Note: The above quotation was an attempted catchphrase made in The Cosby Show that never caught on. However, it works in this scenario.
As a unofficial food blogger, I must also try new experiences in order to increase my knowledge of....food. Which brings me to my first experience with Chilean food. I've never had the stuff, but I had heard great things. However, online, I could not find a popular local Chilean restaurant within the entire Central Florida range. The closest one I could find, was a little place in Davie, Florida, on the heels of the Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Now, before making the trip to Miami for some other restaurants, I decided to sidetrack myself and give this place a whirl. And like most good restaurants, its hidden and a little tough to find. The Publix next door saved me.
Viva Chile is extremely small, and is located next to a seemingly-larger Little Caesars. On the inside, you'll see pictures, Chile flags everywhere, a little Chilean art, and a small assortment of tables and chairs. When I went, there were a few people already seated. For some odd reason however, they were playing Dominican music (Aventura, Juan Luis Guerra). The owner greeted me and offered me a table. I told him it was my first time eating Chilean food, and wanted to try a dish that screams "CHILE!!" His very fast answer was "Pastel de Chocllo." The menu described it as a corn pie with a layer of chicken, and a layer of ground beef with onions. While I definitely did not want the onions, the owner insisted I won't notice its existence. So I ordered some empanadas and then one order of that dish.
After a little bit of waiting, the empenadas arrived. They were delicious. These were among the best empanadas I've ever had, because the crust wasn't too filling, and because there was good amount of topping (in this case, cheese) inside. The outer texture reminded me of a popular Dominican snack known as a yaniqueque (fried awesomeness), which was an added plus. I also ordered a Chilean soda, which was a watered-down and not-as-good version as D.R.'s Country Club flavored soda. But it was still good, don't get me wrong. And then came the corn pie. Oh my goodness.
It was massive, it was nearly intimidating, it was quite possibly the thickest pie of any kind I have ever seen. My jaw nearly dropped as the pie arrived, steaming from the top. The top layer was pure corn, as you couldn't even see the meat that is tucked away inside. It is served in a huge bowl. Didn't even know where to begin. My strategy was to start on top, work my way down, and see what happens. Well, the top layer (after the corn) was the chicken. I must say, this combination of sweet and chicken is one I have never quite experienced before. But it works, perfectly. The chicken meshed in with the plethora of corn was like homestyle fresh chicken inside a delicious muffin. It was unlike anything I've ever had. My taste buds were not sure how to react, but I was enjoying the meal. It is not the prettiest dish I've ever eaten, but flavorwise, it packs a nice punch.
The ground beef on the bottom layer was even better than the chicken, as most of the broth could be found in the bottom. The mix of the juices from the eat and the meat (and the corn) and the eggs (that I was not aware was actually inside the pie) was even more insane than the chicken-sweetness combo. While I will never be a fan of onions (unless its onion rings from Burger King--I know, not a very cuisine expert thing to say), they did not deter from the fact that the meat was delicious. This place was legit. This food was legit. And there was no way I was going to finish this meal.
After a little more fighting against the dish, I gave up as I totally ran out of room---didn't even have room for Chilean dessert. Nonetheless, I was very satisfied with my meal. To give a few more details about this place, its been open only a couple of years and they have live Chilean music on the weekend. According to the owner it gets so crowded, you need reservations on the nights they have their live music. I believed him, as all the positive reviews online prove that in just two years, it has already developed quite a reputation. And with good reason too.
Bottom Line: If I ever make my way in that direction, I'll have to visit again. The menu has an extensive amount of food items, and most of them sounded very good. But I was happy with my pick as the Pastel de Chocllo is one of the most insanely delicious things I've ever eaten. It was like a corn muffin stuffed with meaty goodness topped by a layer of even more good corn. The service was great, the pricing isn't too heavy, the food was all grand, and you'll be satisfied with the amount of food and the quality of it all. I will be returning here, as this is as close to Chile as I (temporarily) will ever get.
Viva Chile
6013 Stirling Rd
Davie, FL 33314
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