Today, we are talking
about those delicacies that are cheap and you can enjoy in the Street in our
Latin America. Comida Callejera (Street Food) so delicious. So, let’s start
with that delightful white dough we know as “Arepa” in Colombia and in
Venezuela. It’s also called “Pupusa” in Guatemala, Salvador
and Honduras. And “La gordita” (Chubby) from Mexico. I will also talk about some uses of
these terms and slang.
I hope you enjoy this
document and I hope It will be useful!! 💖
THE AREPA, THE PUPUSA AND THE GORDITA (Chubby)
These snacks are
cousins, not only because of their shape, but of the ingredients and its
cooking. The countries where these snacks are part of their diet are: Colombia and
Venezuela with “Arepa”. The same in Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, although
these are known as “Pupusa”, and we have “Gorditas” (Chubby) in Mexico. This is
soft, round shaped and flattened dough, and after it is pre-cooked or cooked
you can add some filling. They can also
be baked, or fried according to what you want.
These delicacies have a common origin:
pre-Columbian origins. they are made of
corn. Corn was a very important ingredient for indigenous groups. Aboriginal
myths were around corn (maíz), corn on the cob (mazorca) or elote (in Mexico)
and they refer to corn as “the gift the Gods made to humankind” because it’s a
belief God made the first man and women from corn grains or corn dough”. This
preparation was an honor given to women of each community. “La Arepa” comes
from the term “AREPE” that means corn (maiz). This is how some natives from
Cumanagotos (an ethnic group from the Tribe Caribe that lived in Central
America and then they migrated to Colombian-Venezuelan territory). Now, with
the “Pupusawa”, it is a Nahuatl term from the Pipiles (ancestors of the Tolteca
tribes who emigrated to Mexico). Pupusawa turned into “pupusa” by Spanish
conquerors. “Pupusawa” means big, stuffed and swollen. Now, with “Las Gorditas
de Mexico”, we can say it is a modern version of the “Memelas Oaxaqueñas” that
are still being prepared nowadays and it is original language they mean hot
spices (chile – ají) for Chichimecas people.
The Arepa is
made mainly of corn. Whole kernel corn dried and powdered. Or pre-cooked dough. In Colombia we have more
than 72 types of arepas, some with filling, some others not. The filling may be
cheese most of the time, or egg in the Caribbean zone, with shredded beef in
some regions. Arepas can also be sweet if they are made of choclo (or Chócolo)
(sweet yellow corn). Venezuelan arepas are filled with beef, chicken, greens,
making them more generous in flavor. About the “pupusas” from Honduras,
Salvador and Guatemala, the dough can be both: corn or rice. The most common
fillings are cheese, kidney beans, pork rind, loroco (and edible flower from
Salvador) and chipilin (a plant from Salvador and Central America), spinach,
ayote (pumpkin), chicken, beef, ham and a lot more. The “Las gorditas” from
Mexico are made with corn and wheat, and some of its fillings are kidney beans,
pork rinds and cheese. Of course, the récipe and cooking changes in every
región.
Statistics: In
the Colombian market, 73% of the people eat arepas for breakfast, instead of
bread. In Venezuela, 90% of the people eat arepas not only at breakfast, but also
for dinner. In Colombia the arepas are fried or roasted. In Venezuela they bake
them or boil them. Arepa is part of their cultural heritage and is a symbol of
National Gastronomic Union. Meanwhile in Colombia´s coffee áreas, they have the
tradition to decorate someone important with a very special “necklace of
arepas”.
In Colombia
arepas or dough for arepas is sold everwhere: In corner stores, supermarkets,
market places and in the Street. In Venezuela the arepas are sold in special
places called areperas and in
restaurants. In Colombia is a tradition to celebrate “El festival de la arepa
colombiana” (The Colombian arepa Festival) in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali,
Barranquilla and Bucaramanga, usually in August and December.
In Salvador it’s
a 93% of the people who eat “Pupusas”, and they are very popular in Salvador. In
Honduras and Guatemala this dish is known but it isn’t as popular as in
Salvador. Salvadoran have also “El día internacional de las pupusas” (International
Pupusa Day) and they have participated in the Guinness Records with the biggest
“pupusa” ever made. It measured 5,5 meters. The “pupusas” are sold in
“pupuserías” and stores all over the country.
Mexican “gordita”
is very popular among the locals, but neither the récipe nor the preparation
changes in every region. There aren’t
statistics about it, but they are definitely less popular or popular as tacos
or fajitas, that compose the Mexican gastronomy.
AREPA, PUPUSA AND GORDITA: USES IN LOCAL
SLANG
Different meanings for “Arepa” in Colombia: Coloquial Use.
Meaning # 1: A
dough made of corn or corn flour, precooked and roastedon the stove, it can
also be fried with fillings. It usually is salty.
Meaning # 2: It means sudden luck.
Example:
Ganaron el juego de arepa! Estaban
jugando muy mal.
(they
won by arepa (luck)! They were playing
terribly).
Meaning # 3: Is Having luck ( terner suerte).
Example:
De arepa encontré la dirección rápido, pensé que llegaría tarde.
By arepa (Luckily) I found the address quickly, I thought I would be late.
In lower clases
or in slang, “Arepa” gets a tasteless or sexual connotación, with these meanings:
Meaning # 4: Arepa is both tasteless and psycho ways to
call the vagina. Other tasteles terms to talk about
“arepa” instead of vagina, are:
Arepera: Its a
comptemptuous way to talk about women who are attracted by other women, in a
romantic or sexual. It’s a pejorative way to talk about lesbianism.
Arepear/ make arepas:
This is insult to genital sex of a lesbian couple.
MEANINGS OF
AREPA IN VENEZUELA: COLOQUIAL USE.
Meaning # 1: A
dough made of corn or corn flour, precooked and roastedon the stove, it can
also be fried with fillings.
Meaning # 2: Talks
about a game marker.
Example:
Los Leones del Caracas le metió sus nueve AREPAS al Magallanes.
The
Caracas Lions golaed 9 to the Magellan.
Meaning #
3: When you sweat terribly in your
armpit zone, its called “Arepa”, because of the shape it shows in your clothes.
This
term is scornful.
Example:
¡ Que par de arepas tenía Juan en su camisa! Se veía nervioso.
Juan had some sweat stains in his shirt. He looked so nervous.
MEANINGS DE PUPUSA IN SALVADOR: COLOQUIAL USE.
Meaning # 1: It’s
a gross dough made of corn or rice, used in creole kitchen, filled with one ore
two ingredients.
Meaning# 2: Same
as in Colombia, they use the term “pupusa” to refer to the “vagina”. It has the
same meaning.
MEXICAN GORDITA MEANINGS: COLOQUIAL USE
Meaning #1: A
dough than may be filled with cheese, beef or other ingredients.
Meaning #2: A
fat person, but with the diminutive “ita” it gets a positive direction to call
someone chubby, instead of calling someone fat. It’s pejorative.
Meaning #3: A
nickname to call your boyfriend (or girlfriend) or spouse. It doesnt´s matter how they look.
To finish, we
can say that the arepa, the pupusa and the Gordita (chubby) are part of the “typical
street food” of these regions. Where the taste, autochthonous and economic
stand out among the gastronomy of "Diario vivir". (everyday life).
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| Written by Adriana Martinez Castro. Literary Studies Proffesional. Especialized in Pedagogy. Master in Writing. Spanish as a Second Language Teacher |
