On Chilean Food

Perhaps it's a bit obvious to say that the food and drink from Chile is pretty different from the States or Europe. Today's entry I dedicate to the most notable differences, with comparisons.

Ice Cream (helado) Winner: Chile
This one's a no-brainer, Chile easily has better ice cream on a commercial level than corporate America. The ice cream you get here is sweeter, uses real fruit and is fluffier. Chile 1, USA 0.

Hot Dogs (completo) Winner: No Contest
Unfortunately the hot dog and the Chilean version are so far removed from each other that there can be no comparison.Sure, Chileans use bread for a bun and have a meat product inside, but the condiments (which, unlike in America where a plain hotdog is a normal sale) are NOT negotiable, are too different. El completo has a guacamole variation, a special kind of mayo and other goodies that make this quite distinct from a Chicago or New York style wiener dog. Chile 1, USA 0.

Brownies Winner: USA
As bad as the states are whipped by ice cream, even more so do American brownies school Chilean. I've had the Chilean brownies twice, and I must say they are paltry. Not as sweet (which need not necessarily be a bad thing, but in this case is), dry and heavy, they failed to impress and went zero for two on my pallet. Good effort Chile, but take a lesson from the north. Chile 1, USA 1.

Sandwiches (Sandwiches) Winner: No Contest
Both nation states definitely put up a fight here. The Chilean sandwich is amazing in its varieties, condiments and taste. A personal favorite is the de Espana (I don't know how to do the ~ over the 'n' on this laptop), which is loaded with red peppers, probably half a cup of Chilean mayonnaise and two different preparations of pork. But, like the ice cream, the Chilean sandwiches are just too different to compare accurately and fairly. Thus I am forced to declare for a second time: no contest. Chile 1, USA 1.

Pisco (pisco or piscos _____) Extra point to Chile.
Pisco is the native liquor of Chile. It's made of egg yolk, sugar and a grape fermentation that when prepared correctly turns into a drink so thick it resembles molasses more than wine. It's really cheap and comes in a variety of flavors that shouldn't be missed. Is it better than the wines and standards like whiskey (whisky) or rum (ron)? No, not really. Anyways, I'll send a bottle home through the mail. Chile 2, USA 1.