South America: Panaderias

Panaderias (bread shops) are your local bakery – an artsy shop, a stand on the corner, a neighbor with an oven – you’ll find them all across South America.

Must Try Foods

Empanadas – can are be found across the continent. They are delicious doughy little semi-circles of meat or vegetable, about the size of your palm. Each country (and regions within them) has a different twist - sweet, savory, fried in oil, baked. Explore your options on street corners, in little bread shops, or homes across South America.

Where to eat them: Delicias Express: Valparaiso, Chile - More than 80 flavors of empanadas, fruits, meats, and seafoods on the artyside seaside hills that rise above the ocean. Che Emapnadas: El Chalten, Argentina - a little restaurant in the small mountain town, named after famed socialist leader, Che. Henry's Empanadas: Bogota, Colombia - a local favorite, top your empanada with a spicy kick of salsa de aji.

Tres Leche – aka, the three milks, are also found throughout Latin America in cake or dessert. In many recipes, a sponge cake is soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy creak. Sometimes with whipped cream or a strawberry on top. It’s a heavenly dessert.

Where to eat them: Vlady Reposteria Fina & Fruta Bar: Lima, Peru. Hansel and Gretel: Quito, Ecuador. Cadore in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Churros – of Spanish origin, are a widespread dessert of fried dough. Sometimes dipped in chocolate or tres leche, often topped with powdered sugar. They can be found in most streetside markets across South America.

Balon de queso – a ball of fried cheese. What’s not to love? Found in many streetside corner stands in northern South America. It’s delicious, though probably has its limits.

Pao de quejo – are a Brazilian specialty, an artisanal blend of baked cheese and bread. I found that Rio de Janeiro had my favorites but the whole Brazilian state is known for them - along with the special recipe of an açaí smoothie.

Where to eat them: Cultivar, Casa do Pao de Queijo, Rubaiyat Río, Café 18 do forte in Río de Janeiro. Octavia Café, Beluga, Haddock Lobo, P.A.O. in Sao Paolo.