Colombia is a country with colorful, delicious and interesting food. The Colombian kitchen has a large influence from Spanish, African and Natives. The main ingredients of the dishes are rice, corn, beans, cassava and potatoes.

Similarly, fruits like papaya, guava, maracuyá, coconut, banana and mango are part of the Columbian staple diet. The Andean country is characterized by having so many different regions, each of which has different cultural and geographical characteristics and, therefore, a different cuisine.

There are foods, in which are used similar ingredients, however they are prepared differently in each region, this is the case of the “sancocho” (a soup), soups, tamales, meats, beverages made from corn, pepper, rice, empanadas and arepas (cornbread).

Precisely, arepas are one of the most exquisite foods. In some regions, arepas are made with dried corn dough, which is done through a manual process that involves removing the shell called “pilado.” The corn is then cooked and milled.

According to the Colombian Academy of Gastronomy, “the arepa is part of the cultural heritage and can be regarded as a symbol of national unity gastronomic.” Arepas is the ideal complement to other foods.

One of the most famous dishes is the ajiaco santafereño. Somewhat similar to a chicken broth, this soup is made of celery, corn, guasca (grass), baked potato and chicken breast. This soup is served with capers, vinegar, rice and avocado and milk cream.

Another important food, “bandeja paisa,” is characterized by its variety and abundance. This dish is made up of eggs, beans, fried plantains, arepas, pork, rice and avocado, making it a typical food in the Andean region.

While in northern Colombia, meals are noted for their high vitamin content and aphrodisiac, like casseroles, seafood and coconut rice. Also, there are other dishes like fritters, arepas with eggs, sausage and cheese mote, a soup prepared with cheese coast, yams, garlic, onion and tomato.

Among drinks, “la chicha” is made with a corn sugar mixture. This drink can be consumed in two ways: the first is to take it cool, the second option is to let it ferment and store it in the fridge to cool and then consume as a strong alcoholic beverage. Other traditional drinks are juices made from tropical fruits.

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Lady Gaga will release her first signature fragrance, Fame, at the end of August. The first ever black eau de parfum is an allusion to the dark side of fame and has three significant accords: dark, sensual and light.

The dark accord, which features incense, was inspired by the deadly plant belladonna. The plant produces fruits and berries which ripen to a shiny black color. These berries are considered sweet despite their deadly quality. Consumption of the berries can cause hallucinations, delirium, and convulsions.

The sensual accord has honey, saffron, and apricot nectar. All three of these elements have long histories as aphrodisiacs. Honey contains boron which stimulates the production of sex hormones. It is said that Cleopatra added the saffron to her bathwater to heighten sensitivity and pleasure. William Shakespeare uses the apricot in this context for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Also, all of these elements are, of course, sweet.

“Lady Gaga talks about how her music has a sweet center and a dark shell and a lot of her music has refrains that have a rough passage that go toward a sweet-spot melody in the middle,” said Steve Mormoris, senior vice president of global marketing for Coty Beauty. “She referenced that a lot and we tried to capture this type of duality in the fragrance, with the incense and something sweet like apricot.”

The light accord features a combination of jasmine sambac and crushed tiger orchid. Jasmine sambac plants open at night and close during the day. Tiger orchids have a distinct fragrance. The flowers are capable of permeating an entire garden without the assistance of any other plant. When crushed, the flowers give off an even stronger scent. To sum it up, the light accord has the qualities of a lady. Ask any of her legions of fans and they will assure you that Gaga is, indeed, the ultimate lady.

Lady Gaga has also stated in a previous interview with Australian radio show, The Kyle and Jackie O Show, that the fragrance contains blood and semen although “it doesn’t smell like it. You just sort of get the after feeling of sex from the semen and the blood is sort of primal.” She also told the hosts that the blood used was taken from her own blood sample. Imagine that: Walking around with Lady Gaga’s DNA covering your entire body in a fine mist. Little monsters worldwide must be thrilled!

The parfum is priced as low as $19 for a 10-ml rollerball and as high as $79 for a 100-ml bottle, so that all of Gaga’s little monsters will be able to smell like Mother Monster regardless of their financial status. Gaga’s fans will also appreciate the design of the bottle. The bottle is shaped like an egg and features a gold claw cap. The claw is a signature to Gaga’s brand and one which fans have come to expect to see.

This is only the beginning of Gaga’s dark-themed product line. The entertainer will also be releasing a black soap (August), black shower gel, and black body lotion (November) as part of the Fame collection. These products are also reasonably priced so that all little monsters will be able to enjoy them.

Fame will be sold at several well-known retailers—three thousand to be exact—in the United States including Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Sephora.

Image Courtesy of  vipflash / Shutterstock.com

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