Lo que no mata engorda is a Venezuelan saying that means what doesn't kill you makes you fat. It is a perfect description of a traditional Venezuelan cuisine. Venezuelans really enjoy eating and, undoubtedly, they eat well. Their national cuisine is, like many other things, strongly influenced by Spanish, European and, naturally, indigenous cuisine. The most important national food is definitely corn and it is used for preparation of many pancake-like pastries and various dishes. Venezuelans enjoy in steaks that should be thick as bricks and in deep-fried food. They prepare vegetables, chicken, fish and cheese fried in huge amounts of fat. Their dishes really are full of fat, but Venezuelans claim that they are also very tasty. Corn has a special place in Venezuelan cuisine. Plenty of Venezuelan staples are made with corn. Timoto-cuicas were first indigenous people who grew corn in Venezuela. During the process of colonization, corn was spread throughout the country and became the most widely grown crop in North and South America. Venezuelans also use plenty of vegetables and tropical fruits in their national cuisine.

If you want to try everything that Venezuela's cuisine has to offer, Caracas is the best place to do so. The capital city is a genuine culinary melting pot since so many communities of immigrants from all around the world have settled in Caracas area. In reverse, each of the country's regions has its own specialties and peculiarities related to food preparation. Los Llanos is the region were you can find best steaks. The cuisine of the Caribbean coastline is traditionally oriented to seafood. Costeños, the coastal peoples, enjoy in meals made of exquisite seafood. Habitants of the Andes use wheat and trout as dominate staples for their dishes. Amazonian people invented myriads of ways how to eat edible root of yucca plant. Venezuelans don't just enjoy eating but also preparing their meals. They put much care into the food preparation and once they're finished with cooking, expect them to eat slowly. Venezuelans will show you their hospitality by serving you a huge portions of food. If you're invited to Venezuelan house, especially during Christmas, expect plenty of food and constant refills. If Venezuelans invite you out to eat, it is alright to expect them to pay. Vice versa, they will expect you to pay if you invite them out. And don't be surprise if you stay in a restaurant longer than you have planned because Venezuelans usually take about two-hour break for lunch. Since Venezuelans are a bit ceremonious or at least very conscious of civilities when in public, they consider that it is polite to wish people buen provecho (bon appetit) and say salud (good health) when drinking. Indisputably, the favorite drink among Venezuelans is beer. They drink it ice-cold from little bottles so that beer doesn't have time to warm up. The second favorite drink is rum, but lately men, especially those from Caracas, prefer scotch. Those who don't like alcoholic drinks, can choose from variety of fruit juices. While you're in Venezuela, you can expect to taste some excellent, strong espresso. But keep in mind that tap water is only good for brushing teeth. In any part of the country, only drink bottled water or water that has been boiled for several minutes.

Veggies

Vegetarian lasagna

Market in Caracas

Caracas and other large cities have a few restaurants where only vegetarian meals are served. Places that are frequently visited by the tourists, offer vegetarian meals, too. Vegetarians can choose among omelets, pizzas with different fillings and pasta. Vegans might find some difficulties finding a restaurant in Venezuela that serves meals without any kind of animal products. The best option for them is self-catering. The good thing is that markets around the country have a great selection of vegetables and fruit all year round. On the other hand, in restaurants you can find a wide selection of salads, beans and fruit juices. Since Venezuelans like meat so much, vegetarians and especially vegans, will have to settle for monotonous food while they are staying in the country. Arepas and cachapas, pancakes made of corn, are suitable for vegetarians. They can be filled with different sorts of cheeses. Vegetarians, but not vegans, can choose to filled them with perico. It is a filling made with scrambled eggs, tomato and onion. Vegans should look for tostónes that are usually served with sauce which doesn't contain any kind of animal products. Tostónes, a popular appetizer, are cakes made of plantain, a tropical banana plant whose yields are eaten as a cooked vegetable. As said before, Venezuelans are very keen on meat. In fact, they love meat so much that they classify capybara, which is an aquatic rodent, as fish. Classified as fish, capybara can be eaten through Lent and Easter. In addition, Venezuelans don't consider chicken and fish as meat. That's why it's not enough to just ask is there any meat or carne (Spanish for meat) in the salad or other dish. You have to be more specific and ask if it has any pollo (chicken) or pescado (fish). Even though Venezuelan cuisine is best suitable for those who are keen on meat like Venezuelans are, vegetarians and vegans will still find a wide selection of food and drinks for themselves.