Through the beautiful organization ResiRest, we got the opportunity to have lunch with a local family. And what a special experience it was!
Many tourists stay in the popular area El Poblado, with its trendy restaurants & lively bars. Nice, but how interesting is it, to see a completely different side of this bustling city? So, we got on the subway and traveled to a completely other part of Medellin, the neighborhood of Caicedo de Tres Esquinas. Here, on the crammed slopes of the city, we meet Yuliana for the first time.
Our local cook Yuliana
Yuliana picks us up at a cute little church in the middle of this busy and typical Colombian neighborhood. No tourists here, only cheerful & friendly Colombians. It is hectic, children running over the street and swinging salsa music coming from every corner.
We both are a bit nervous, since we don’t know what to expect exactly.
Later, Yuliana tells me, she was also very nervous. Pretty logical, as this was her first time she brings tourists to her house and cooks for them. But she quickly makes us feel at ease. She chatters away about her life & the habits of the Colombian people and she guides us through the crowds to her little house high on the slopes of the hill.
Colombian food
We are immediately offered a typical Colombian drink, Mazamorra. It is often drunk with the Bandeja Paisa (main course) and is actually simply a bowl of milk with corn kernels in it. If you like, you can make it sweeter with bocadillo, a kind of sticky sweetener made of guave. Really nice! While we sip on our Mazamorra, Yuliana & her friend Maria prepare the main course, a Bandeja Paisa. You have to eat this dish at least once during your trip through Colombia. It’s a typical Colombian dish, especially in the region of Antioquia. There are many variations, but we are served the most traditional version.
Bandeja Paisa consists of rice, red beans, a fried egg, avocado, bacon, minced meat & a chorizo sausage. A real savory meal, I can tell you. And compliments to Yuliana. This was the best food we have had in Colombia so far. Really delicious! Everything super fresh & tasteful.
After dinner, Yuliana brings us back to the church. With a full stomach and an experience richer we say goodbye to her. What a special thing to be able to experience this. A must do when you’re in Colombia!
Later on, I talked to Geert, the founder of ResiRest. He tells me that Yuliana is a real proud woman now, earning her own money to support her family. How beautiful is that? Gives me goosebumps.
ResiRest in Medellin
Would you also want to taste the real local life, when traveling? ResiRest can organize this for you. You, as a traveler, get an authentic experience. A dinner with the locals in their own home. You are served a delicious meal, you learn something about the culture and life in that country.
They, the locals, also get the chance to get to know people from a completely different country. Moreover, they can earn money on a fair trade and fair tourism base. The locals, who joined ResiRest, don’t always have an easy life. This way you can also help them.
About the author: Corinne Vloet
Read more about the adventures of Corinne and Rob, a couple that travels a lot, at the HIPonTrip website (HIP = Happiness in Progress). Advanced travelers, since they travel about 4 months a year, and enjoy going off the beaten track. With you, they share their experiences and tips.
Want a happy local experience too? You are most welcome to join ResiRest! Book a meal with a local family in Medellin. Or, explore the real local life in one of the other ResiRest cities in over 25 countries. See you soon!
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