Colombian Arepas Are a Scrumptious Addition to Any Meal

Crispy on the outside with a soft and creamy center. [Today On The Spruce]( [The Spruce Daily]( [Today On The Spruce]( [Today On The Spruce] [Colombian Arepas Are a Scrumptious Addition to Any Meal]( [Colombian Arepas Are a Scrumptious Addition to Any Meal]( [Victoria Heydt]( I am writing this fresh from an incredible 10-day trip to Colombia. Please, take me back to crystalline blue waters, [fresh shrimp ceviche]( served with a side of [plantain chips](, and endless jarras of [sangria](! It was my first time visiting [Latin America](. Let me tell you, traveling during COVID, especially internationally, was interesting to say the least. Not to worry, we took all the safety precautions outlined by the CDC and the Colombian government, and found that even while wearing a mask and sanitizing everything we came in contact with, we still had a marvelous time. Both my travel buddy and I love sampling foods, so travelling around Medelíin—affectionately called “the teacup” because of how the city sits surrounded by mountains—and the coastal city of Cartagena was a blast. We tried a variety of insanely delicious regional dishes: cazuelas de mariscos, [arepas](, [patacones]( served with [salsa verde](, [limonada de coco]( (my new favorite beverage), and [beef carpaccio](, just to name a few. The first time we tried the creamy, dreamy limonada de coco was in Medellín, but it was in Cartagena’s Old Town at [Alma’s Restaurant and Bar]( where we fell head over heels in love with it. Made with fresh [coconut cream]( and [limeade]( (plus a rather large splash of rum, because why not), this refreshing frozen beverage was a respite to the South American sun. When we weren’t indulging ourselves with limonadas de coco, we were sampling [sangria]( from every establishment we visited, each one with its own unique flavor, and each jarra more delightful than the last. My favorite was the warm, spiced red wine sangria from [La Garza Cafe](. In between these boozy moments, we hiked El Peñol, stopping to have a [michelada]( at the top and enjoy the view; walked through Comuna 13 with its awe-inspiring graffiti; indulged in coffee lemonades with our guide; and bonded with our driver over bandeja paisa, Colombia’s quintessential dish of red beans and rice, chorizo, plantains, black pudding, arepa, egg, and avocado. For [breakfast](, we frequented a small café near our AirBnb, making sure to start the day off with [beef and potato empanadas](, pan de bono, and a steaming cup of Colombian coffee. I’m dreaming of brewing my own in an [espresso machine]( at home. All-in-all, it was an absolutely lovely trip, filled with great food, wonderful drinks, and hilarious company. What was your favorite food or beverage that you had on one of your travels? Let us know on Instagram @thespruceeats. - Victoria Heydt Editorial Project Manager, The Spruce Eats [READ MORE]( [Today On The Spruce](#) Recipes We Love [Colombian Beef Empanadas]( [Make Colombian Beef Empanadas Your Sunday Night Dinner]( [A Colombian Cheese Bread You’ll Want to Add to Your Repertoire]( [Twice-Fried Plantain]( [Twice-Fried Plantain With an Aji Amarillo Sauce]( [Red Wine Sangria Takes the Edge Off Long, Hot Summer Days]( [Today On The Spruce](#) The Spruce Eats on YouTube [How to Build a Cheese & Charcuterie Board]( [How to Build a Cheese & Charcuterie Board on 3 Different Budgets]( [Watch & Learn]( [Today On The Spruce]( [Spruce Eats Banner]( [Today On The Spruce](#) More From The Spruce [Save Those Strawberries With This 3-Ingredient Refrigerator Jam]( [This Crock Pot Chicken With Mushrooms Is The Perfect Lazy Meal]( [Classic Peanut Butter Cookies, Just Like Mom's]( [Trending Topics](#) [Breads]( [Spring Recipes]( [Comforting Pasta Dishes]( [Seasonal Produce]( [Sensational Sides]( [Breakfast & Brunch]( Did somebody forward you this email? [Sign Up for The Spruce Eats Newsletter!]( Have feedback? Send us an email at contact@thespruceeats.com, subject line: Newsletter Feedback. [The Spruce]( [The Spruce]( [The Spruce]( [The Spruce]( You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to The Spruce Eats newsletter. [Unsubscribe](page=spruceeatsprefnew) © 2021 Dotdash.com — All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy.]( A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005