from France and has since taken the world by storm with its simple and fruity flavors produced in the warm, dry climates of Aconcagua, Maipo, Cachapoal and Colchagua. There is no doubting that a trip to Chile’s wine region is a wonderful culinary experience and one that cannot be missed!
Sip some more with the full-bodied wines of Argentina
Argentinean wine has recently received the Papal seal of approval with a reported 500 liters of wine currently in production to be used in the sacrificial wine. Taken from the wine making regions of Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca, Salta, Neuquén and Rio Negro, the vineyard area of Argentina covers over 546,600 acres and over the last 20 years it has pushed Argentina to the front on the international world wine stage!
The desert-like climate in the wine-growing regions of Argentina means that the grapes grow thick skins and have good acidity levels due to the warm days and cooler nights.
Perhaps the most well-known wine region of Argentina is Mendoza which is primarily known for the bouquet of aromas of its malbec wines. The other regions, such as San Juan is famous for its syrah and the mountainous region of Cafayate for its crisp, dry white torrentes wine. When traveling to South America, you cannot miss exploring the variety and special character of Argentinean wines and its wine-producing regions!
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