South America
South American culture draws on diverse cultural traditions brought to the area by the Spanish, the Portuguese and the French. Portuguese and Spanish are the primary languages of the continent, and the majority of South Americans (more than 50%) speak Portuguese. However, most South American countries are Spanish-speaking. The area’s cuisine has many influences, and the customs and food products vary greatly according to the physically distinct regions. The principal foods in the Andes region continues to be corn and potatoes, with the meats being primarily the guinea pig, but you’ll also find llama served in Peru. In areas where there is fresh water, trout is available. The tropical region of the continent is divided into two distinct areas. In the coastal areas of the Atlantic and the Pacific you’ll find wonderful dishes like ceviche (raw fish cured in citrus juices), tostones or patacón (twice-fried plantain slices), arepa (ground maize dough), chipa (small, baked, cheese-flavored rolls), sancocho (meat soup or broth), pabellón criollo (a plate of rice, shredded beef with black beans), bandeja paisa (red beans cooked with pork, white rice, ground meat, fried egg, avocado, and lemon), guatita (a stew whose main ingredient is pieces of tripe), and sopa paraguaya (similar to corn bread).