Colombian food event in the West End

By Julian Pla

Last Friday, up and coming chef Jordi Pla amazed the west-end with traditional Colombian food. The main course ‘Bandeja paisa’ was served for the first time ever in ‘Andina’ a small specialty coffee shop in the west-end of Glasgow. Owned by Maria Paz a Colombian businesswoman that has now open her second coffee shop in Glasgow, the first one being open for five years and running in the east side of the city. The relatively new shop in the west- end is getting all the attention due to the food events being held there.

credit: Andina
Photo of the coffee shop with the owner right and chef left.

Chef Jordi has presented us two traditional dishes from Colombia already, his project called “Discovering Colombia’ aims to take us on a trip through the six main regions of Colombia. Caribe, (Caribbean), Insular (Insular), Pacifica, (Pacific), Andina (Andean), Orinoquia (wild east) and Amazonia (Amazons). So far, they have done the Caribbean and Andean region.

The evening was filled with Colombian music that set the tone for people to dance, talk and discover a new culture (or feel at home for the Colombians that were present). Chef Jordi came out at the beginning of the night to introduce the dishes he was going to be serving and give us some insight into the preparation and ingredients.

Getting the mood going with the entrée ‘Arepas con hogao’ a flat toasted corn or flour dough that is made into a circle, dating back from the pre-Columbian era arepas are one of the most noticeable foods from Colombia. Served with hogao a tangy sauce made with onions tomatoes and oil on the side.

The ‘Bandeja Paisa’ is not only a representative dish from the Andean region but of Colombia as a whole. With ingredients that you find throughout the entire country like avocados, pork belly, kidney beans, chorizo, mince beef, plantain, eggs and arepas. When mixed, these ingredients combine and create a world of flavour in your mouth.

For dessert we were delighted with ‘Arroz con leche’ the best way to put it an elevated and richer version of ‘rice pudding’. There’s not much point comparing one to the other as the flavours and textures are worlds apart.

Entrée main and dessert all pictured
credit: Andina

There is no set date for the next region to explore however the seventh of December will be a one off event celebrating the Colombian tradition known as ‘Dia de las velas’ or day of the candles. This tradition is based on the religious belief that Mother Mary will come down the seventh of December to earth and bless the homes of the believers however for this to happen you must set a path of candles leading to your home.

The menu for the event is already out and to get tickets all you have to do is go to their Instagram page, as well as to know the date for the next event, all information you need is on their page.