Medellin Reports

Hi, I'm a Canadian citizen and would like to stay 1 year in Colombia but I don't want to get a visa. Can I pull this of?

Yeah it's crazy sometimes. I make most of my meals at home. I rarely eat at restaurants except in Poblado and Laureles. I was never a good cook but I got a lot better during the pandemic when there was no alternative. There was a Tostao near my building. There was always flies in the food case. The counter girls were too lazy to shoo them or even keep the case door closed so they didn't fly in. It makes me sad that most Colombians don't benefit from international level hygiene unless they live in or near a foreigner heavy neighborhood. If you aren't sure what I'm getting at, you only have to compare the condition of the rolling shopping baskets at the Exito in San Antonio with the any Carulla. Carulla and Exito are part of the same company. The Carulla baskets are cleaned every day. The Exito baskets are as filthy as any sidewalk trash bin. It reminds me of decades ago in the US when hood food shops were not regularly inspected by the Health Department.

[QUOTE=FFlintstone69;3030456]For some weird reason I was walking around Centro a couple days ago and wandered into a Tostao at Avenida Maracaibo why Avenida Oriental.

And I was looking at the food in the glass case at my waist and the clerk was standing there, and there was a really massive roach crawling over the food.

And I was in grossed out total shock and I pointed to it and she grabbed a napkin and grabbed it and stuck it in her pocket or something and.

Then asked what I wanted and I was even more shocked and walked out, I lost my appetite for anything to eat for at least 2 days.

I feel so unhealthy when I'm here because everything is so repulsive, even Subway is nasty.

I feel like anorexia is setting in. If I had to live here I most certainly would slowly die of malnutrition.[/QUOTE]

This is probably the 2nd post in what will be a bunch of posts off-topic about food. But in short, food in Medellin is amazing if you bother to do a little research and go to the places that make great food. Google Maps is your friend (look for places 4. 0 or better, with at least 100 reviews or more). You will find amazing food places (some expensive in Poblado and Laureles) and some real lower-cost gems outside those areas. While there is weakness in some areas (asian food for example), pasta, seafood and steaks are amazing if you know where to look. Some recommendations: For amazing homemade pasta that rivals the best you've ever had, try Tirrena Pasta in Manila (bottom of Poblado). For amazing fresh seafood in a themed 'secret' boat interior (really secret, above a small seafood store) go to El Barco de Buena Mar in San Fernando. For a really fancy (this is pricier) date restaurant with a view of Medellin and excellent food, go to RITWAL up in Casaloma above El Tesoro mall area. For an amazing Paisa lunch place, check out Restaurante La gloria de Gloria in Envigado. If you are in Laureles, Parrilla Dejame Q' Te Cuente Medelland off 70 is a great lunch place. The list is almost endless, but these are some good choices to start. Of course if you are craving some American food, then head over to Philly Steaks in Manila.

[QUOTE=Vip6682;3030540]Hi, I'm a Canadian citizen and would like to stay 1 year in Colombia but I don't want to get a visa. Can I pull this of?[/QUOTE]Short answer, no you can not.

[QUOTE=DiscoverFL;3030558]For an amazing Paisa lunch place, check out Restaurante La gloria de Gloria in Envigado. [/QUOTE]It's a chicharron and rib place. Huge portion, limited seating, better go with a friend. Check out Cochibacon if you like chicharron.

I found the higher price places are often overpriced and not as good for the type of dishes when comparing them to Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires. Many serve supermarket wines with a high markup or high corkage fee. I saw a 2 USD bottle wine in Argentina costing more than 30 USD in some restaurants.

[QUOTE=Knowledge;3030411] Vesalles is one of those old school high traffic Colombian restaurants [/QUOTE]It's a argentinian restaurant. That is why they are old school, I guess you are referring to the uniform.

[QUOTE=Nounce;3030573] Many serve supermarket wines with a high markup or high corkage fee. I saw a 2 USD bottle wine in Argentina costing more than 30 USD in some restaurants.[/QUOTE]Well, to be fair, that happens almost everywhere in the world, not just in Colombia!

If you come from USA, I noted that steakhouses in Chicago or NY propose some Italian red wines, which I can buy for 10 euro in a supermarket in Italy, for 50-100 USD on the wine list. Then, you understand why usually I drink beer with my steak...

[QUOTE=DiscoverFL;3030558]This is probably the 2nd post in what will be a bunch of posts off-topic about food. But in short, food in Medellin is amazing if you bother to do a little research and go to the places that make great food.[/QUOTE]GOLDEN post. It will be useful to me. Let me add "Sancho Paisa" on the road to airport, or the always good San Carbon for a steak grilled on charcoal.

I tend to think Bogota has better restaurants and the food on the coast has more flavor, but in general I don't think most people travel to Colombia for the food. If one is having unprotected sex with crack heads in El Centro, the food in Medellin probably isn't your biggest health risk.

If you are in El Centro, you will probably see roaches along with a lot of other things you probably won't see on a reg in more upscale parts of the city. Cabs are inexpensive enough where you can get out of the roach infested areas and at least eat in decent venues around the city.

You might have to pay more to eat non local food at more upscale places, but to me it is worth it. Also, try to stay away from chains that receive everything in plastic bags and just heat up food prepared in some distribution center. Lastly, enjoy the things that are native to Colombia like the fruits, especially things like avocados and dragon fruit and the fresh bread and good coffee.

All facts.

[QUOTE=Orgasmico;3030599]I tend to think Bogota has better restaurants and the food on the coast has more flavor, but in general I don't think most people travel to Colombia for the food. If one is having unprotected sex with crack heads in El Centro, the food in Medellin probably isn't your biggest health risk.

If you are in El Centro, you will probably see roaches along with a lot of other things you probably won't see on a reg in more upscale parts of the city. Cabs are inexpensive enough where you can get out of the roach infested areas and at least eat in decent venues around the city.

You might have to pay more to eat non local food at more upscale places, but to me it is worth it. Also, try to stay away from chains that receive everything in plastic bags and just heat up food prepared in some distribution center. Lastly, enjoy the things that are native to Colombia like the fruits, especially things like avocados and dragon fruit and the fresh bread and good coffee.[/QUOTE]

I am referring to the number of years (since 1961) it's been in business.

[QUOTE=Nounce;3030574]It's a argentinian restaurant. That is why they are old school, I guess you are referring to the uniform.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Knowledge;3030557]Yeah it's crazy sometimes. I make most of my meals at home. I rarely eat at restaurants except in Poblado and Laureles. I was never a good cook but I got a lot better during the pandemic when there was no alternative. There was a Tostao near my building. There was always flies in the food case. The counter girls were too lazy to shoo them or even keep the case door closed so they didn't fly in. It makes me sad that most Colombians don't benefit from international level hygiene unless they live in or near a foreigner heavy neighborhood. If you aren't sure what I'm getting at, you only have to compare the condition of the rolling shopping baskets at the Exito in San Antonio with the any Carulla. Carulla and Exito are part of the same company. The Carulla baskets are cleaned every day. The Exito baskets are as filthy as any sidewalk trash bin. It reminds me of decades ago in the US when hood food shops were not regularly inspected by the Health Department.[/QUOTE]So what bothers me so much about seeing roaches dead or alive on food for display, is I can't help but imagine what things look like in the kitchen out of public view.

I'm guessing they don't have any Health Dept doing strict random inspections or an FDA inspecting the food supply.

I once stayed at an Airbnb in Bogota above a bakery / resto and it was full of roaches like I've never seen in my life, I asked bldg manager how often they spray.

He said we don't bother the bakery is full of them its just a waste of money. I left.

If restaurants in Centro don't have any rules or regulations (or at least not any real enforcement) I doubt its any different in Poblado or anywhere else.

I seriously doubt most locals would've been upset by what I saw.

That's a very big problem, that tells me it isn't "safe" to eat anywhere here.

Does anyone know of a powdered food supplement I can bring to use as a food substitute for a few weeks at a time?

Only serious replies please.

[QUOTE=BlackPage;3030590]Well, to be fair, that happens almost everywhere in the world, not just in Colombia!

If you come from USA, I noted that steakhouses in Chicago or NY propose some Italian red wines, which I can buy for 10 euro in a supermarket in Italy, for 50-100 USD on the wine list. Then, you understand why usually I drink beer with my steak...[/QUOTE]It's a higher end steak house that serves literally the bottom shelf wine.

Serious response. They do have relatively-strict food health regulations, and yearly inspections are the norm. However, just as a food truck or vendor in a Chinatown (NYC) or Little Haiti (Miami) is likely to escape close scrunity and likely to have a roach problem; so is some shady food vendor in El Centro. If I was to judge Miami and NYC by that same standard, I'd write off both cities too. They also have strict regulations on the distribution system, including stricter-than-US regulations on food transport (notice how all food transport vehicles require special labeling so they cannot be dual-used, we don't have that requirement, among other things). Most colombians I know would be disgusted by what you saw and simply move on to another vendor. About the same as US residents in NYC or Miami seeing the same thing. I'll add to that, that when visiting many nicer food establishments I am surprised at the very strict safety clothing (hair nets, masks) required for kitchen workers that are beyond anything we have in the USA. McDonalds in Medellin feels almost like a hospital compared to our mess here. I think you need to take a step back and try a different pair of colored glasses in order to take a fresh look at the food situation. This is a poorer country, so judging by the poorest street food offerings is not really fair to their food culture, their pride, and their food quality.

[QUOTE=FFlintstone69;3030623]I'm guessing they don't have any Health Dept doing strict random inspections or an FDA inspecting the food supply.... If restaurants in Centro don't have any rules or regulations (or at least not any real enforcement) I doubt its any different in Poblado or anywhere else...I seriously doubt most locals would've been upset by what I saw... That's a very big problem, that tells me it isn't "safe" to eat anywhere here... Only serious replies please.[/QUOTE]

I am providing my observation with context. Over the years, I only remember seeing one roach during sex in Laureles. The girl stood up on the bed and won't get down to the floor because of the cockroach. It is safe to say I have experienced more robbery attempts than I have seen cockroach. The girl is also afraid of it.

I ate all over the city, including El Centro. I am amazed at the bias. LOL.

My apartment was sprayed a month ago. I went out with a paisa last week. We took a walk in the morning. She said we should shower after then go out to lunch when I said just go directly to lunch without showing.


El Centro in the rain, beer 4.5 - 9 mil, depending where you sit.