Almuerzo en Cajón del Maipo

One sunny day two couples - one young and in love, and the other, the in-laws - ventured out to an Andean canyon just outside of Santiago called Cajón del Maipo. Now this narrow valley which entrenches the Maipo River, has many beautiful natural landscapes to explore (mostly by foot) but their main purpose of coming here was for pure gastronomy.

Although small, this valley encompasses a forest of restaurants of various cultures to choose from. The two couples passed through the gates of La Petite France, a divine French restaurant run by a French chef and his Chilean wife. Outside under a canopy of trees, the couples sipped on kir royales and broke off pieces of baguette, which they dipped in oils and salsa.

First course alone justified the distance travelled, for each sip of crème de pumpkin up turned their lips more and more into a smile of complete satisfaction. Then succulent beef with potato bake and a taste of ratatouille blended together with local wine to create a heavenly sensation in their mouths. Finally, their bliss peaked with the crack of sugar as they began their dessert of true, old-fashioned, French crème brûlée.

Walking around the restaurant garden with gluttonous stomachs, they soaked in the strange view of a mountainous countryside, not too uncommon to the Andes’ sister ranges across the world, except for its acne of cactus – a consist reminder of being on the South American continent.

The couples drove further along the windy road to the small town of San José de Maipo, where they wondered around the artisan markets before climbing back into the car to carry on their tour of the canyon. They ventured far enough to reach the bridge that crosses the river and then they continued along the other side, heading back in the direction of Santiago.

The other side is very much less populated and little cottages sit encased in flora, the perfect place for a weekend get away or retirement from the hustle and bustle of city life. At the end of the quiet road begins one of the poorer neighbourhoods of Santiago. The couples locked the doors of the car as they drove from nature’s peacefulness into nature’s weakness.