Overstuffed (and Underground) Pastry at Bolivian Llama Party

Thank you for the article on an overlooked snack or meal known as the saltena. My mom's fondest memories and happiest time of her life was working at the US Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia 30 years ago and introducing all the Marines to them. It really is a rarity to find them in the Tri State area. I hope they are as authentic as they appear, I will be checking them out soon.

Not a half hard boiled egg - quails eggs. Puh-lease. :-)

I was in LaPaz Boliva as a foreign exchange student in 1973. Saltenos's at 10 in the morning (each one different depending on the vendor) was one of my fondest memories of that year.

The drawings of those human saltenas living la vida loca NYC style pretty much made my day. Awesome.

Wow!! This is an amazing articule about "Salteñas". In Bolivia, this is served every morning around 10:00 a.m. after this time, you will not find it anywhere. They are delicious. I am so glad that there is a place in New York-Columbus Circle, that people would enjoy eating them. You always eat it by two, it could be two of meat or two of chicken or one of each, but you will never see a bolivian eat only one. The combination is great with a cold coke or fanta!!!

For those of you who have not made it to the new "Turnstyle" at Columbus Circle, you should stop by! It has fun eateries like the one described here and a cool vibe. There are fun stores as well. It is in southern part of the Columbus Circle subway station (well marked if you are paying attention).

Oh my goodness! you found my salteñas..!! I live in Revere Mass, the best and closes from me are in RI, I don't care how much I have to drive, I'll go and get them! they are so good!, and is not LIQUID, its soup what it has and has to be kind of sweet but a bit spicy, with beef or chicken, olives, egg ..I want one or two now.

Was posted to the U.S. Embassy in La Paz Bolivia a number of years ago and we used to have a saltena as a mid-morning snack. They were fabulous and I do miss them. Probably just a local thing, but we ate them by using a small spoon to pierce the crust near the braid at the top and then carefully spooned that great sauce from inside. Always left the olive for last. Yum, yum!

Oh dear. I hope they have some left by the time I get there!

These are a regular lunch staple for me! Delicious; a little messy. I like the pork, beef and chicken best (in that order).

The counter service is amazingly quick and cheerful.

These are like Cornish pasties, which I grew up on, since my father was from Cornwall. They were very convenient for the miners to take into the coal mines for lunch. Smaller ones are called empanadas in South America. Even smaller ones are called piroshki in Eastern Europe. I've made them all.

I live at Columbus Circle and was at first, dismayed by the subway "food court" that was built, but have since become a big fan -- in part because of the less corporate food options (yes, there's still a Starbucks), including this wonderful stand. I've had both the pork and the chicken several times (their kale salad is also delicious!) -- truly addictive, made more so by the reasonable price. I hope to continue to enjoy for a long time!

I live across the street from the Columbus Circle Turnstyle; can't wait to dig into these!

I have these every time I'm at Columbus Circle. They're the best!

I want one. Seems as if a saltena would be DELICIOUS.

On my way!

Those salteñas, with their "prehistoric spine," are only a hop, skip and a jump away from becoming an accurate-looking stegosaurus, which any parent knows would get them attacked and eaten with glee. With that amount of license, you could even sneak broccoli into them...