“Bandeja” in Spanish means “tray” which tells you a lot of what you need to know about this traditional Colombian food. Bandeja Montañera is the dish you order when you’re looking to feast on a platter of various goodies and waddle out of the restaurant with a smile on your face.
The generous meal includes:
-Beans
-Rice
-Fried egg
-Pulled beef
-Pork belly
-Plantain
-Avocado
-Fried Colombian sausage
-Arepita
This traditional Colombian food originates from a region in the northwest of Colombia called the Paisa region. The origins of Bandeja Paisa, which didn’t start appearing until the 1950s, aren’t entirely clear. Some people say it started as a way for workers to get an energy-packed meal before heading out the fields, and others say it evolved purely from a Colombian’s love of over-indulging in great food.
The Colombian government discussed making Bandeja Paisa the national dish in 2005. However, to avoid excluding people outside the Paisa region, they were going to rename it “Bandeja Montañera” (mountain tray). Locals opposed the renaming of the dish, so Bandeja Paisa lives on.
