Peruvian Cuisine
Peruvian food has always been a favorite in South America, but now more than ever it is gaining considerable recognition internationally. Peru is currently undergoing a revolution, with award winning chefs opening up restaurants all over the country and charming taste buds with innovative twists on traditional delicacies.
Luckily for chefs Peru has a wide variety of fruit and vegetables because of the eight different climates that occur throughout the year. Lima is also a melting pot of many different cultures such as African, Asian, Italian, American, and Spanish, all who have their own spin on different traditional dishes.
The most popular meat is from the alpaca, an animal similar to the llama, and cuy (guinea pig), a traditional delicacy. Many dishes are made with aji and rocoto peppers and are served with potatoes, corn, and seafood in a variety of ways. Also popular is the quinoa grain of the Incas that is typically used in stews and soups. Traditional dishes are very tasty, especially ceviche and tamales, which can be found at many Peruvian restaurants.
Peruvian Traditional Foods
Inca Foods
Like most cultures Peru also has a history of drugs that are derived from local plants and grains. A popular after dinner reprieve for Incas and locals is to chew on coca leaves, a mild stimulant that has similar effects of a strong cup of coffee. Incas were also known to use, often in excess, a cloudy beer called chicha that was made from the quinoa grain. Also on the menu is the mescaline-laden San Pedro Cactus has been used for thousands of years for its hallucinogenic effects and medicinal benefits.
In Peru, thirst is quenched with a variety refreshing beverages. The most traditional drink is the Pisco Sour, a tangy blend of sugar, lime juice, Angostura Bitter, pisco, and egg whites. Also popular is the Pisco Margarita, which is a mix of lime juice, Triple Sec, and pisco served up in a frosted, salt-rimmed cocktail glass.
Peruvians love sweets too. Manjarblanco is a mixture of milk and sugar that has the consistency similar to fudge. Alfajores de Manjarblanco is a cookie sandwich that is filled with the delectable stuff. Another dessert unique to Peru is Flan de Camote (Sweet Potato Flan, which is made from sweet potatoes, evaporated milk, flour, eggs, vanilla, sugar, butter, and garnished with almonds. Yum!
If food is the way to a person's heart then food is also the way to the heart of Peru. ¡Buen Provecho! (the local version of "Bon Apettit")
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