The Ternera a la Llanera or Mamona is the typical food of Los Llanos Orientales in Colombia. Los llanos are conformed by the following departments: Meta, Vichada, Casanare and Arauca. Last weekend I visited this beautiful area; 3 hours away from Bogota you will find Villavicencio which is the capital city of "El Meta". This is a place with gorgeous country sites, amazing landscapes, a great variety of vegetation, hot weather and many different animals like cows, horses, birds, etc.
You will find this dish on different restaurants placed on the road. Tender meat from a small cow is cooked on a type of bonfire, which gives it a smoky flavor. Generally the side dishes are boiled yuca and potato, also you can also ask for "aji" which is made with avocado and creole chili peppers which gives this a spicy and delicious flavor.
First, you can stop in any restaurant and ask for "la pruebita" a small piece of meat so that you can taste it. Second, if you like it you can ask for a portion (prices vary between 10,000-25,000 pesos which are USD 5 to USD 13 ). And third, enjoy your meal and indulge it with some "refajo" the combination of beer with Colombiana the typical colombian soda.
My recommendation is to ask for the thinner, not fatty, part of the cow. It tastes better and it is easier to eat it.
