Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The book “Gastón Acurio, 500 years of fusion,” written by the renowned Peruvian cook and edited by El Comercio, was awarded as the best gastronomic book, during the ceremony of the Gourmand Cookbook Awards, the most important in the culinary industry.

The book is organized in three sections: 1) The Tradition, which reviews and summarizes the history of several regional cuisines (including Japanese and Chinese influences); 2) The Products, featuring our typical fresh products, specially the flagship ones; and 3) The Outcome, which would be Acurio's creative gastronomic proposals.

Another four Peruvian books were distinguished; Lima, 40 restaurantes, (“Forty Restaurants”) by Corporación Wong, credited as the best restaurant guide; Cusco, El Imperio de la Cocina (“Cusco, The Empire of the kitchen”), by Rosario Olivas-Weston, awarded as the best book in culinary history; Papa peruana, historia y recetas ("Peruvian Potato, History and Recipes"), by San Martín University, was awarded as the best translated book.

In addition, Chicha Peruana, Una Bebida Una Cultura, ("Peruvian Chicha, a drink, a culture") by Rafo León, won in the category for Best Book on History of Drinks.

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 Health Ministry (Minsa) has reported the first confirmed AH1N1 flu case in Trujillo (La Libertad region), which is the first officially registered in the northern coast.

According to La Libertad's Health Director, Henry Rebaza, the confirmed case is a 9 year old schoolboy, and there are another 5 suspicious cases.

The classes has been partially suspended at the school the boy attends, and all the patients are already being treated with antivirals.

This case, the first in Trujillo, adds to the 70 new confirmed cases in Peru, which raise the figures to a total of 677.

According to Minsa, 506 AH1N1 patients have already recovered satisfactorily.

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

A special exhibition called “Caral, The Most Ancient Civilization in the Americas, Symbol of National Identity and Integration” will be oficially opened in Larcomar Shopping Center Museum Hall tomorrow, Thursday July 2nd.

The exhibition will feature the current researchs and findings taking place in Caral, and in nearby sites of Chupacigarro, Miraya, Lurihuasi, Áspero (Supe Valley) and Vichama (Huaura Valley). 

Caral's technological advances, as well as its beliefs, will be showcased in this special exhibition, by means of the newest interactive museographic resources, in order to let the public know Caral's urban way of life, state organization, social stratification, science development, writing, role of trade, religious points of view and their vision of social systems.

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 upcoming arrival in Lima of Mexican band Café Tacuba is creating great expectation among its fans, who have ordered a special edition of Pisco which will feature a photo of the band on its label.

Reportedly, the Peruvian fans will hand this in as a present for the band, which is currently celebrating 20 years of career with the tour “20 Years, 20 Countries.”

The pisco is an “Old Barrel”, and not only will feature the band's portrait, but also the official anniversary logo and a summary of this Peruvian drink's history.

“This is our way to show them our endearment,” says Roberto Orellana, president of Cafe Tacuba Peruvian Fan Club.

The Mexican band will arrive in Lima on July 9th, and will perform at Scencia Conventions Center (La Molina). Tickets are on sale at Plaza Vea and Vivanda.

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 old and traditional city of Trujillo, in La Libertad Region (in northern Peru), has been scenario of almost 400 artistic and cultural shows so far this year, reported David Calderon, the municipal sub-manager of Education and Culture.

He remarked that these events have took place in locations like La Esperanza, Florencia de Mora, El Porvenir, and Victor Larco, which involve more citizens.

“Once a month we carry out this kind of decentralization of the culture that is gaining more space taking the best of the art from Trujillo to the districts,” he said.

More shows are expected in the next months; the most outstanding ones are one brought from India and another from Korea.

Calderon also announced a five days fund-raising concert in the municipal theater, leaded by the Peruvian singer Gianmarco, for a benefit campaign to help children with poliomyelitis.

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 national volleyball team beat Guatemala 25-9, 25-13, 25-15 to reach the quarterfinals of the Eighth Women's Pan American Cup, currently held in Miami, USA.

The Peruvian team (placed in 17th position of FIVB ranking) will meet the loser of the match between Brazil and Dominican Republic to be played on Thursday.

The Women’s Pan American Cup is a qualifying tournament into the 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix and the 2009 Women’s Final Four.

After the preliminary pool round which ended yesterday, the Pan American Cup quarterfinal and classification matches are set for July 2nd, followed by semifinal matches and additional classification matches on July 3rd.

The championship match and final classification round matches are scheduled for July 4th.

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

Andina

Corporación EW will open its first Plaza Norte shopping center on July 10th with an investment of nearly 500 million soles, the company's malls & real estate manager Edgar Callo said Tuesday.

This new mall is located in the district of Independencia, between the Northern Pan American Highway and Tupac Amaru Avenues, at the intersection of San Martin de Porres, Los Olivos, Independencia and Rímac districts.

It will have an area of 200 square meters, twice as big of the area occupied by the Mega Plaza Norte mall, its closest competition, which has 96,000 meters square.

"It will be the largest mall in the country and is located in a strategic place because more than three million people walk by everyday, it is the busiest corner in Lima," he told Andina.

Callo noted that the total investment in this mega-complex will amount to 500 million soles by the year-end, however about 480 million have already invested.

"Corporación EW has already invested about 240 million soles, added to the finishes and investment of the complex’s operators, this investment is doubled," he said.

Plaza Norte will have a 13,000-square meter HiperWong, a 8,000-square meter Maestro Home Center as well as a casino, hotels, discotheques and more than 100 stores where people can find the most recognized brands in the market.

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 United States defeated Peru 25-22, 25-21, 26-24 during the Eighth Women's Pan American Cup at the University of Miami's BankUnited Center.

Patricia Soto paced Peru with 11 points, while Yulissa Zamudio added nine points. Leyla Chihuan tacked on eight points in the loss, while teammate Jessenia Uceda put down seven points.

"We showed a new level of play tonight and limited our errors," Peru Assistant Coach Natalia Malaga Dibos said. "Tonight's effort and performance will help our team progress toward the classification round. The U.S. is obviously a strong team," she added, as quoted by CRSN.com

"Congratulations to the Peru team," U.S. Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon said, "it presented us with some challenges, and I think it allowed our team to build some character."

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Andina

Peruvian Prime Minister Yehude Simon overcame Tuesday a vote of no confidence in Congress after violent protests by indigenous communities earlier this month.

Only 56 legislators voted in favour of the opposition-sponsored no confidence motion, which was based on the allegation that Simon made wrong decisions that caused the violence.

Sixty-one votes were needed for it to pass. Thirty-two legislators voted against it, with 11 abstentions, DPA reports.

Critics of Simon accuse the government of having held talks with portions of the opposition, causing the absence of several members of congress.

Clashes between police and demonstrators from indigenous communities on June 5th left at least 34 dead, including 24 police officers.

The legislation that provoked the natives to demonstrate --and would have promoted development of the Amazon rainforest-- has since been revoked, and the protests have ended.

Had the vote of no confidence against Simon succeeded, the prime minister and the 16 members of his Cabinet would have been forced to tender their resignations.

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 riots registered this morning in several areas of Lima due to the transport strike called by various left-sector unions has left at the moment more than 100 arrested protesters, according to Julio Talledo, a public affairs prosecutor for Peru's Ministry of Interior.

The representative explained that most of these people were arrested  while generating violence during the riotings, by blocking tracks, burning tires and throwing stones at vehicles, all this in order to prevent any other transit.

Talledo confirmed that a Venezuelan citizen, identified as José Francisco Araque Cordova, was arrested during the clashes, while he was blocking a street with tacks.

The strikers are protesting against a new traffic code that sets very high fines to certain infractions.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Enrique Cornejo, said that  “to avoid being fined, the simplest thing to do is not breaking the rules."

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