What do we eat at 2400m?Unlike our cavemen ancestors, we do not go out hunting protected animal species in a natural park.. Our preys are modern, yet not too synthetic, pre-cooked or microwave-cookable meals. The available culinary selection is extensive, indirectly due to our rented car that allows us access to supermarkets. We also have the observatory's residency that provides good food for decent price, given our location.
But, indeed, the most cost-effective meals we eat come from the supermarket. Our favorite supermarket is the HiperDino at La Esperanza.
We mainly eat at home what we buy at the supermarket. But about once every two or three days we have lunch at the observatory's residency.
The kitchen at the observatory's residency is run by a Venezuelan chef, with taste for curious and unusual dishes, though they are usually very good for my taste. Things like "arroz negro", our last "strange" meal there. But there appear to be days when the chef is absent, nearing the weekend, on Fridays and Saturdays. On those days, food is usually not as memorable.. But the complete process of eating is adjusted to the kitchen being 2 km higher than any market. Only two main courses exist for lunch, and one for dinner. Lunch must be reserved until 10:30 of the same day, and dinners until 15:00. It can be done in person, by phone, or even by filling a not-very-good form on the internet.
But anyway, the "Arroz negro" or "black rice", I believe is the best dish to explain and illustrate the type of food chosen by our chef. To start with, the name is oddly simple. It's just a coloring adjective followed by a noun. When I chose the dish, I mostly chose it for its name, almost wondering what it could. After choosing, it came to me that the most effective way I could think of to turning rice black, was to use cuttlefish ink. Well, when the day came to eat it I realized I had guessed that part correctly. However, surprises did not end there. How unexpected would you find eating seafood on top of a 2400m mountain? The black rice had in it mussels, clams, and cuttlefish.. It also had green lentils and another vegetable in it that gave it a really nice taste. I can't recall that one, now.. But I do recall that in no occasion I found a single grain of rice.. Either it was there -- smashed -- or it wasn't -- absolutely absent!
But, indeed, the most cost-effective meals we eat come from the supermarket. Our favorite supermarket is the HiperDino at La Esperanza.
We mainly eat at home what we buy at the supermarket. But about once every two or three days we have lunch at the observatory's residency.
The kitchen at the observatory's residency is run by a Venezuelan chef, with taste for curious and unusual dishes, though they are usually very good for my taste. Things like "arroz negro", our last "strange" meal there. But there appear to be days when the chef is absent, nearing the weekend, on Fridays and Saturdays. On those days, food is usually not as memorable.. But the complete process of eating is adjusted to the kitchen being 2 km higher than any market. Only two main courses exist for lunch, and one for dinner. Lunch must be reserved until 10:30 of the same day, and dinners until 15:00. It can be done in person, by phone, or even by filling a not-very-good form on the internet.
But anyway, the "Arroz negro" or "black rice", I believe is the best dish to explain and illustrate the type of food chosen by our chef. To start with, the name is oddly simple. It's just a coloring adjective followed by a noun. When I chose the dish, I mostly chose it for its name, almost wondering what it could. After choosing, it came to me that the most effective way I could think of to turning rice black, was to use cuttlefish ink. Well, when the day came to eat it I realized I had guessed that part correctly. However, surprises did not end there. How unexpected would you find eating seafood on top of a 2400m mountain? The black rice had in it mussels, clams, and cuttlefish.. It also had green lentils and another vegetable in it that gave it a really nice taste. I can't recall that one, now.. But I do recall that in no occasion I found a single grain of rice.. Either it was there -- smashed -- or it wasn't -- absolutely absent!
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