World Culinary Cruise - 41st Stop Columbia Event Cache

The itinerary is every country in the world, one restaurant at a time, all without leaving the confines of Central NJ.

Next Stop ... Columbia

Gusto y Sabor

2022 C Morris Ave.

Union NJ 07083

630pm to 8pm

Colombian cuisine is rich and diverse, thanks to geographical variety, a tropical climate, and the influence of many immigrant populations. There are exotic dishes like roasted ants (homiga culona), guinea pig, and fried intestines (chunchillos), as well as comfort foods like arepas and chicken soup (sancocho de gallina). Traditional dishes like bandeja paisa (assorted meat plate with fried egg and fried plantian), fritanga (heaping plate of fried meats and sausages), and lechona (whole roasted suckling pig) are not for vegetarians or for the faint of appetite, but are excellent for sharing with friends. I cannot say if we will be enjoying ants or guinea pig, but if it is on the menu, I say we try it.

Some countries are famed for their food and nowadays people are able to enjoy varieties of Chinese, Italian, French and Indian dishes in some form in their home countries.

Much less well known is Colombian cuisine and most people would find it difficult to name a typical dish from Colombia.

That doesn’t mean however that Colombian food isn’t worth trying; in fact the opposite is true as many of the dishes in Colombia are packed full of flavor.

Colombian cuisine is a blend of European and indigenous ingredients and many dishes include pork, potatoes, chicken, beans, corn and rice.

The main meal of the day is traditionally eaten between two and four, particularly in the countryside.

Lunch is usually three courses, with soup, a main course and dessert.

Dinner tends to be more of a snack, though if it is served as a main meal, it will be eaten around eight o’clock. We will be switching lunch and dinner, making this the main meal on our excursion.

We have reservations and will basically be taking over the entire restaurant. They close at 8pm, but I suspect they will let us linger a bit longer.

BYOB is your option if you so choose.

Please meet Julie the cruise director at the Lido deck promptly at 630 pm and we will climb aboard the tender for our trip to the mainland.

I have perused the menu and see many selections heavy on beef, (carne), pork, (cerdo), fish (pescado) and of course, rice and beans.

Never been to a cruise event? This is one stop that is sure to offer something new and interesting for your palate. Join us.