In Bizarre Foods Cartagena, part of the Delicious Destinations series featuring Andrew Zimmern, the host and his crew visited numerous restaurants in the city, showcasing a variety of unique and delicious dishes. Here is a convenient list of all the addresses and dishes highlighted in this exciting exploration of Cartagena’s food scene.
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DISH – Pescado Frito
WHAT IS IT?
Pescado Frito is a Colombian dish of fried whole red snapper. In Cartagena, it is typically served with fried green plantains and coconut rice. The fish is seasoned with salt. It is then slit and fried in palm oil. Next, the green plantains are fried the first time then smashed before being fried a second time to become patacones. The fish and patacones is usually served with a side of arroz con coco or coconut rice.
WHERE IS IT?
La Mulata
Cl. del Quero #9 58
Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS CARTAGENA
La Mulata insists on sourcing its ingredients only from local fishermen and small farms.
ANDREW ZIMMERN CARTAGENA DISH – Arepa de Huevo
WHAT IS IT?
Arepa de Huevo is a pocket of fried masa cooked a second time with an egg inside. The dough is rolled and flattened before being fried in palm oil. Once cool enough to touch, the arepa is opened and an egg is poured inside. The arepa is again cooked in oil until it is crispy on the outside and the egg is soft inside.
WHERE IS IT?
La Mona
Plaza Fernandez de Madrid
Cartagena, Cartagena Province, Bolivar, Colombia
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS CARTAGENA
La Mona is a popular arepas street stand in Plaza Fernandez de Madrid.
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ANDREW ZIMMERN CARTAGENA DISH – Tropical Fruit Juice
WHAT IS IT?
Colombia is home to several indigenous fruit varieties. Níspero is one example. It tastes like a cross between brown sugar and peach, and believed to have cancer-fighting properties. Lulo is a crunchy cross between rhubarb and lime. Tomate de árbol is a tree tomato with a bright tomato aroma and a sweet citrus finish. Curuba or tumbo fruit has an acidy, passion fruit flavor. It was used by the Incans to preserve fish. Corozo is too tart to eat raw but a favorite for making wine. Uchuva is sweet on the outside, tangy on the inside. It is believed to aid in digestion and treat infections. Borojó tastes like tamarind. It is hard to peel so its pulp is wrapped in plastic and sold on its own. These are only some of the star ingredients in tropical fruit juices sold all over Cartagena. The fruits are blended with ice, a bit of sugar, water and milk. The blend is then strained and served.
WHERE IS IT?
Bazurto Market
Cra. 29 #3607
Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS CARTAGENA
Bazurto Market or Mercado de Bazurto is a bustling place where locals hawk their wares, including tropical fruits. Refresqueria Natalie is one of the juice stands in Bazurto Market that offer fresh fruit drinks, like borojó juice.
ANDREW ZIMMERN CARTAGENA DISH – Cazuela de Mariscos
WHAT IS IT?
Cazuela de Mariscos in Cartagena is a hearty seafood and snail casserole. The dish is prepared through cleaning the land snails thoroughly. Once cleaned, they are boiled with octopus. On a separate pan, carrots, garlic, onion, soy sauce and red wine are sautéed. Seafood, like octopus, snail and calamari, is then added into the sauté. Spice mix and coconut milk are added, followed by a flurry of cream, butter and water. Shrimp is added last.
WHERE IS IT?
Restaurante La Casa de Socorro
Cl. 25 #8B-112
Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS CARTAGENA
At La Casa de Socorro Restaurant, their Cazuela de Mariscos is given a final splash of cream before it is served.
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DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS CARTAGENA DISH – Posta Negra
WHAT IS IT?
Posta Negra is a caramelized beef dish. The beef is marinated for 3 days in cloves, peppers, garlic, onions, bell peppers, oil, mustard, salsa negra (mixture of aromatics and Worcestershire sauce), and local brown cane sugar. The marinated beef is then seared in oil with sugar and the marinade. More cane sugar is added and the beef is cooked down for 2-3 hours.
WHERE IS IT?
Restaurante La Olla Cartagenera
Cra. 2 ##5-100
Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS CARTAGENA
La Olla Cartagenera uses tri-tip steak for its Posta Negra. It serves the dish with a side of Plantains of Temptation: plantains sizzled in butter, sugar, cinnamon, and a local red cola.
BIZARRE FOODS DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS CARTAGENA DISH – Dulces
WHAT IS IT?
Dulces is an array of handmade fruity, sugary confections. For examples, cocadas or Colombian-style coconut candies are made with grated coconut meat cooked with sugar and milk. The mixture is stirred constantly until it caramelizes.
WHERE IS IT?
Portal de los Dulces
Cra. 5 #33-15
Cartagena, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
NOTES – BIZARRE FOODS DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS CARTAGENA
Portal de los Dulces is a candy market in the heart of the old city. It is here where one can find Muñecas de Leche. This candy is made of caramel, milk and sugar and shaped into a baby doll.
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