You should probably avoid eating more than one of these a month and always order it to share with someone else if you want to avoid a heart attack or a belly ache because, while delicious, it is very dense. Mojarra is a type of fish that I’ve had every time I’ve visited the coast, but it’s popular all over the country, as well. It’s usually fried and comes served with rice (if you’re on the coast, arroz de coco, rice cooked in coconut milk), vegetables and plantain, as well. I like to send pictures of my meals to friends and family back home, and some of them can’t get over the fish's head and eyes still being attached, but it doesn’t really bother me. In fact, you can actually eat them (though I wouldn’t recommend it)!
So far, we’ve covered several traditional things you can find at most Colombian restaurants, but food here is also very different when you’re making it for yourself. To avoid cross-contamination and gluten as much as possible, I do cook at home probably a little more than most other Fulbrighters, so I spend a lot of time in grocery stores and markets here. So, picture your family’s grocery store of choice--whether it's Payless, Meijer, Costco, Aldi or whatever it is. Say you need eggs. Where do you head? The refrigerated section, right? At least that’s where I go. What about butter? Same deal. However, that's not the case here in Colombia (and many other countries)! Butter, eggs and even milk are sold on the shelves at room temperature. I don’t know the exact science of when temperatures affect something’s freshness, but I’ve never gotten sick. Apparently, differences in how these foods are produced and processed here explain why they can be safely stored at room temperature before being opened, so don't try this at home!
