You don't need to know this to enjoy the food. In fact, most Americans will not need to know anything to enjoy this food. In all mountain cultures, soups are important, and Colombian soups are among the best. The broth is thick with vegetables. I expect that the medium-size soup would be lunch for most of us, with the largest size reserved for major appetites.
Fried foods are typical appetizers.
The hot sauce with them is pickled and tastes rather like the hot-pepper spread in Boston sub shops. Since yuca is starchier than potatoes, fried yuca usually requires a dip. If you're only getting one fried dish, though, make it the tostones. The tamale is square and wrapped in banana leaves like a Chinese sticky-rice tamale, but it's twice as big. It also comes with five tostones on the side, which immediately puts it above any Italian risotto plate I've ever had.