Chilean culinary experience: taste local flavors

Pisco sour, Chilean wine, empanadas, or pastel de choclo—these are probably some of the foods that come to mind when thinking about Chilean gastronomy. But the country has much more to offer in terms of food and drink. If you're traveling through Chile, you can take a culinary excursion from the capital, Santiago, to learn more about the local cuisine—and, of course, try it out!

Half-day or full-day excursion

There are two options: a half-day or a full-day excursion. On the full-day tour, you’ll first visit La Vega, a bustling market in the city center, to buy ingredients. Afterward, you'll head to Chef Carolina’s home, where you’ll be welcomed with an aperitif, receive information about the local cuisine and the cooking process, and help prepare the ingredients for a delicious meal. You’ll then sit down to enjoy a five-course meal paired with Chilean wine.

If you choose the half-day tour, you’ll skip the market visit and go straight from your hotel to the chef’s home. You’ll then enjoy the same activities as the full-day tour.

Camila Milla, head of reservations at Cascada Expediciones, tried out the excursion and is happy to share her thoughts.

La Vega: A lively encounter with Chilean gastronomy

The first stop of the excursion is Santiago’s central market, known as La Vega or Vega Central. In these huge market halls, you can buy meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, bread, and much more. While Carolina picks out the ingredients she’ll use for the meal, you can take in the surroundings. "I’ve visited this market many times, it always feels vibrant and exciting. This time, I noticed new details I hadn’t before," says Camila. "The colors and variety of products make it very photogenic. It’s also great for travelers to experience a local spot that’s frequented by Santiago residents, not just tourists."

It’s important to note that you’ll only visit La Vega if you book the excursion from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays and weekends, the market is much busier and less pleasant to explore.

A warm welcome in El Arrayán

After visiting the market, Carolina takes you to her home in El Arrayán, a neighborhood in Santiago nestled at the foothills of the Andes, about a 30-minute drive. There, you’ll be greeted by Nico, Carolina’s partner and host. “The house is very cozy and beautifully located, surrounded by trees and birds. You feel like you’re no longer in Santiago”, shares Camila. “Nico taught us how to make pisco sour, which we then tasted together.”

Next, you’ll help prepare the meal—this time, by chopping tomatoes and onions for pebre, a typical Chilean salsa. While Carolina and her assistant continue cooking, Nico explains the origin of various Chilean products.

Afterward, it’s time to sit down and enjoy the meal. You can choose from different menus: seafood, Chilean BBQ, meat, or vegetarian. Camila and her group dined on the patio and opted for the vegetarian menu with shellfish. They enjoyed dishes such as mushroom ceviche, loco (Chilean abalone) or asparagus with a puree of Chiloé potatoes and black garlic mayo, a seaweed chupé (casserole) with goat cheese and mussels, quinoa with pesto, and leche asada (a Latin american dessert similar to flan). The meal is served with wine or water. Camila: "It was delicious, nice to try something different, like the seaweed. I was impressed by how much you can do with the ingredients, and I learned a lot about the products from Chile’s coast."

Finally, you can relax with coffee or tea and some sweets while chatting with the hosts. “The welcome was very warm—it felt like we’d known Carolina and Nico for a long time. They shared stories and anecdotes from their travels around the world, which was fascinating”, concludes Camila.

Would you like to take part in this culinary experience yourself, or do you have any questions? Feel free to contact us at reservations@cascada.travel. 

To help you get started, we give an answer to some questions from travelers:

• What is the price of this excursion? The current price and what’s included can be found in our program.
  
  
• What is the level of participation during the cooking? Do we need to be active, or can we just watch? It’s always great to be an active participant, as it makes for an interactive and dynamic day. The excursion is designed to be accessible for everyone, whether you have a lot of cooking experience or not. You definitely don’t need any special skills or experience with cutting techniques or cooking processes to help prepare the meal.
  
  
• How large are the groups? This depends on the excursion, but groups typically consist of 1 to 8 people.
  
  
• Is it possible to use alternative ingredients if I have dietary restrictions or allergies? If you have an allergy or dietary restriction, be sure to let us know when you contact us. This allows the chef to adjust the menu and provide substitutes for certain ingredients.
  
  
• Can we purchase products for ourselves at the market? Yes!
  
  
• Is wine served with the meal? Is it included in the price? Yes, wine is served with the meal and is included in the price. If you don’t drink wine, you can opt for water or juice.
  
  
• Do I need to wear special clothing while cooking, like an apron? Yes, wearing an apron is handy and hygienic, but you don’t need to bring your own. All the materials you need will be provided at the chef’s home.
  
  
• Is transportation to and from the location included in the price? Yes, transportation to and from the market and the chef’s home from your hotel is included in the price.
  
  
• Do I need to speak Spanish for this excursion? This excursion can be conducted in either English or Spanish. The chef and her partner speak both languages.