Since my arrival in Cartagena, I eat…
I haven't found a way to resist all these aromas attacking my olfactory mucous membranes.
The first dish by which I let myself be tempted... arepa con huevo. A round corn flour pouch filled with assorted ingredients and, of course, an egg. Then I discovered empanadas which are made from wheat flour and are oval.
The butifarras (sausages) and the pinchos (kebabs) met with the favor of my companion who is much more 'meat' than me. You should see his nose twitch as soon as he smells a piece of grilled meat...in other words almost at every street corner.
Plantains are always there to fill a little peckish, in chips or in the form of patacones, crushed and fried.
There are also papas rellenas, mashed potato balls stuffed with beef, and arepas con queso made from a mixture of corn flour and cheese and grilled on the spot. Just one of these stuffy pancakes and I can walk the streets of Cartagena all day.
My favorite food is buñuelos. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. They are made of corn flour, yucca, cheese, sugar… I can't resist them. They are supposedly reserved for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, but they are so popular that they are found year round.
There are also the deditos who dispute my preference with the buñuelos. 'Little fingers' are anything but small. A roll of pastry stuffed with fresh cheese… mmmm
For dessert, a fruit. My favorite, the mango biche. Pieces of green mangoes sprinkled with lime juice and salt. A fruity, salty and sour taste…all in the same bite.
To bring it all down and rehydrate myself, because it's very hot in Cartagena, nothing better than a lime, tangerine or tamarind juice, fresh coconut water or even a little cafe con leche (coffee with milk).
Fortunately, Cartagena is a walking city. So I can burn off all those flavorful calories.