2021/11/30 Food in Venezuela

‘Food in Venezuela’

Gary Lei

(photo credit: pixabay)

    A lot of people know Venezuela because of the oil and the crisis happening there, both politically and economically. This lovely country isn’t just that.  It is filled with gorgeous landscapes, beautiful culture, friendly people, and amazing food.  Venezuela is located in South America near the equator, neighboring Colombia, Brazil, and Panama.  The weather is nice all year round.  It’s hot in the summer and cool in the winter – it only snows in the mountain.  Venezuelans are very social and they enjoy elevator talks.  If you meet them by the elevator, you might end up standing there and chatting with one your neighbor for about 30 minutes.  And lastly, the food is exotic and tasty.  I would like to recommend three of my favorite food in Venezuela.

1. Arepas
    One of the most common and oldest food in Venezuela is Arepa.  I would always it eat for breakfast or at a steakhouse and some people may have it anytime during the day.  It is said that this delicacy came from the native people that used to live in the Northern part of South America.  This type of like-bread is made of ground maize dough and not bread flour. Arepas are usually eaten like sandwiches and they usually accompanied with meats, fresh cheese, avocadoes, and scrambled eggs. Also, if you are vegan, Arepas is the way to go.

2. Hallaca
    I remember eating this dish only during the winter holiday.  It is very difficult to find this dish during the non-holiday season.  This dish is usually eaten during Christmas.  It is said to have been originated by slaves during the colonial time. The slaves would prepare hallaca fillings for their own Christmas meal from the landowner’s leftover meal.

    This food consists of corn dough filled with pork and chicken stew, or pork or chicken stew, capers, raisins, cashews, bell pepper, pickled baby onions, prunes, and olives and it is wrapped with banana leaves. Now, many Venezuelans family get together during the holiday to make this delicious Chinese rice dumplings-like and share them with themselves and their friends.

3. Tequeños
    I remember eating this as a snack when I was a kid.  My mom would either bake it or fry it and I would have them when my friends came over to my house.  This finger food is a fried breaded cheese stick with fresh cheese stuffed in the middle. It is very popular in Venezuela.  It is said that it was invented in the kitchen by los Teques, one of the wealthy family living in Venezuela.

    This can also be eaten for breakfast, as a starter, a side dish, or as a snack food at parties and weddings.  So, if you are hungry in the middle of the day, you can indulge yourself with this cheesy breaded stick accompanied with some tea.

    Since Venezuela is still a bit dangerous to visit, you can still find most of its traditional dishes elsewhere in the world.  You can go to countries like Spain, the US, or England.  So, if you would like to try them, travel to other countries and try these exotic foods.

10 Words to Learn

 

crisis (n.)

(英) a time of great disagreement, confusion, or suffering
(日) 危機
(中) 危機
“The government is attempting to solve the debt crisis through spending cuts.”

landscape (n.) 

(英) a large area of countryside, especially in relation to its appearance
(日) 風景
(中) 風景
"The landscape is dotted with the tents of campers and hikers."

equator (n.) 

(英) an imaginary line around the earth at an equal distance from the North and South Poles 
(日) 赤道
(中) 赤道
"The island is twenty degrees south of the equator."

exotic (adj.) 

(英) Unusual and exciting because of coming from far away, especially a tropical country
(日) 異国風の
(中) 異國風情的
"You can have exotic fruit and vegetables at the greengrocer’s."

delicacy (n.) 

(英) something especially rare or expensive that is good to eat
(日) 珍味
(中) 佳餚
"In Japan, Puffer fish is considered a great delicacy."

maize (n.) 

(英) a tall plant grown for its large yellow grains that are used for making flour. US: corn
(日) トウモロコシ
(中) 玉米
"The villagers grow coffee and maize to sell in the market."

dough (n.) 

(英) flour mixed with water and often yeast, fat, or sugar, so that it is ready for baking
(日) パン生地
(中) 麵團
"She kneaded the dough and left it to rise."

accompany (v.) 

(英) to happen or appear with something else
(日) 伴う、添える
(中) 陪伴;伴隨,和…一起發生
"The salmon was accompanied by a fresh green salad."

originate (v.)

(英) to start something or cause it to happen
(日) (~に)源を発する
(中) 起源
"Although the technology originated in the UK it has been developed in the US.”

colonial (adj.)

(英) relating to a colony or colonialism
(日) 植民地の
(中) 殖民地的
"Various parts of Africa have suffered under colonial rule.”