Help me explore foods from Chile and share them with you

In front of Torres Del Paine in Chile

My Experience in Chile

Right after my husband asked me to be his wife, he whisked me off to a 10-day trip around Santiago and Southern Chile. It was a trip I will never forget. We ate, drank, hiked and explored our way through those parts of the country, enjoying fresh seafood, delicious produce and our very first winery tour.

I do have to laugh at a few nights of our trip when we were staying in a small hotel in Puerto Natales and had no idea how to order dinner each night. We know very little Spanish and the hotel did not have a menu.

We ordered Arroz con Pollo (Chicken with rice) as that was all we could think of with our very basic Spanish on our first night. Fortunately, on our second night there we met another couple at the hotel who took us to an amazing seafood restaurant in town. And they ordered for us. I don’t think I have ever eaten so much crab as I did that night… and at a crazy reasonable price.

Later in the trip, near Valparaiso, a restauranteur invited us into his restaurant to enjoy a “Happy Hour of Food.” Gary and I still giggle when we think of that night and the delicious food and wine that we enjoyed there.

We were just wandering from place to place, exploring as we could, uncovering treasures, except for our night of Arroz con Pollo (which still was pretty good).

Since then, I’ve learned so much more about wine and food and the delicious gems of Chile that we missed on that trip, as well as the changes that have come about since our visit.

The one vineyard and winery we visited, Cousiño Macul, I have been told has relocated. That was the very first winery I ever visited and thinking back on that sunny afternoon of wine, stories and warm hospitality from the gentleman giving us a tour still makes me smile. I think about it nearly every time I open a bottle of wine from Chile. Well, that or the massive, gorgeous glaciers I saw on our hiking excursions, or the Machas a la Parmesan and Pisco Sours we enjoyed in Santiago that still make my mouth water! Oh, and I’ll never forget the crashing waves of the ocean below our hotel room at Hotel Oceanic in Viña del Mar…. or the fresh fish hanging in the market places. Chile is magical.

Since that first trip I have also learned to blog and share my stories. I would love the opportunity to visit the country again and share my new discoveries with you here on VineSleuth Uncorked.

I’ve shared a bit about wines of Chile already. You can read about Matetic Sauvignon Blanc and Santa Rita Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, a spicy night of Carmenere and Curry and I even have a simple, yet elegant Date Night Dinner pairing for you featuring a Los Vascos, a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon with a beef roast and cherry balsamic sauce.

Foods From Chile Next Top Blogger Contest

Will you help me to get to Chile to explore the country once again, this time with the experts?  I’ll be sure to share my findings with you.

Foods from Chile  is hosting the Next Top Blogger Contest, where the winner gets to go on a culinary tour of some of Chile’s top vineyards, olive groves, and fruit plantations, as well as visit the famous Mercado Central in Santiago and the Nam Santiago Food Festival this April.

You can help get me into the finals by voting for me on Facebook each day February 12-17 (see instructions below). If I make it to the finals, I’ll submit a video and hopefully be selected for the trip. And if I do, I promise to share every scrumptious moment with you right here.

So what do you think? Will you help me explore the wines and food from Chile once again, this time guided by the experts? And if I do win, please tell me, what can I research for you?

To vote, follow this link to the contest page on Facebook.  Click on my post, which is titled Help me explore Foods fr… by Amy Gross on the seventh row, each day until February 17, to vote and help me win.

PS: If you want to know more  about the delicious food from Chile, including its fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seafood, as well as the country’s commitment to healthy farming practices and environmental  stewardship, check out the Foods from Chile website.  It is a great resource to find when fruits and vegetables are in season and also explore some delicious recipes.  Plus, the Foods from Chile Facebook page is a great resource for healthy eating and living, too. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Thanks to your support, I’ve made it to the finals! Thank you so much for your votes! I’ve got my fingers crossed and hope the judges pick me to share more stories of Chile with you.