For those who are into surf & turf...

You might want to try the Chilean version of it... Way more hardcore than the usual!! ;)

http://bkpk.me/hoy-curanto/

Have you ever tried Curanto? What did you think of it?

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.

That Chile in the photo is nothing special-and Chilean food generally is relatively bland.

As to earth oven cooking it came from Polynesia to the Americas-look it up if you don't believe me.

I had curanto many years ago when I was a child.
I went to Chile again, and took my then bf to have curanto @ Chiloe, and it looked very interesting a dish to prepare.