When Chileans Get Mad, They Post Recipes
There is a unique internet phenomenon that has become a powerful form of digital activism in Chile: flooding social media comments with traditional food recipes as a form of protest. This practice, known as "Operación Recetas" (Operation Recipes), has become a symbol of Chilean digital resistance.
The Origin: Maroon 5 at Viña del Mar 2020
It all started at the prestigious Festival de Viña del Mar in February 2020. Maroon 5 was invited to perform, but things went terribly wrong:
- The band arrived 30 minutes late
- Adam Levine showed little energy and minimal audience interaction
- They refused the traditional "gaviotas" awards (a huge sign of disrespect)
- Levine later insulted the festival, calling it "just a TV show, not a concert"
The response? Thousands of Chileans flooded Maroon 5s Instagram with traditional Chilean recipes. Adam Levine had to disable comments entirely.
Five years later, when he reopened comments in 2024, posts that previously had 6-22 comments suddenly had thousands - all from Chileans who had been waiting patiently to continue the funa.
Other Notable Targets
- The Oscars (2024): After "La Memoria Infinita" didnt win Best Documentary
- British Museum: Demanding the return of the Moai from Easter Island
- Bad Bunny (2023): After opposing a Chilean AI-generated song using his voice
- Donald Trump (2019): Had to permanently restrict comments
- The Royal House of Spain: Flooded with recipes as protest
Top 10 Chilean Recipes Used in Digital Funas
1. Pastel de Choclo
A corn and beef casserole layered with chicken, black olives, hard-boiled eggs, and raisins. The corn topping is slightly sweet and caramelized.
Ingredients: Ground beef, onions, chicken pieces, corn (choclo), milk, basil, cumin, black olives, hard-boiled eggs, raisins.
2. Empanadas de Pino
The most iconic Chilean food. Large baked pastries filled with seasoned ground beef, onions, olives, raisins, and hard-boiled egg.
Tip: Chileans say the secret is preparing the filling the night before!
3. Sopaipillas
Fried pumpkin dough discs, served savory with pebre (Chilean salsa) or sweet with chancaca (molasses syrup) as "sopaipillas pasadas."
Ingredients: Flour, cooked pumpkin, salt, baking powder, oil for frying.
4. Cazuela
The ultimate Chilean comfort food. A hearty stew with beef or chicken, large pieces of pumpkin, potato, corn on the cob, and rice. Served in a clay bowl.
5. Charquicán
A rustic dish with indigenous Mapuche roots. Ground beef mixed with mashed potatoes, pumpkin, corn, and peas, always topped with a fried egg.
6. Caldillo de Congrio
Conger eel soup so famous that poet Pablo Neruda wrote an ode to it. Rich tomato-based broth with potatoes, onions, and herbs.
7. Humitas
Ground fresh corn mixed with onions, basil, and seasonings, wrapped in corn husks and boiled. Chiles answer to tamales.
8. Chancho en Piedra
A fresh salsa made by grinding tomatoes, garlic, chili, and cilantro on a stone mortar. The name means "pig in stone" though it contains no pork!
9. Completo
The Chilean hot dog taken to extremes: loaded with mashed avocado, diced tomatoes, mayonnaise, and sauerkraut. A street food legend.
10. Curanto
A traditional feast from Chiloé island where seafood, meats, potatoes, and chapaleles (potato dumplings) are cooked in a pit lined with hot stones and covered with nalca leaves.
The Art of the Chilean Funa
What makes this form of protest unique:
- Ironic and humorous tone: Recipes are posted with complete sincerity
- Cultural pride: Uses traditional dishes as symbols of national identity
- Persistence: Chileans will wait YEARS to continue a funa
- Community coordination: Thousands participate spontaneously
- Non-violent resistance: Food recipes as weapons of mass commentary
Conclusion
The Chilean recipe funa represents a creative form of digital activism that combines cultural pride, humor, and persistence. When you see hundreds of empanada recipes flooding someones Instagram comments, you know theyve upset an entire nation.
As Chilean internet users say: "Chilenos never forget, and they always have a recipe ready."
Have you witnessed a Chilean recipe funa in action? Share your favorite Chilean dish in the comments!
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