Let’s play a game!

First thing’s first, here’s a fun fact

The average person will spend 4 years and 6 months eating and (only) 3 years on holiday during their lifetime. This means you get 1583 days to try as many different dishes as possible during your 1146 days on holiday. 

Not sure where to start? Fear not, that’s where we come in. Before we get to that, let’s work up that appetite and get those brain cells into action with a quick quiz (it’ll do you good – you only spend 334 days in school). 

What do you get if you guess correctly? Nothing. 

 Ají de Gallina 
This dish is made out of shredded chicken that is then wrapped in a thick sauce made out of cheese, walnuts and Ají Amarilla sauce (pause to wipe the dribble from your mouth) which gives it its signature fruity and spicy taste. The dish was actually born out of simply using up leftover potatoes and chicken, which, given this country’s big focus on meat, makes sense they wouldn’t waste any…

Ambul thiya
This sour fish curry was created as a way to preserve fish. Cubed fish, usually tuna, is sauteed in spices such as garlic, turmeric, black pepper and cinnamon. The secret ingredient here is goraka: a tamarind-like fruit that, when dried, gives the dish its distinctive tart flavour. It is one of the most popular dishes in this country, which makes sense given it’s an island with a lot of access to fresh fish…
 

Ugali
There isn’t a single local in this country who hasn’t eaten this classic dish. Its side dish is similar to polenta, and the locals eat it with almost every meal. The traditional way to eat it is by taking a piece with your hands, rolling it into a ball, then making an indentation with your thumb to create an edible spoon. You then dip your ‘spoon’ in stews and sauces. Heads up: the sign of a good ugali is that it won’t stick to your fingers!