Authentic Caribbean Restaurants in Santa MartaThe Caribbean restaurants of Santa Marta, Colombia will give you a good taste of the Caribbean coast. Most of the food is not particularly spicy and that is typical for restaurants around the city. Inexpensive but great Caribbean restaurant food can be found all over the place, you can even loose a few pounds during your vacation if your careful, The Caribbean fruits and vegetables are plentiful and the food is less processed. If you eat like the local population you won't have to worry about gaining weight. If you like to do a little cooking check out the Coconut Recipes from around the area. The low cost of food will also be a big surprise, not only fresh but locally grown, just down the road, pineapples, coconuts, bananas, potatoes, carrots, it's all available. Meal times are much the same as North America with breakfast, lunch and dinner, lunch though is the big meal of the day and dinner is a sandwich or a snack. On thing that doesn't change though is the morning cup of coffee, it's still the way to kick start the day. Free enterprise in the food business thrives here, good and healthy competition from restaurants, street vendors, food stores, they all want your business. Mid price Caribbean restaurant chains are here but I haven't seen the popular restaurants of North America. It's like the good old days here food is real food. They hire cooks and not chemists to put together your lunch. North American fast food restaurants have a hard time on the Caribbean coast, people who are used to eating real food with natural flavors don't see the advantage of spending more money to get less.The local Caribbean restaurants are low tech, with locally bought products, fruits and vegetables. You can have a good lunch for $3.00 or less at a regular restaurant, so fast food is certainly the second choice. Eating and socializing in restaurants takes place outside much of the time, it's just too hot to be indoors, it's a great atmosphere, good food, drinks, sunshine and relaxation. The good news is you won't run out of places to eat, there are plenty of caribbean restaurants although at lunch they can be crowded. Juice menu in food store, 2000 pesos equals approximately $1.03 US.
Fruit Drinks Drinks One place you won't find in Colombia is Starbucks and that's a good thing, although Starbucks is a great chain with great coffee, Colombia needs the money to stay in the country and Colombians can also brew good coffee originating from their native countryside. Types of Food
The Caribbean restaurants in and around the Santa Marta offer a great variety of food, You can eat all over the place, restaurants in hotels, courtyards, right on the beach, there are waterfront cafes (notably in El Rodadero) or park benchs under a palm tree if you buy off a street vendor. In the daytime you will find vendors on Calle 16 and Carrera 5 who will be happy to make you fresh juices, these people have been around for many years. Avenida Bastidas is busy at night with lots of good fast food from the local vendors. Staple foods and local Dishes Your meals will normally consist of beef, chicken, pork, fish or seafood along with rice, beans, soup, salad, pastas Comida Corriente or Menú del Día is a daily special consisting of meat or chicken, soup, rice, beans, salad and a drink for usually $4.00 or less.
Bandeja Paisa (paisa tray) is the traditional food in Medellín and the Antioquia (state or province) Andes region. A variety of meats such as chicken, sausages, pork along with a fried egg, rice, patacones, beans, arepa. avocado, salad, This is a great meal and a lot of food.
Chengua Soup We had this very good soup for breakfast in Aracataca on one fine sunny morning at the Recordar es Vivir restaurant. potatoes, eggs, cilantro, green onions, garlic and pepper
Arepas (corn based bread paddy about the size of a hamburger bun that is fried, baked or grilled and stuffed with cheese, vegetables other fillings or plain. Pataconé is plantain that is cut into sections, boiled, removed then flattened and fried, it's similar to potato. Coconut rice is a side dish that you find often and is common on the caribbean coast. Sancocho, a soup containing meat or fish with corn, potatoes, yams, yucca. Ensalada frutas (fruit salad). The fast food restaurants are all over the place, mostly individual vendors along the streets, inexpensive and very good From Street Vendors
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