Unless you've been living under half a mile of rock, you're aware of the astonishing rescue effort underway in Chile. 33 miners were trapped by a cave-in at a San Jose mine on Aug. 5 and were first feared dead, but teams bored down to an emergency shelter on Aug. 22 and found all safe inside.

Since late last night, miners have been lifted, one by one, to the surface via a specially designed capsule, and the family of at least one of them, Claudio Yáñez, is planning a special taste of freedom for him. His aunt told the New York Times, "We’re going to toast him with Champagne, and feed him a bit of roasted chicken."

We've been sharing menus from the mines - cuisine crafted to fit down the 4-inch tube that was their only conduit to the world 2,300 feet above - and CNN reported that the men were switched to a liquid diet to minimize the chances of them becoming ill on the way up.

A full-on feast might be staved off for a little while as the men adapt to life above ground, but if it were you - how would you like to commemorate your rescue, once you were feeling up to it?

COPIAPO, Chile (CNN) – Meat empanadas, barbecued filet steak and fresh papayas are on the menu this weekend to help 33 trapped miners celebrate Chilean Independence Day in a cavern half a mile underground.

But there will be no top quality Chilean wine – only Coca-Cola to wash down the feast. Doctors have ordered no alcohol, according to Federico Holzhauer, head of the catering company supplying food to the men.

“The miners seem very happy with the food because it tastes like it’s home-baked. They almost feel like they’re at home with our food. That’s the important thing. We’re very proud to be able to do this for them,” Holzhauer told CNN.
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CNN's Esprit Smith, reports to us from Chile on the meals the 33 trapped miners are being delivered - via a 4-inch tube - 2,300 feet below the Earth's surface.

Thursday's menu

Break: Nutritional supplement, bread with ham and turkey
Snack: Wine cookies
Lunch: Stroganoff with pasta primavera and peaches in juice
Snack: Nutritional supplement and bread with caramel spread
Dinner: Chicken in sauce, plantains
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This just in from Esprit Smith, reporting to us from Chile alongside CNN correspondent Karl Penhaul: a full menu is forthcoming, but today, the 33 miners trapped 2,300 feet underground are eating "meatballs in sauce, rice, kiwi, and cheese sandwiches for lunch."

For more on the menu requirements and why certain foods are currently verboten, read Deep dish - what the Chilean miners are eating

CNN Health examines the physical issues the miners may be facing

CNN Correspondent Karl Penhaul is getting a first-hand look at the food being delivered to the Chilean miners trapped 2,300 feet below ground. He tells Eatocracy that the unique challenge has been in finding items that will fit down - and survive the journey through - the 4-inch tube that's currently the 33 miners' only link to the surface.

Penhaul will be speaking with the team in charge of preparing the food, but in the meantime, he reports that the the menu thus far consists of:

– Tea bags, herbal infusions and thermos flasks of hot water
– For breakfast, an energy shake containing protein and carbohydrates
– Yogurt and cereal shake for a late-morning snack
– Ham sandwich for lunch
– Another yogurt and cereal shake and a kiwi fruit to help digestion at mid-afternoon
– Jam sandwiches for evening meal
– About 5 liters of water per man per day
– Total of about 2,000 calories per day

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