Nos Complementamos Como Mote & Huesillo

We go together like...

If you're a fan of the movie Greace, you probably finished that phrase in your head with ...rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong.  If you're more of the foodie type, your mind might have raced to something like "macaroni and cheese" or "peanut-butter and jelly."   

Unfortunately, both of these delicious combinations are pretty hard to come by in Chile.  It´s okay though, don't feel too bad for me.  This V-day, I'm mixing it up and bringing you some classic Chilean combinations to add some new flavor to your day.  Feel free to pass these babies on to that special someone.

 

Once upon a time, mote con huesillos (a tea that contains barley and dried peaches) was a meal for the very poor in Chile.  Now, it's a popular drink enjoyed by Chileans everywhere, especially in summertime (which, down here in the southern hemisphere, is now).  By telling your loved one "nos complementamos como mote y huesillo" (literally translated to: we compliment each-other like barley and little bones...but referring to the dried peaches), you can share in this sentiment of true love.  Essentially you're saying that, although one of you may be round and wrinkly while the other is smaller, firmer and more supple, you still make a mixture that's pretty darn sweet.  Now isn't that just precious?

The love between pisco (Chile's national hard alcohol) and coca-cola is a classic.  She's a little bit overbearing and he's a little bit, shall we say, vengeful?  However, in the end, they make it work.  I bet that coke-bottle figure doesn't hurt either...

This  great card for your healthy, uncomplicated relationship.  Unlike pisco and cola, milk and banana have just that.  Putting these two in blender together may not be a novel concept, but it's a good one.  Chile doesn't necessarily have a trademark on this combo but they do do it often and they do it well.  Three cheers for a love that just plain makes sense.  Hip hip horayyy!

For that fiery new love you've got going, I recommend the pebre and marraquetta V-day card.  Pebre, Chile's very spicy sauce sauce, is pretty similar to Mexican salsa.  However, it has a distinct set of spices or something which sets it apart.  It's typically served with white "marraquetta" bread which is great because it helps put out the fire that pebre often starts in your mouth.  This card speaks of a balanced relationship; maybe one that contains a hotheaded person and someone a little more tranquilo who helps take things back down a notch.  Don't worry, if you don't want a valentine's day card that accuses your significant other of being an enojón/a (rage-a-holic), you can always just tell them that it just means that they're hot and sexy (I won't tell if you won't).

 

She's easy-going and lighthearted.  The panqueque of Chile is slightly different from its North American cousin, the pancake.  It is lighter, and more closely resembles a crêpe (the French look is so in right now).  He's sweet and versatile, but also a bit of a man whore.  Manjar is a carmel-like sauce that's used on almost every kind of sweet treat here in Chile.  That's right MANjar, we've seen what you've been doing with that churro...and that Cuchuflí ...don't even get me STARTED on the alfaWHORE.  Overall, this relationship might be doomed.  I knew it seemed too good to be true. Don't worry Panqueque, just wait till we take you up north and introduce you to some nice maple syrup.

 

Here's an odd combo for ya.  She's a little bit country, he's a little bit rock and roll... The mixture of beer and fanta isn't extremely common in Chile but, for better or for worse, it's here.  It kind of reminds me of that one Dr. Suess quote, "We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love.”  If that quote describes your relationship, the Fanshop card might be right for you.