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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Almodovar has done it again. The Spanish filmmaker has once again wowed audiences all over Europe with his latest movie ‘The Skin I live In’, one of his darkest scripts to date that will make you squirm in your seat.

A brilliant plastic surgeon, portrayed by a cold-blooded looking Antonio Banderas, experiments with human skin in his well-equipped operating theater, a solitary palatial mansion where he secretly uses a young girl ,Vera, as his guinea pig.

Vera, wonderfully played by the talented Elena Anaya, and her smooth skin will play a big part in this chilling story as the surgeon keeps experimenting on her in order to create an indestructible skin. Vera is not only getting her skin replaced but also adapting a new look, specific features that might resemble someone else.

With a twisted plot that will make your brain guess and relate the facts of the story all the way though the movie, Pedro Almodovar delivers a bizarre storyline with a very superficial title, What’s more superficial than our skin?, and yet move us in so many different levels by exposing us to a raw representation of the human nature.

The script, that was freely adapted from the novel Mygale by Thierry Jonquet, has been considered one of Almodovar’s most elaborated stories of all time, drenched in a hand-embroidered universe of thrilling scenes that will throw you back to those of Hitchcock and Buñuel. You can still perceive the pure Almodovar elements in the visuals as well, let alone the music, composed by long-time collaborator Alberto Iglesias.

Leading a pack of fierce actors, the submissive beauty of Elena Anaya tries to get untangled from the abusive and aggressive character of Antonio Banderas, by using her sex-appealing fragility that differs from her surgically-enhanced super skin. Marisa Paredes, Jan Cornet, Blanca Suarez and Roberto Alamo help you shape and mold this tale in your head.

One more time Almodovar’s supporting actors are as essential and relevant as the leading ones. The filmmaker, two-time Academy Award Winner and recipient of the most emblematic awards in cinematography, is no stranger to controversy. He has been slammed by moralists and conservative audiences for dealing with LGTB themes, explicit scenes, irreverent humor or feminism.

This time around he is facing criticism for a rather violent plot and some backlash from the Spanish media, which did not stop his unconditional and devoted fans from making ‘The Skin I live In’ the second highest grossing movie during its first week in Spain.

International markets such as France, Germany or The United States have always shown a warm appreciation for his work making his movies both critically and commercially successful. In the United States, The movie premiers at the New York Film Festival on 12 October 2011 and then it is expected to hit theaters across the country just in time to get some Oscar Buzz.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/theskinilivein

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