¡Ah, qué tal, parceros!
Welcome to this unique culinary experience, where the flavors of our beloved Coffee Region will transport you to the heart of our traditions. Here, amidst the mountains and the aroma of coffee, we cook with heart and ingredients that come straight from the land—some grown on our own farm and others freshly brought from local farmer’s market. Today, I’m going to share the story of three dishes that are the soul of our cuisine: Sancocho, Bandeja Paisa, and Asado Campesino.
Join me on this journey of flavors!
Sancocho: The Warm Embrace of the Mountains.
Imagine waking up on a cool morning, with the smell of burning wood and the sound of roosters crowing on the farm. Sancocho is more than just a soup—it’s a ritual. Here in the Coffee Region, we prepare it with all the love in the world. We use a large pot placed over wood embers, which gives it a smoky and unique flavor.
The ingredients are simple but full of flavor: yuca, plantain, potato, corn, and beef or free-range chicken, which we raise right here. Everything cooks slowly, just like our grandmothers used to do, so the flavors blend and create a harmony that fills the soul. When I serve a bowl of sancocho, I’m giving you a piece of our land, a warm hug that says, “You’re home here.” And it’s not complete without our homemade ají, made with tomato, onion, and cilantro, to add that spicy kick that awakens the senses.
Bandeja Paisa: A Feast from the Land.
Ah, the Bandeja Paisa! This dish is a celebration of everything our land provides. Imagine a plate so abundant it looks like a map of our region: it includes peasant-style beans, cooked for hours in a clay pot with a touch of hogao (our traditional tomato and onion sauce), fluffy white rice, fried ground beef, crispy pork belly, a fried egg, fresh avocado from the farm, sweet fried plantains, and a handmade corn arepa, grilled over wood.
Every bite is a journey through the flavors of Antioquia and the Coffee Region. The beans, for example, are grown right here, and we cook them with a bit of pork to give them that deep, comforting flavor. The arepa, golden and warm, is the perfect companion for dipping into the beans. And the sweet plantain, with its natural sweetness, is like the dessert that comes included in the dish. This isn’t just food—it’s a tribute to the abundance of our land!
Asado Campesino: The Flavor of Tradition
Now, if you really want to try something that connects you to our roots, the Asado Campesino is the perfect choice. This dish is pure essence of country life. Imagine a sunny day, with the smell of burning wood and a group of friends gathered around a bonfire. Here, beef or pork is marinated with beer, garlic, onion, and cumin, then slowly roasted over the embers, giving it a smoky and juicy flavor that’s simply unmatched.
We serve the roast with native potatoes, yuca, and plantains, all cooked over the same bonfire. And it’s not complete without a fresh tomato and onion salad, with a drizzle of lime and cilantro, to balance the flavors. Every bite is a reminder of family gatherings, Sundays at the farm, and the laughter and stories shared around the table. This dish is pure tradition, pure country life.