Chilean Food Celebration to Take Place in Tucson

By Editor July 22, 2016 11:17

By: Isabel Byfield

Chileans are probably still celebrating their victory in the Copa America Centenario, and Tucson is celebrating with them by throwing a Chilean Night food fair at El Cisne this coming Saturday.

Chilean cuisine is acclaimed world-wide for its fantastic selection of wines, great seafood and juicy steaks; plenty of good reasons to be chosen as one of the featured cuisines that father and son team Phillip and George Ferranti, are welcoming at their family restaurant: El Cisne.

Phil describes himself as “a gringo in love with Latin-American culture”, born and raised in Tucson, Latin influence has always been a part of his life. El Cisne, a Mexican restaurant that showcases food from 5 regions in Mexico, is featuring a Latin food series that already had the spotlight in Argentina and Brazil as honored guests.

This Saturday, the Chilean night will bring with it the summer heat with 5 dishes; from appetizers to dessert and cocktails. Guests can pick and choose from a fixed menu. Let me just warn you, everything sounds delicious and you might have to order them all.

While you enjoy the music and dances, start with a Piscola (pisco sour and cola), prepared by Sebastian Pedreros, El Cisne’s bartender (who happens to be from Chile).

The appetizers include a Chilean salad, consisting of ripe tomatoes and red onion, drizzled with olive oil and a hint of salt – and the Pastel de Choclo, a chilean sweet corn bread stuffed with meat, olives, raisins and hardboiled egg. The main courses are the Estofado de Carne; stewed meat and vegetables and the Congrio Frito; a wild caught Chilean fish, steamed or lightly battered, served with potatoes and veggies. Cabernet sauvignon and Chardonnay complete this Chilean feast.

And last, but not least (and probably my favorite), is the featured dessert: Alfajores. These butter cookies sandwiches literally melt in your mouth. Delicate and crumbly cookies stuffed with dulce de leche and sprinkled with coconut flakes, Alfajores are the perfect ending to a sweet night, full of Chilean culture, music, drinks and food. So whether you are from Chile or just simple love Latin culture, come over and celebrate, dance, eat and drink like a Chilean. Rest assured you will have a blast.

*Event starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday, performance by Tradicciones kicks off at 6:30 p.m.

El Cisne