garcias2chile: Pedro's Motto: Where You Go, Grill

My husband would say he knew a little bit about grilling before coming to Chile, but realized very soon upon arrival that he was moving into "the big leagues" when it came to asados (or parrilladas) in this South American country! An early memory from our first years in Iquique took place at the home of new friends who were parents to a student in our daughter's second-grade class. It was there Pedro learned that the goal of a Chilean cookout was more than just a tableful of cooked meat. Instead, it was about the enjoyment of talking to your friend while standing around the grill, and the friend offering up tasty samples of all the different kinds of meat as the cooking process took place.

In other words, it was as much about relationship as it was food.

Another detail Pedro learned was that Chilean grilling never has to do with hamburgers and hot dogs! A good asado is always a variety of different meats, beginning with the chorizos or sausages. These are typically served first as a type of appetizer. The sizzling sausage is tucked inside a fresh marraqueta (Chilean bread) and garnished with pebre (like a pico de gallo) and mayonnaise. Later, the other meats are typically served at the table alongside Chilean rice and several different kinds of salads.

Overall, the cultural lesson we have learned is that inviting friends to a good asado is akin to offering them a special gift. It is the gift of time; laughter; conversation; and a quality meal that can sometimes be costly but is always a blessing.

Below, from most recent to oldest, I've collected photos of Pedro doing the grilling he now loves in nearly a dozen different places. Midway there is a picture entitled "Dream Fulfilled" which is when he received a homemade grill made out of a 55-gallon metal drum! Not only was this a gift to himself but to countless friends and family who have had the pleasure of being served from it. In fact, service is one of Pedro's "love languages" and grilling is one of the places he speaks it best.

Signed, A Proud Wife