Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

According to the journalist and blogger from Huánuco, Orlando Bravo, a total of 370 native potato varieties grown in seven provinces of this Andean region have been catalogued by the researcher and professor at the Universidad Nacional Agraria (Agrarian National University), Rolando Egúsquiza.

These varieties are the result of a selection of 1470 samples of native potatoes collected in the provinces of Dos de Mayo, Huamalies, Lauricocha, Yarowilca, Ambo, Huanuco and Pachitea.

Local farmers have helped significantly in this study,  reports Bravo in Reporte Al Día.

Through their research, begun in 1995, Egúsquiza has defined the characteristics of each variety, detailing their marks and also establishing their DNA, so allowing their nutritional value to be maximized.

Egusquiza remarked that this work will become "a genetic inventory of this department," and will help better explain its gastronomic and tourist potential.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The Spanish cook Borja Blásquez, who is very popular in Latin America due to his programs on El Gourmet cable TV channel, said today in Arequipa that “Peruvian  cuisine is the best in Latin America."

“Peruvian dishes are incomparable. Peruvian cuisine's fusions, and very especially its historic roots, are valuable things that can hardly be equaled by any other cuisine from this part of the continent,” said Blásquez, who is also the Gastronomic Institute of Argentina's Academic Director.

Blásquez is participating in the IV International Congress of Gastronomy, “Perú, trendy flavors,” organized by ESDIT Superior Institute.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvian cebiche (raw fish marinated in lime juice) won the first place as the most popular Peruvian dish in the Seven Gastronomic Wonders of Peru, after 8 months of campaign

More than 90,000 people voted online, putting in the second place the Lomo Saltado”, followed by the Ají de gallina, Anticuchos, Chupe de Camarones, Papa a la Huancaína and Causa.

Ricardo Ráez, organizer of this contest (along with Peru’s Hotel Chefs Academy) and epresentative from AcidoUnGusto Comunicaciones, remarked that they had two goals: promoting the Peruvian cuisine and supporting a charitable purpose.

The money raised from sponsorship and entrance fees for the announcement ceremony will be used to implement a clinical laboratory benefiting people affected by mining pollution in four towns of Cerro de Pasco.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvian food is causing a commotion in the US: "The New York Times" has just printed a report on Peruvian restaurants in San Francisco (California), including plenty of photographs, maps and information to easily locate these places.

According to Peru21, the report, that praises our cebiche and pisco, includes the restaurants Limón Limón Rotisserie , Mi lindo Perú, Inkas, Piqueos and La Mar–Cebichería Peruana, the latter owned by the well known cheff Gastón Acurio.

“The people in San Francisco loves to eat and is open to new cultures and flavors. It is the best place to start our dream of taking our gastronomy to the US,” says Acurio.

The report highlights the diversity of culinary traditions (Andean, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and African) blended in Peruvian gastronomy.

A cebiche in San Francisco can cost $9, while a Cusqueña beer costs $4 and a serving of anticuchos is sold for $7.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

According to the Peruvian cheff Gastón Acurio, our gastronomy is very appreciated in Chile, so that country is an excelent lab to prepare the Peruvian foods's expansion.

He said that currently our gastronomy moves US $1.5 billion dollars, but the goal is reaching an annual turnover of US$ 150 billion dollars.

"Chile is a fantastic place to continue our expansion (in the world) and today Peruvian food is the most valued in this country," he said in an interview to the Chilean newspaper La Tercera.

Acurio is planning to open a new “Cevicheria” La Mar restaurant in New York, with an investment of US 10 millions, and another one in London (UK), which would require US $14 millions; he will open another T'anta in Chile (US $1.2 millions) and will enter the hotels business.

The Peruvian cook cook will open a hotel in the Incas Sacred Valley (Cusco), and is currently remodeling a colonial manor house in Lima, while looking for possible new locations for his hotel brand (Nativa) in Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Chile.

Acurio estimates that his food businesses will have this year a net revenue of US $ 65 millions.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvian gastronomy keeps on drawing international attention; that's the reason why the exports of many of its related products have increased by 26% this year, compared to the same period (January-June) last year, according to the Association of Exporters (ADEX).

The main destinations for these products are the US, which bought the 81% of the total, with US $2,741,000; in second place comes Spain, with US $172,000; then Bolivia, with US $107,000 and Saudi Arabia, with US $65,000.

Some of the most demanded products were instant soups and preparations for typical dishes such as olluquito, chicha morada, carapulcra, cau cau, base for ceviche, huancaina and ocopa sauces, etc.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Finally, after eight months of an online voting campaign, the Seven Gastronomic Wonders of Peru will be finally announced on August 26th this year during a lunch at Los Delfines hotel.

The online voting period will run until August 23. People who want to support their favorite dishes can still vote at here.

The most voted dishes until last Friday by lovers of good food were the cebiche, lomo saltado, ajì de gallina, anticuchos, chupe de camarones, papa a la huancaina and causa.

Once the election is over, the website will continue, but dedicated to gastronomical news from all over the country.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Germany people can now taste the authentic Peruvian “Pachamanca,” since this traditional meal is already being exported to that country.

The product, which meets the highest standards of quality, will soon arrive in other European nations, in the form of vacuum-packed packs.

This traditional Andean dish includes natural ingredients such as sweet corn, yellow potatoes, and its respective portion of native potatoes, as well as native ingredients like olluco, oca, nashua, yacon, maca and humitas.

The average price is 10 euros, and the pachamanca is ready to eat after 3 minutes in the microwave oven.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's cuisine is experiencing a boom; but this story is not about a renowned chef, but about a Peruvian couple (Martin and Deidad Mejía) like many others, that moved to Canada and started their own business: a restaurant dedicated to our “pollo a la brasa” (roasted chicken).

Very soon “Maria's Brasa Chicken” opened its doors: “we wanted a new taste to surprise and please the Canadian customers,” they say.

Peruvian chicken has two basic key components; cooking the chicken in a charcoal oven specially designed, and the Peruvian spices:.

Everything in this restaurant, from the charcoal to the beverages, sauces and spices all are imported from Peru.

When asked about the spices, Deidad just said . “We don’t want to name them because they are a secret recipe.”

Maria’s Brasa Chicken is located at 117 Cross Ave. in Oakville, across from the Oakville GO Station. Call for a pick-up order at 905- 582–9990.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The first Expogourmet Trujillo Fair will take place from July 24th to July 26th at Mall Aventura Plaza Shopping Center, featuring the exquisite local gastronomy.

“The event will bring together Trujillo's most renowned chefs preparing unique traditional and 'new cuisine' dishes and drinks,” said the event organizer Wilder Pelaez.

The stars of northern gastronomy are undoubtely dishes like cebiche, cabrito con frijoles, shambar, sopa teóloga, frijoles a la trujillana and pepián de pava, among others.

The fair has the support of a beer company, the National Institute of Culture (INC), La Libertad's Regional Government and the Chamber of Commerce of La Libertad, among other organizations.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.