Feria Food: Manzanas encarameladas

These caramelized apples are a good example of the syncretism found in the Guatemalan gastronomy.

As Pascu mentioned yesterday, “I find Guatemalan cuisine unique: the blend of three cultures, each completely different. Mayan heritage brings the slow cooking stew style with thick sauces. African, the taste for deep fry food. Finally Spanish culture brought the oven, baked delicacies: bread, dough, roast, “dulces”… local fruits and vegetables mixed with 3 european basic ingredients: milk, sugar and eggs.”

Erin also added a few ingredients to stew, “It is important to keep in mind that the lists of local ingredients and dishes were enlarged and improved in many ways, during the colonial times. I am not taking out any credit to the local indigenous ingredients and methods; I am only saying that what we now know as ethnic food is a glorious combination of our past in its purest form, the colonial times, and some contemporary additions. Anyway, whatever the background in our extensive list of dishes, all of them are a feast to the senses. What a joy!”

How funny that Erin should mention Feast of the Senses since that was precisely the name of the exhibit of Central American gastronomy in which I participated two years ago. As always, follow the white rabbit to see some of the photographs that were on display at Fiesta de los Sentidos.

On a totally unrelated subject, it just occurred to me that the United States is one of the largest Spanish-speaking countries since it has one of the largest populations of Spanish speakers. Spanish has been spoken in the U.S. from a time before its independence; heck from before English was spoken there. And at the rate at which the Spanish-speaking population grows, faster than any other, you may have to hablar español sooner or después or move to Canada. 😉 Remember that you can always come to La Antigua Guatemala to take Spanish classes in the more than 65 Spanish Schools available in this tiny colonial town.

Por favor dejar sus comentarios y preguntas abajo; hay mucho espacio abajo y esta bitácora digital es ecológicamente verde, panza verde verde verde pues.

Here’s another dose of Sobrevivencia… A Guatemalan Mayan rock band. This Kaqchikel rock song is called Ruq’ojom Tat Mak (El Son De San Marcos); below you can also hear it performed in Spanish in case your Kaqchikel is a little rusty. 😉

Manolo says:

October 28, 2009 at 6:49 am

In Canada, in the almost 10 years I’ve been here, Spanish went from being in the top 20 languages spoken to being in the top 5. In my ‘hood I hear Spanish spoken everyday (although I hear also Tagalog every day,but that is more neighborhood effect and Spanish is more widespread around the city).

October 28, 2009 at 6:53 am

Case and point (link to article in Spanish):
En Toronto, ahora educación a la mexicana

Sheila Fernandes says:

October 28, 2009 at 7:32 am

What a pretty picture i love the colors. And thank’s for the song now i like it more because i understand what they are saying.

Eric says:

October 28, 2009 at 9:43 am

I am always amazed at how people from Chimaltenango found their way up into the Great White North, and it is incredible to talk to someone who lived in the places I only visit for a few weeks at a time. I think they are just as amazed as I am when we talk about the best places for pan dulces y cafe, or where to find the best tejidos near Los Encuentros. I would say we need much more of the music, food and culture Guatemalteca up here, but that’s what trips to (and around) the Vortex are for, no ? With all of these delicious-looking photos, I may be back in La Antigua sooner than I planned. Mmmmmm!

michele woodey says:

October 28, 2009 at 1:54 pm

In England we call them Toffee apples and they were always at sale when the fair came to town along with “Candy Floss” and hot sugar doughnuts…………….sugar sugar and more sugar!