Author: Savannah Mireille

It’s that time of year again. Snowflakes are falling, stockings are making their way over the mantel, and kitchens around the world are heating up for the festivities ahead.

Cooked tomatoes hold a soft spot in my heart. Their rich aroma simmering over a stovetop conjures specific, warm memories from throughout my life—from my mother carefully blowing on a spoonful of hearty stew before handing it off to me, to making a delicious (and messy) homemade pizza sauce with my partner as an adult.

You’ve probably seen someone elaborately snorting and swishing wine or know some guy with a hipster mustache who’s really, really into coffee.

Dad hurries to the grocery store after work. It’s rush hour, or la hora del taco, in Chile. The store is packed, and only a few discs of pan amasado remain, but fresh bread is a must for once—the Chilean afternoon teatime.