The Paisa or
Paisas in "plural" are people who inhabit a region over the northwest Colombia in the Andes.
The region is formed by the departamentos (provinces) of Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda and
Quindío. Some regions of Valle del
Cauca (north) and Tolima (west) belong to the cultural identity of
paisas. The main cities are Medellín, Pereira,
Manizales and Armenia.
Although the expression "Paisa" is of popular use as apocope of "
Paisano" (one from the same country; countryman).
The paisas have been considered a genetically isolated population according with researches. They are predominantly European ancestry because it is said that the male Spaniards who settled the region during the 16th and 17th centuries came with their women.
Paisas are well known in Colombia for their kindness and welcoming aptitude to persons from other regions and visitors.
Bandeja paisa: It is the more traditional dish and is generally composed by carne asada (grilled steak) or carne
molida (finely ground grilled steak), chicharrón (fried
pork rind), rice, red beans, a slice of avocado, sweet fried plantains, a fried egg, a small white corn
arepa, and sometimes chorizo (sausage). Bandeja paisa is also a very popular dish served in Colombian restaurants in Europe and the United States.
