Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Jobana Soto

Edgar Perez loves Peruvian food, and like other talented chefs, he is on a mission to present to the world its delicious flavors. So when the opportunity came to invite President-elect  Barack Obama to his upcoming Peru Grand Tasting Fall 2008 event in Washington D.C., Perez didn’t hesitate to send the invite.

Mr. Perez manages the website www.flavorsofperu.com, where he promotes his dreams on the future of Peruvian cuisine. Peru Grand Tasting is a fairly new concept which he hopes will transform Peruvian dining forever. In its second year, Peru Grand Tasting is already on its third tour in the United States bringing Peruvian classics like lomo saltado, ceviche, cuzqueña and the almighty Pisco sour to Americans.

In honor of President-elect Barack Obama, Perez created an original Pisco drink called the PiscObama, which he officially revealed to hundreds of New Yorkers on Election Day when Obama won the presidency for the United States.

So how is Peru Grand Tasting? According to one event-goer, “we have waited a long time to experience the best of Peruvian cuisine! I was thrilled to be able to experience for the first time authentic Peruvian ceviche, perfectly poured Pisco Sours and a wonderful performance of Peruvian dance.”

Peru Grand Tasting Fall 2008 will make its next stop in Washington D.C. on November 19 with Perez hoping to be joined by Obama.

Living in Peru
Jobana Soto

The Minister of Agriculture (Minag) welcomed students from the superior culinary school of France, Grégoire-Ferrandi, interested in studying Peruvian gastronomy. Students were able to sample national favorites during their tour around the city’s best culinary sites.

In an international campaign to promote Peruvian cuisine, Minag invited the French students to visit some of Lima’s best restaurants like Costa Verde, Brujas de Cachiche and Huaca Pucllana. They also took the opportunity to visit the Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA) where they discussed certain national products like potato, alpaca and cuy and its use in typical plates. 

The 12 students marveled at the quality and discussed the special nutrition Peruvian and Andean food possess. Peru’s gastronomy is considered a national symbol and one of the top five in the world according to the Minister of Agriculture.

News Source: El Comercio

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Freshwater shrimp will be the focus of this year's Pachacámac Ecogourmet Festival, which will bring together renowned Peruvian chefs and farmers from this Limean district.

After the success of this festival last year, event organizers decided to put together the 2nd Annual Pachacámac Ecogourmet Festival, which aims to diversify the production of agricultural products, promote gastronomy in the district as well as tourism in Pachacámac.

With the main objective of increasing the income of local farmers and small businesses in Pachacámac valley, this year's festival will focus on river shrimp.

"Shrimp is an exquisite ingredient for a variety of dishes and the idea is to enhance its role in local cooking," said Patricia Talavera, a director at GEA Group, an organization aimed at helping citizens use the country's natural resources for sustainable growth.

"This ecogourmet festival will bring together local restaurants, which will compete to prepare the most exquisite and creative dishes using shrimp," explained Talavera.

A production chain of farmers, several communities in the Lurín River basin along with artisans and local restaurants all depend on freshwater shrimp, which is becoming increasingly scarce because of overexploitation and polluted water, explained Diego Guevara, an environmental activist working on protecting the area.

"When I was a child, roofs in Pachacámac were red because that's where shrimp were placed to dry in the sun. It was an unforgettable site," Guevara said.

"In some way shrimp is the symbol of a valley that is disappearing because authorities aren't organizing urban activity," said Anna Zucchetti, another director at GEA.

"The festival is a gastronomic and agricultural celebration, but it is also a warning to conserve Lima's last green valley."

The Ecogourmet Festival is to be held on Saturday October 18 in Pachacámac's main square. Renowned chefs such as Gastón Acurio, Cucho La Rosa and Oscar Velarde will be present.

The festival has been organized by GEA Group, the Municipality of Pachacámac and Astrid y Gastón restaurant.

It is being sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Promperu and local restaurants such as La Vaca Colorada, La Gloria del Campo and la Casa de Don Cucho.