Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Part Dos

As previously promised, here's the follow up food post! I hope you all salivate over the photos as I continue to discuss the delicious Peruvian cuisine we encounter here on the daily.

Special Peruvian Dishes
Cuy - guinea pig. That's right, guinea pig. A popular dish and tourist attraction, especially in Cusco. Katie and I had the pleasure of tasting this delicacy during our travels before coming to Iquitos. My thoughts on the matter? A bit salty, reminded me of bacon, but with tiny pieces of bones to pick at. Definitely try it if you get the chance. Besides, now I can say I've had guinea pig!

Lomo de alpaca - Alpaca steak. SO GOOD. Again, Katie and I tried this in Cusco. The texture was similar to a good steak, medium of course. The taste reminded me of lamb to some degree. Overall, highly recommended. (Please note the papas in the photo, they are EVERYwhere.)

Ceviche - no Latin American experience is complete without some ceviche. Ceviche is essentially raw fish marinated in citrus juices such as lemon or lime, spiced with chilli peppers. It's usually accompanied by side dishes that will compliment its flavor, such as sweet potatoes, corn, yucca, or avocado. Prepared fresh upon request (as it is raw fish), ceviche makes for an excellent lunch option on a hot summer day.

Cecina con tacacho - Cecina is a pork dish where the meat is cured/dried and then grilled. Do not be alarmed by its orange color, one bite and you will be sold. Tacacho is what usually comes with a cecina dish. These dough-like balls are made from sliced plantains, which are fried, then mashed in with chicharrones (fried pork fat!) Que deliciosas!

Drinks/Desserts
Inca Kola - for those of you that know me well, I hardly ever drink soda. But since arriving in Peru, I have consumed more Inca Kola than previously thought possible. Some have described it to have "an acquired taste." Some also liken it to "liquid bubblegum." I'm not sure if I agree with either. I just know that it is delicious and refreshing. Its intense yellow color will not drive me away.

Cusqueña - THE beer of Peru. Brewed in Cusco with water from the Andes, full of Incan history, the beer is light and crisp. And this, I quote directly from the website -- "The flavor and subtly complex, malted barley aroma of freshly baked bread balance harmoniously with a pleasantly delicate, herbal and spicy complexity that only can come from utilizing three different hops."

Pisco Sour - a cocktail consisted of pisco, lemon/lime juice, syrup, and egg whites. Its origin is hotly debated. Both Chile and Peru lay claim to the drink (I'm going to be on Peru's side for this one.) Peru even has a National Pisco Sour day, celebrated annually on the first weekend in February. Take that, Chile.

Refrescos/Jugos - "refreshers" or fruit juices. Every meal here is accompanied with a refresco of some kind. Located in the Amazonian jungle, Iquitos has a variety of tropical fruits that are readily available to be made into beverages. Refrescos are a bit lighter, mixed in with water and ice, what we probably relate to as lemonade and such. Common refresco flavors include chica morada (purple corn drink with a hint of cinnamon), maracuya (passion fruit), and camu camu (a small pink tropical fruit full of vitamin C!) Jugos are thicker in consistency, and are more similar to milkshakes or smoothies. Our favorite here is the jugo surtido, which is a generous amount of strawberries, papayas, and plantains, mixed in with milk and honey. Perfecto.

Churros - last but not least, our favorite street vendor dessert -- churros. Any day that we encounter "the churro man" with his cart on the street, is a great day. Don't be fooled, these are not the kind of churros you buy from Cinnabon at the mall. These are made fresh upon order, dipped and fried in hot oil, filled with manjar (carmel filling) as soon as they cool down, and sprinkled with sugar. It's hard to limit oneself to enjoying just one, but more than 3 will inevitably lead to stomach issues (ask Kim for more details if you so wish.)

I hope you all have enjoyed taking this culinary journey with us. Do not hesitate to let us know which was your favorite, for we will consume it here on your behalf. Off to the jungle tomorrow, ciao!

Xoxo,
Chlo