Category Restaurants
Colombian Protectionism
A Juan Valdez When you have ice-cream, of course you also get coffee. It’s one of the two things that are most commonly available here (I am sorry, but it’s predictable, isn’t it?). Entry barrier in this country tends to be high. So, like the ice-cream retail industry, the coffee sector also suffers from a similar destiny. […]
Bogotáns and Ice-cream
It’s a love relationship, no doubt. You can find people eat ice-cream at any time of the day (we’re talking about as early as 10am..) It’s a standard kind of dessert, a snack, or even a meal (common for people to go for the 2-3 scope sundaes). So if you go on the streets at […]
Colombian efficiencies
La Hamburgueseria – one of the 2 leaders in the burger market Having my self-indulgent moment (or rather, self-destructive tendency) the other day, I craved for a juicy, meaty, fulfilling and ‘soul-warming’ burger. Instead of El Corral, the most popular burger brand in Colombia (it has a myriad of retail brands including ‘gourmet’, an American-style diner, […]
Stuck up & non-existent service
It was a long-awaited date on a Saturday when we were looking forward to going to the legendary Gaira Cafe, the restaurant owned by the brother of the most revered singer in Colombia, Carlos Vives. Upon arrival, I got a little disoriented because the house looked like an ethnic hut transported directly from some tropical forests. It was densely covered by heavy vegetation […]
The House of French ‘Anthropology’
Outdoor seating, just like in Paris Real bread.. Just like Paris! Versailles style salon Jacque (and me of course..) The other day, we went flat hunting again (yes.. again.. I feel tired just saying the two words). After seeing 6 flats in the morning, getting stuck in traffic for 1 hour […]
Latin American Sashimi!
Causa – in Incan, means ‘Kausaq’, “that which gives life.” salad on top of potato mash served like little soldiers with quail eggs in gormet style A mixed cerviche with sea bass, octopus, squid and shrimps Tuna Tiradito It was an abstract notion when I dined at La Mar, when I found out that the main options […]
Dealing with the Language
As Bogotán life starts taking its toll, so does my Spanish. I can no longer rely on others to help with my daily life. Calling to make reservation starts to be tricky when all you hear on the other side of the phone is a kind of machine gun sound. You have rehearsed the lines […]
Irishness
Every country has to have Irish immigrants and Colombia is no exception! And the pubs they (or the Irish pretending developers) open tend to be so successful that they often have a few branches. The Pub in Bogotá has 2 branches. I didn’t come across anyone with an Irish accent but the whole place was […]
I didn’t think this existed in Colombia!
2nd June 2016 update: Unforunately, like many other places in Bogotá, where the food and beverage business is highly competitive, Magnolio is now closed! The beautiful house is still standing, now occupied by a Galician restaurant that is yet to open. Garden Area OK, those who think that I give excessive coverage on food please […]
Colombian coffee shop
You may be pleased to know that the photo was taken in Bogota! It’s the Colombian ‘starbucks’, Juan Valdez. The products are pretty ‘normal’ and you may find the same offerings in London or Hong Kong. You want it cold? Yes! You want it frape? Yes! Yes.. I am not deprived!
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