A cure for homesickness: empanadas – Covert Kitchens: Independent Weekly
Alicia Fernandez's homemade Chilean empanada. Photo by D. L. Anderson.
When Salvador Allende was elected president of Chile in 1970, he made a promise to his people: “Ours will be a revolution Chilean-style, with empanadas and red wine.” His comment was interpreted as a promise of nonviolent revolution, a robust commitment to his country.
Treasured, homemade empanadas are the centerpiece of the Alicia and Antonio Fernandez’s annual Chilean Independence Day party, which they hold in their Durham backyard each September.
“We start eating the typical, traditional food—the empanada, a little bit of good, good red wine—dance, talk about football, and we remember Chile. We begin to talk about things that unify us, our Chilean roots and traditions, and that’s really nice, no? For one day out of the year, we spend a lovely afternoon.”
