Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with chile

Chilean coffee does not exist. Or does it?

Anonymous — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:33:16 -0800

Is there a chilean coffee industry? My western European work colleague says she's heard of chilean coffee and that it's supposed to be very good, but as a chilean I've never heard of it, ever. As far as I know, Chile does not even have the appropriate climate to grow coffee. But as a non-coffee drinker, I always assumed whatever coffee people drink over there is imported from Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, etc, and never cared enough to check a label while I lived there.

We found a German blog in which mention is made, again of "very good chilean coffee" but we have otherwise done an extensive online search - she is a librarian and knows how to find stuff - and can't find any real evidence for or against it.

We'll be both satisfied if you can name a place or region in which it is grown, even better if you know of a factory in Chile that processes 100% chilean coffee, which is grown in the region of [insert region].

Otherwise, I'd love to hear the reasons why chilean coffee is impossible, so next time someone asks me about its existence (it's happened before) I can give a satisfying answer.

Thank you!

We're headed to Chile and Argentina... any must-see recommendations?

b_alex_a — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:14:39 -0800

The boyfriend and I are vacationing in Santiago, Valparaiso, and the Lake District (Pucon, Chiloe, San Martin de los Andes, and Bariloche) for about two weeks in May. We'd appreciate restaurant, food, and sightseeing advice from folks who've lived or traveled to any of these spots! We like pretty much any kind of food, we love checking out off-the-beaten path museums and tourist attractions. We're outdoorsy, but we won't be camping and we won't have time to do anything more than a day hike, probably. We'll have a car in the Lake District. Thank you!

Countries in which chile is significant in the cuisine

falsedmitri — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 14:21:04 -0800

Countries in which chile is significant in the cuisine? I am gathering a list of countries (or states/provinces) in which chile/ahi is significant in the cuisine. More importantly, I'm looking for a symbol representative of that place, other than its flag (and ideally there are public domains images for these). For example, New Mexico-USA => Zia symbol. (Yes the Zia symbol is on the state flag, but it stands alone as an image).

What do you know?

How does one cash in on the capsicum craze?

mds35 — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:40:15 -0800

Supposing one wanted to cash in on the growing popularity of hot sauce, chiles, hot peppers etc...where should one look to invest? Which companies selling peppers, hot sauces and other fiery foods are publicly traded? Aside from stocks, how else might one invest in the pepper market?

Where to go in Chile and Argentina between Bariloche and El Chaltén?

saul wright — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:22:51 -0800

I am in Bariloche and I´m going to do the Nahuel Huapi Traverse the day after tomorrow (taking either 3 or 5 days if I have the time.) I want to get to El Chaltén and spend 5 days trekking around Monte Fitz Roy and Laguna Torre. I would also like to spend a day at Parque Nacional Los Glaciares near El Calafate. Then I have to get to Punta Arenas to fly out March 1st. That leaves me with a little less than a week to work with. I was planning on going to Coyhaique from Bariloche and doing the 4 day trek around Cerro Castillo but it sounds so remote, I don´t know if it´ll work. I was thinking about the Navimag ferry but at 480 dollars, I can´t afford it. I promised friends I´d do Torres del Paine with them next year so I think I´ll wait on that.

So what should I do? Hang out more in the Lakes Region? Just go straight to Southern Patagonia and spend any extra days around there? Take shorter buses and make my way south more slowly?

I have a tent, stove, etc and trekking is the main goal along with not spending too much money.

What camera should I take to Patagonia?

Serf — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:30:03 -0800

My girlfriend and I are leaving for a vacation in Chile in about a week. We'll be spending most of our time hiking and seeing glaciers and penguins in southern Patagonia, with a few days in Santiago at the end. I'd like to bring a compact, versatile, weatherproof camera with great image quality, 15-20x zoom, and good low-light performance -- but compromises must be made. What kind of camera should I take with me? My budget is $300-750. I'd like to get a new camera to document this vacation. I currently own a Casio EX-Z50 from 2005. I like that it's small and that it allows a lot of manual control. I don't like its mediocre image quality, abysmal low-light performance, fiddly menus, limited zoom, and lengthy buffer clearing period before I can turn the camera off and retract the lens.

I don't normally take a lot of pictures, but I do when I travel. I've heard that Patagonia can be very rainy even in the summer. We'll be spending about 4 days of the trip hiking the W route at Torres del Paine, without access to power for recharging batteries. My main priority is to get a camera that will be good for this trip, but as the price climbs above the bottom of my range, I'd also like to get a camera that I'll use other times. My non-travel pictures tend to be outdoors: hiking, cycling, skiing, walking around cities. I've never really been hiking or doing anything other than Taking Pictures with a camera larger than a point-and-shoot, so I don't know what that's like. I care only a little bit about video, and wouldn't be devastated if it were missing entirely.

I've been reading a lot of camera reviews, and I think I'm at the point where I know which one or two models I would consider in any given category. My problem is that I can't decide which category I want.

Low-end mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (Sony NEX-F3, etc.): more versatile than my other options, but I don't really have the budget for more than the kit lens right now. Maybe also a pancake lens, but that would really be pushing my budget. I would be worried about damaging these, and they don't really fit in a pocket without that pancake lens. I'm also not keen on carrying more weight than I have to while hiking. The upsides are better image quality at a given price than my other options and more versatility if I decide I want to drop more cash on photography in the future.
Point-and-shoots (Canon S100, etc.): basically my current camera, only better in every way (except for zoom, which would be about the same). If only out of familiarity, I wouldn't be as worried about damaging a camera like this as I would an interchangeable lens one, but I would still be nervous about shooting on a rainy day. Better image quality than weatherproof cameras or travel superzooms.
Weatherproof cameras (Olympus TG-1, etc.): I hear Patagonia can be very rainy and windy, even in summer. I really like the idea of not having to be concerned about keeping my camera safe, not knocking my camera pocket on a rock, not getting my camera dusty, keeping my camera in a waterproof case (or plastic bag), etc. On the other hand, I probably won't get top-notch photographic performance in any regard out of one of these cameras: they won't have the best sensors, the best controls, or the best optics. I only go diving about once every other year, and even then I don't know if I'd take a camera.
Travel superzooms (Canon SX260, etc.): I notice that when I'm traveling, I give up on a lot of shots because I can't get close enough with the lens on my Casio. I don't know exactly how many wild animals or other zoom-friendly subjects I should expect to see on this trip, but I'm pretty sure that a lens maxing out at 100mm is not going to get me every shot I'd like. Unfortunately, reviews say these cameras tend to be slow, have poor low-light performance, and often take a hit on image quality in general.

I'm leaning towards either a weatherproof camera or a travel superzoom right now, but even after reading a truckload of camera reviews and looking at a ton of sample images I don't have a good sense for just how much real, non-pixel-squinting image quality I'd be giving up by going with, say, the Olympus TG-1 instead of the Canon S100. I also don't know exactly how rainy I should expect the Patagonian summer to be, or how paranoid I need to be about water damage with cameras.

So help me get my priorities sorted out: what kind of camera do I want? Are there options I'm not considering that I should be? What camera did you really enjoy taking on your last possibly-rainy outdoor vacation? What's going to make me happy?

NYE, UTC−04:00 edition.

halogen — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:22:55 -0800

Chile, Dec 26th to Jan 5th, flying in and out of Santiago. Please help this South America newbie create an itinerary that allows us to see as much as possible in such a short time. Also, where should we, a young-ish more-or-less American couple, celebrate NYE? I'm looking for interesting experiences, local culture and community, magnificent sights (natural or otherwise – we will bring hiking boots) and good food. We don't tend to linger in one place for too long. We usually prefer renting a car to traveling by bus, but are also open to trains and local flights as long as they are not too expensive (flights to Calama are $700pp, that's too expensive) and will listen to all suggestions!

Help me get my red enchilada sauce on!

ersatzkat — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 08:51:14 -0800

I have a terrific jar of a sort of paste that my husband made from dried New Mexico and guajillo chiles that were skinned, seeded, reconstituted, blended into a puree, then strained (or perhaps run through a food mill - I was asleep). I'd like to use this paste as an ingredient in an awesome red enchilada sauce. Do you have recipes to share?

I'm moving to Santiago, Chile! What now?

saul wright — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:34:03 -0800

I'm moving to Santiago, Chile! What now? I got a job teaching English in Santiago! The school is going to help me with my visa but what else do I need to know/do? What should I bring or not bring? What neighborhoods would be best to live in? How do I find a good (read:cheap but cool neighborhood) apartment or hostel to stay in until I find a place? Should I just keep my money in my (American) bank? Resources for (roughly) beginners Spanish? What kind of shots do I need? What travel insurance (required by the school) should I get? What should I eat/not eat? What questions (aside from job-related) should I pose to my employer?

Apologies for rambling but I'm nervous/excited. Any recommendations for resources would be appreciated.

Background: Young American Male with love for music and cycling, a desire to learn Spanish and not a ton of money

NOLS alternatives for adventuring in Chile

Bun — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:08:33 -0800

What's the best way for a solo traveler to spend a week or two adventuring in Patagonia? I'd like to spend some time backpacking, mountaineering, and/or horsepacking for a week or two in January or February. I've never been there, but Chile seems to be a good choice for these activites and my time frame. Google reveals many guided options for groups, but I'd be traveling alone. NOLS would be perfect but doesn't offer a trip that fits my plan. Can anyone suggest another guide, group, or plan of attack altogether? I'm a male in my 20s with moderate experience in the aforementioned activities, a flexible budget, and no Spanish ability.

Help me make the most of an extended work trip to Chile/Argentina

carolinaherrera — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:02:29 -0800

Resources to help me get the most out of a few months in South America, especially Chile and Argentina! I will be spending a few months in South America on a work project. Most of my time will be spent in Chile, but I also want to travel to Patagonia, around Argentina and Brazil, and other interesting places. I speak and read Spanish fairly well and will be working as well as traveling.

I'm looking for some cool resources to help me make the most of this time:

- Books on history, culture, music, art, ecology, etc. of Chile and/or Argentina
- Spanish-language books by famous and not-so-famous authors (e.g., What is the best Borges to start with? Which Llosa novel is worth reading? Why does no one read x outside of Peru?)
- Resources on how to do business in South America, specifically Chile
- Podcasts on South American culture (or specifically Chile and Argentina)
- Good local websites (for sorting out practical things, information, community, etc.)
- I'll be hitting the major sites as much as I can, but if you know of any lesser-known Chilean or Argentinean locations that would be great
- Other tips to make this an awesome trip!

Thank you!

Flavoured Milk.

smoke — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:57:15 -0800

Different foods and breastfeeding - looking for real evidence. Newborn-filter. I've read through reams and reams of stuff about what nursing mothers shouldn't eat when breastfeeding - but it's really, really light on actual proof, wandering off into anecdote territory very quickly. Are there any foods that have been proven to have a detrimental effect on babies that are breastfed?

I'm especially interested in any facts about chilli/curries.

My google-fu is drowned under an avalanche of fairly folksy and unremmittingly western forums and sites. I'm not really looking for more of the anecdotes I can find on those sites. I am looking for any reports about actual studies, and explanations that are - if not scientifically rigorous at least with decent pretensions to science.

So, is there any proof that certain foods - especially chillis - can make things more difficult for breastfeeding babies?

Heat without the sour

cronholio — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 04:48:34 -0800

I love making my own hot pepper sauces but I'm not happy that I have to use vinegar as a preservative as I don't like the sour taste that much. If I use a lot, it ruins the taste, if I use less, the sauce won't stay fresh as long. Does anyone have a recommendation for something I can substitute the vinegar with, maybe even something synthetic (if it's harmless)?

Computer Stuff, no gimmiks

defcom1 — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 05:09:04 -0800

Does anybody know a cheap computer parts store in Santiago, Chile? I'm looking for computer stuff in Santiago, and I'm not sure where to go. in Australia I use MSY, in Canada I used CanadaComputers or equivalent on College St. in Toronto. Does anybody know the equivalent in Chile? Usually there is no display area, stuff piled to the ceilings, and an efficient staff, as long as you know exactly what you want.

Where to stay in Santiago in May?

ethnomethodologist — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:06:19 -0800

Hubby and I will be in Santiago, Chile from approximately May 16 to June 4. Hubby wants to drive east to check out the wine harvest but we'll be spending a fair bit of time, at least a week, in the city proper. There are ample and cheap options for apartment rentals in the period (it's off season) but I don't know the city at all and would like to find an area, if possible, that's like Barrio Norte or Palermo in Buenos Aires: Characterful (not all glass highrises and superhighways that seem to dominate so many photos of Santiago I've seen), walkable, with lots of street-level shops and restos but not a party atmosphere. Think more cafe culture than Ibiza. I found a nice looking place in Centro near Mapacho Station but am worried that Santiago's Centro is like downtown BA- not the most salubrious place.

We're a late-40s gay couple, foodies, want to be near transit, being in anything like a gay district is not a priority but food, coffee, transit, walkability, and some charm are.

Any suggestions for apartment rentals are welcome! Also any other tips you care to share. Thanks!

Friends stuck in Chile, need advice

zackola — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 07:30:11 -0800

Most effective way to help friends stuck in souther Chile? My friend and his wife (and along with 2000 other tourists) are stuck in Puerto Natales, Chile due to local protests over gas price hikes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12200792

What is the most effective thing their friends can do back in the US to help them get out of there? They have suggested calling the embassy, however we are totally unsure what to say. Give us our friends back!? Additionally what can we do to to raise awareness of the situation in the US? How can I figure out what the US government is doing (if anything) to help them out?

When should I go to and where should go in Argentina and Chile?

grouse — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:52:04 -0800

When should I go to and where should go in Argentina and Chile? I have enough American AAdvantage miles to get a "free" flight to South America. I think going to Chile or Chile and Argentina for a week or two would be fun. The American Airlines System Map for South America denotes cities I might be able to fly into and out of for an open-jaw, but I'm only sure about Buenos Aires and Santiago. It's a bit hard to know how to get started, but if you can suggest the endpoints of my flights and dates, I think everything else will fall into place in the end.

Also useful: suggestions on which places to visit and for how long, and guidebook suggestions.

I studied Spanish all through high school, but haven't used it at all since then.

Saturday night in Santiago

nomis — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:57:53 -0800

What to do for a single night in Santiago, Chile? I have a *very* short stopover in Santiago de Chile, arriving early afternoon Saturday 17 April and leaving early the next morning.

1. Can you recommend a good place to stay that's relatively convenient for the airport, and also to places to eat and maybe catch some live music?

2. What's a good place to go and hear some live music, preferably something local, maybe folksy, but I'm not averse to something like, say, a Deep Purple covers band playing a pub if that's what's available?

Four days in Santiago. A motley crew of travelers.

rebekah — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:08:16 -0800

Looking for hostel/hotel and activity recommendations in Santiago, Chile in May. I'm traveling to Santiago for a conference in May. Several of the attendees -- including my boyfriend and up to a dozen other journalists, techies, bloggers and free speech activists from as many countries -- want to stick around and explore the city. We're looking for a few things:

1. A hostel or cheap hotel that doesn't mind check-ins at odd hours. My boyfriend and I will be arriving at 2am and want to make the airport-to-sleep transfer as pain-free as possible. We only need to stay at this place for one night, and then we'll be switching to the conference hotel.

2. A hostel or cheap hotel to stay in after the conference (can be the same as the first, or different). Our group will include both couples and individuals, so a place that offers a mix of dorm beds and private rooms plus a big common area would be perfect. Kitchen is a huge bonus. We'll be traveling with our luggage from the Universidad de Chile stop on the red metro line.

3. Activities for a motley group of international travelers who range in age from 20 to 50 and are interested in everything under the sun -- no idea is too crazy or too obscure. Some of us speak Spanish, so that's not a concern. Day trips are okay, but we only have 4-5 days total, so flights and long bus trips are probably out. Particular interests are wine, Pablo Neruda, shopping, llamas and penguins.

Looking forward to your tips!

Mmm, green chile

amelioration — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:22:22 -0800

What are your best recipes for using New Mexico green chiles? A generous friend took a spare suitcase home with her to Albuquerque, and brought back green chiles to share with her chile-deprived pals. Not entirely sure what to do with all of my share (though some will be used for making sauce, naturally), so I'd love your suggestions and recipes. Traditional or innovative, what are your favorite ways to use New Mexico green chiles?

breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Chile?

mustcatchmooseandsquirrel — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:37:03 -0800

You are a resident of Chile. What do you eat? I want to spend a month eating like a Chilean. I ordered this book , but want to do some research before it arrives. Some specific questions are below, but any related info would be of interest!

1. What are the eating schedule and rituals (early dinner vs late dinner; small meals vs large meals; utensil use vs eating by hand)?
2. What would typical days of food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks) look like (including, for instance, when you don't necessarily want to cook, but just throw something together)?
3. Do you drink water, tea, wine, beer?
4. What's in your pantry?

Patagonia Panoramas

netbros — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:02:27 -0800

Please tell me about your experiences in the beautiful mountainous regions of Patagonia, South America. I have always marveled from afar at the exquisite scenery of the Patagonia area in Chile and Argentina. Someday soon, I want to travel there during the South American summer. For those who have spent time in and around Patagonia, please help me with logistical concerns I should consider. I am North American. Where would you suggest as the best town for a home base? What is the best way to get around from sight to sight? Are you better off at the touristy national park areas, or is it all open and available to hikers and campers? What should you not miss? What should you stay away from? Are there any unusual safety issues to consider? What is a fair amount of time to allot for an extended vacation? What questions am I not asking that I should? Thank you in advance for your help.

Al sur.

donpedro — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:57:21 -0800

Requesting travel, transport and itinerary suggestions for southern and western South America. I have a guide book for the continent and ideas about where I want to go, but the distances seem vast and I'm having trouble envisioning how to string together several destinations in multiple countries without spending a fortune. Difficult to tell where overland travel is or is not feasible.

* Time frame: 18 days, including travel down and back from North America. I live near a major international airport that has direct flights to many South American cities.
* Time of year: March (i.e. Southern Hemisphere late summer, early fall).
* Budget: TBD, though certainly not unlimited. I imagine airfare will be the single greatest expense.

Things I'm interested in seeing:
* Usuhaia, Argentina, and nearby parks. Tierra del Fuego.
* Glaciares National Park, Argentina. Specifically, a hike around Cerro Torre. -Or- Torres del Paine in Chile.
* Santiago, Chile.
* Atacama Desert.
* Lake Titicaca and/or La Paz, Bolivia.
* Cuzco/Machu Picchu.

I seriously doubt I could see all that in the given period of time. Does anybody with experience traveling in the region have any good suggestions for how to do as much as possible, without being a total road warrior? Any particularly obvious links between places, such as good short reliable ground transport between Cuzco and Bolivia? Are flights between Santiago and Argentine Patagonia/Usuhaia reasonable? Etc. This is a rather expansive question, I realize, and am very appreciative of any advice you're willing to offer.

About me:
* U.S. citizen.
* Fairly travel-savvy and mobile, does not require luxurious accomodations.
* Fluent in Spanish.
* Has been in South America previously (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay).

How to buy & send an English book within Chile, but pay from the U.S.?

ElfWord — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:47:32 -0800

How to send an English book to Santiago, Chile, from within Chile, but paid for from the U.S.? I have a friend who's studying abroad in Chile, and I'd like to buy her a book for reading during flights / bus rides / etc. Where, or how, might I be able to buy a good, English-language, fiction book from within Chile (to cut down on shipping time and costs), that I can pay for via credit card or PayPal from the U.S.?

I have in mind People of Sparks, though any good, easy-reading fiction would do, but Amazon.com's international shipping costs too much and takes too long (she'll only be with her host family for another two weeks).

Suggestions? Ideas?

I want my sweet sweet salsa!

saeculorum — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:57:56 -0800

Is there a copycat recipe in existence for Trader Joes' Corn and Chile Salsa? How about a cheaper alternative? I have become completely addicted to Trader Joe's Corn and Chile Salsa. The salsa is a tomato-less and appears to mostly consist of corn, a bit of green chile and onion, sugar, and vinegar. I've spent more than a little bit of time trying to find a recipe is even close to it, but haven't had any luck. In particular, it is a very sweet and tangy salsa - it's not spicy at all. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make this? My few attempts have ended up in sugary corn goop.

Failing the recipe, has anyone seen this salsa anywhere else? Trader Joe's rebrands almost all of their goods, so I'd imagine some other company makes the salsa in their own label. Any hints?