Ideas for a Chilean Themed Football Party
Despite the success of near neighbours Brazil, Argentina and even Uruguay,
Chilean football fans are a proud bunch, and fiercely competitive, especially when it comes to
arch-rivals
Argentina. Comparisons with all things Argentinian seem to be a part of everyday life in Chile, and any meeting between an Argentinian and a Chilean
inevitably descends into an argument about who has the better football team, which country has the more attractive women, and which produces the better red wine!
Where football is concerned, although there is little doubt that Argentina have had more success in terms of trophies, Chile has a very long and proud history, which may surprise some readers,
as not many Chilean players are well-known outside their own country; the majority play in the Chilean league, or in nearby Argentina or Brazil. The Chilean Football Federation is the second oldest
in South America, and Chile were one of only four nations to compete in the first international tournament there, which eventually evolved into the Copa America. Chile was one of the thirteen
countries who competed for the first World Cup in 1930, when only a defeat by Argentina (who else?!) stopped them progressing beyond the group stage.
They hosted the World Cup themselves in 1962, and did well, losing to eventual champions Brazil in the semi-finals.
The major parties and celebrations in Chile mark either religious events or the anniversary of the country's independence from Spain - this latter event is marked in mid-September.
The celebrations often take place outside in temporary "buildings", and involve much eating, drinking and dancing.
Chile Party Decorations
Decorate yourself and your room with Chile shirts, flags and scarves (see links, right).
If you're serving food, search for red, white and blue table covers, napkins, plates, cups and
cutlery on our general
Football Party Decorations Page
For bunting, flags, balloons and more
Chilean Party Decorations Ideas,
visit our
American Football Party Decorations Page
As for colour schemes, in addition to the above ideas, anything else you can find in red, white and blue will help create the right atmosphere.
Food for a Chilean Themed Party
Like many Latin American countries, Chile's cuisine has been influenced not only by the early Spanish settlers, but also by the many immigrants from other European countries over the years.
Combine this fact with an incredibly diverse terrain (deserts, rain forests, mountains, beaches, glaciers...) and a huge coastline, and you begin to understand why it is hard
to define
one style of cooking as "the Chilean cuisine".
Seafood is extremely popular; what beef is in Argentina, seafood is in Chile! As well as a host of different freshwater and sea fish, plus the usual crab, lobster, clams, mussels etc,
Chileans seems quite happy to eat almost anything else that comes from the sea too! There are a whole host of intirguing and unique seafood ingredients that are popular in the
restaurants of Santiago that simply aren't available for the rest of us to enjoy, but if you ever visit the country, be brave and try at least one item on the menu
that you haven't tried before!
In terms of the style of cooking, although some of the spices of other Latin American countries are used, Chilean cooking isn't really spicy. Fish is typically grilled or fried in a little
butter or olive oil, or served in a cream-based sauce. Barbecued meat - although not as popular as in Argentina - is eaten, and Chilean anticuchos
are the best example.
For a themed Chilean football party, start the event off with some Pisco Sours to get the party going!
Then try some of the following Chilean recipe ideas:
Finger Foods & Starters
Chilean anticuchos - barbecued skewered meat
Empanadas - individual meat pies*
Ceviche - cold Chilean seafood salad
Other Recipes
Pastel de choclo - Chilean shepherds pie
Grilled Chilean Sea Bass with Sherry Cream Sauce
Chilean Bean, Vegetable & Pasta Stew - Porotos con Rienda
*These empanadas are listed as Argentinian in our database, but are cooked in Chile with an almost identical recipe.
Drink for a Chilean Themed Party
Chile prides itself on the quality of its red wines, which thankfully are now widely available throughout the world.
Many Chileans regard "pisco sour" and "chicha" as their national drinks. Peruvians claim pisco sour as their own, but it doesn't really matter. Just
make sure you don't drink too many, as they're lethal! These locally-made spirits are not widely available in all parts of the world, and some would say that's a good thing! I've heard
chicha described as "a direct assault on your body's systems - only for the bravest!". Pisco sour is a liitle more palatable (they serve it on the Chilean
national airline!), but you really need a supply of the pisco spirit in order to be able to make it. We have managed to find one
online supplier of Chilean Pisco
If you can't get hold of it, the nearest substitute would be a white
(clear) brandy of reasonable quality. If you fancy a go, try our Chilean Pisco Sour Recipe.
Find Chilean wines online at Tesco.com.
