Tired of boring old quinoa? Need new ideas for healthy entrees – vegetarian or not, or just an impressive side dish for guests? Try this Peruvian inspired delicious bell pepper stuffed with a goat cheese quinoa risotto, also known as quinoto. It is rich, yet light – typically under 300 calories per serving and a…
Category: Peru
Costanera 700: A hidden gem for the best of Peruvian-Japanese seafood fusion in Lima
The best of Peru’s Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian fusion) is evident at Costanera 700. A wide selection of seafood dishes combine Peru’s love of exquisite cooking with the flavors of Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. When I spent a full month in Lima, Peru a few years ago, I was impressed with Lima’s restaurant scene. From its…
Apres-surf cuisine in Punta Hermosa, Peru
Where and what do Peruvian surfers (and their friends!) eat after long rides down El Pico Alto? Find out here! I consider it the ultimate privilege to have been let into a secret few but the most worldly of surfers or locals know: the gem that is the area surrounding the Pacific seaside town of…
My friends’ grande y loca Peruvian wedding
La hora loca, Peruvian causas and tiraditos, Pisco sours, Fernet Branca and cola, quinoa salad, and a dessert table piled high with chocolates and sweets laced with condensed milk, all set against the backdrop of a Pacific sunset: Those were highlights from a memorable CD moments from a truly grand Peruvian-Argentinian wedding. Does the title…
Honoring France with Boeuf Bourguignon
This post is a dedication to the people of France, Lebanon, and Iraq in the wake of the tragic attacks of November 13, 2015. Lest Beirut and Baghdad’s losses be dwarfed, the CD will post future Lebanese and Iraqi recipes; stay tuned! May we all stand firm against hate and fear. May we all show…
Pisco, national spirit of Peru…or is it?
If, for no other reason than as the namesake of the Pisco Sour, cocktail of (often upscale) Latin restaurants, you are probably familiar with pisco. Many may associate the pisco sour with Peru. But did you know that Chile produces, consumes, and imports more pisco than anywhere else? Fun fact: Pisco originated roughly at the…
LIMO – creative nikkei fusion in Cusco
Nikkei is a Peruvian term for Japanese-Peruvian fusion. Peruvian harvest staples – such as corvina (bass), prawns, corn, potatoes, avocado, and tropical fruit – meet Japanese cooking styles. Typical nikkei fare includes tiraditos – basically Peruvian sashimi – in addition to sushi rolls that incorporate Peruvian ingredients, corn and potato causas topped with fresh seafood,…
Gaston Acurio, Peru’s famous culinary diplomat
Who is Gaston Acurio? If you are Peruvian, travel throughout South America, or read The Washington Post (USA), Wall Street Journal (USA), or Telegraph (UK), you may have heard about Gaston, the Peruvian celebrity chef and restauranteur known to most by only his first name. Parisian Le Cordon Bleu trained, Gaston has become the emissary…
Danica: Peruvian-Italian fusion in Lima
My favorite restaurant in Peru was Danica. Mind you, claiming the top spot on my list of restaurants in Peru is quite an achievement. Peru’s restaurant scene, particularly Lima’s, is crowded with contenders. Many others bring celebrity chef credentials, expensive decor, a selective wine and cocktail menu – just as in any metropolitan city, but…
Peru: More than ceviche, Pisco, and Machu Picchu
Many of you may be familiar with the adage, “It’s five ‘o’ clock somewhere.” To those of you struggling with what we hope are the last throes of winter: It’s summer somewhere. That somewhere would be the entire southern hemisphere, but specifically, it’s summer in one of my favorite culinary destinations, Peru. I’d like to…
The Culinary Diplomat 