For those who are into surf & turf...

Curanto: giant mussels, chicken, smoked pork, sausage, potatoes and chapalele - topped with some herbs, garnished with a big yellow chili pepper and comes along side with a clear fish soup.

Sounds interesting. Recipe?

Is that big yellow thing in the middle of the plate, actually a chilli?

Had something similar in Chile but without meat. Actually, I've never liked mixing seafood and meat, so even if I found curanto in a menu I'd ask to have both parts separately.
Chile has great seafood but for good meats you'd have to cross the border to Argentina.

Looks tasty to me. I would love to try it.

i had curanto in Ancud (Chile). it's massive even for 2 grown people!

traditionally (the Mapuche way) it's cooked in a hole in the ground. one can make it at home using a pot.

So - is it actually a chilli?.... The yellow thing?

Kind of a clam bake?

Yes, the yellow thing is a chilly!! Not spicy in the tip but as you bite towards the seeds it is indeed hot.
My boyfriend is Indian and he couldn't take it - that should be a pretty decent indication of how spicy it was, haha!! ;)

Here is a recipe on how to prepare Curanto on a pot (instead of in a hole in the ground, more practical!):

http://desertgourmets.com/recipes/curanto.html

Enjoy! :)

Cheers, OP.