A food tour in Lima will not only introduce you to delicious foods and historically-rich areas of the capital - you will also be able to learn how the dishes are made, and how they changed over the years. Peru has one of the most diverse cuisines in the world. It is both biodiverse and has seen migrants from many countries arrive on its shores - Spain, Africa, France, Italy, China, Japan. A real melting pot!
1. Lima is one of the world's food capitals
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, lists two restaurants that are located in Lima in their top 10 : Central and Maido. Restaurants like Astrid y Gastón, La Mar, Rafael, Fiesta, La Picantería, ámaZ, Malabar, Isolina and Osso are alsoon the list of Latin America’s top 50. However, for most Peruvians this is not so important, despite the fact they are very proud of their food. More important is what they eat on a daily basis, the meal that reminds them of their grandparents… the abundant and flavourful one dishes that living room memories are made of... these are the ones you will discover on a food tour with Exquisito.
Peru is known across the world for ceviche and pisco sour. But there are other dishes like lomo saltado, causa, ají de gallina, seco de res, anticuchos, that are not so well known. In fact there are 492 registered dishes in Peru! And in Lima, where there’s literally a restaurant at every corner, you can find most if not all of them.
2. Taste foods and drinks you have never heard of before
Wherever you live, there is a good chance you think there are only two types of bananas – the large and the short ones. And what about your knowledge of Cacao? “They use it to make chocolate”, might be your reply. In fact there are 9 “families” of cacaos, and 6 of them are indigenous to Peru.
In the Barranco food tour, you will get to taste lúcuma and chirimoya fruits. The former practically only grows in Peru and the latter is indigenous to the north of the country. Then there is airampo, the fruit of an Andean cactus, which is used in the preparation of a craft beer, which can be sampled on the historic centre of Lima food tour.
What about trying coca beer too? Yes, the base ingredient used to make cocaine, you read it correctly. You will learn there’s much more to that plant – it even possesses health benefits. And not to forget the one and only pisco. There are eight varieties of grapes registered under the Denomination of Origin to make pisco - lots to learn and enjoy on these tours!
3. You get to meet local people in a way you would not normally otherwise
Any good food tour should take visitors to places stuffed with locals. Because who knows better than locals, right? In the Lima Gourmet tour, guests can actually meet and exchange a few words with the chefs of Tribu, Statera and Barra Lima, three shining lights in Lima’s new generation food scene. Meanwhile, in the Barranco food tour, which is also available to vegans, there is an opportunity to join in local run coffee and chocolate tasting sessions, or have their ceviche prepared at their table, as well as the possibility to enter the kitchen of one of Lima’s most famous taverns, Juanito, where you can witness the preparation of lomo saltado. Definitely local opportunities that you do not want to miss.
4. You will learn about Peru's history and culture in an entertaining way
The team at Exquisito food tours try hard to educate visitors in an entertaining way. A food tour is a great way to do that. There are many connections between historical events, traditions and cultural traits and local dishes and drinks. The history of Peru can literally be taught through food – and you won’t fall asleep before the end.
For example causa was created during the War of the Pacific in 1879-1883 involving Peru and Bolivia against Chile – and Great Britain! Causa, which is most often called causa rellena, causa limeñaor causa a la limeña, can be served as an entrée or as the main course. It is composed of mashed yellow potatoes seasoned with lime, ají amarillo (mild yellow chilli pepper) and oil. It can be filled with avocado, tomatoes, onions and seafood (tuna, crab, octopus…) or chicken, mixed with mayonnaise. Individual recipes abound! for sure! Causa was originally sold in the streets during the Pacific War as a way to earn money for many women whose husbands had left to fight in the war. To promote their product, street vendors would shout por la Causa (for the Cause – the patriotic cause). Back then the dish was significantly simpler and easy to consume in the street as it was mostly composed of seasoned mashed yellow potato without relleno (the filling). Definitely easier than ending up with tuna and mayonnaise on your hands!
5. You might discover a new passion
Sometimes, magical things happen when you least expect them. Two examples connected with Exquisito food tours illustrate this perfectly.
The first one is Amanda who owns El Cacaotal, a “one-stop-shop for cacao and chocolate exploration” in her own words. She is the master of ceremony of the chocolate workshop included in the Barranco food tour. Amanda, a US native, came to Peru in 2011 during her undergraduate studies and fell in love with Peru from the first time she arrived in Cusco, eventually coming back to Lima to finish her degree. Between graduating and starting her master program, Amanda headed to the jungle to work in an Amazonian farm in Ucayali. So began her introduction to the world of cacao and chocolate, and the moment her passion got unexpectedly triggered.
The second is Jessy from Exquisito Food Tours. Always highly passionate about gastronomy, he never thought he would one day be the owner of a food tour company. After partaking in many food tours in Europe, some good, some bad, the concept appealed but not as a business opportunity. But after moving to Peru, and falling in love with the rich biodiversity and culture, a 3-year learning process slowly led to that “aha!” moment, and a mission to turn you into a new ambassador for Peru in just a few hours with an Exquisito food tour.
Exquisito Perú was born from the shared passion of two coworkers, now friends, throughout several years of expatriation in Peru.
Our passion for Peru, its history, traditions, and of course its gastronomy, gave us during the year of 2017 the desire and motivation to launch a project that would allow us to transmit our deep attachment for this beautifully rich country to visitors from all around the world.
In an authentic way and with the intention to generate a positive economic and social impact at the local level.
Text and images courtesy of Exquisito Perú
Travelcoup offers several tours with Exquisito Peru
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