Traditionally, Peruvian cooking was enjoyed at home while foreign food was offered in fancy restaurants. All of this has changed in recent years and Peruvians –who are renowned foodies are proud to announce that Lima has become the gastronomic capital of South America, due to its exotic ingredients and chefs producing new twists on classic dishes. For years Peru has long had original and varied cuisine, influenced by Chinese, Japanese, Italian and especially Spanish traditions blended with flavours of indigenous foods. A country blessed with its diverse topography, cooks are spoilt for choice and like to include produce from the rainforest, the Andes and diverse fish dishes from the Pacific Ocean.
Gaston Acurio, Peru’s answer to Jamie Oliver is the Ambassador of Peruvian culinary arts. He and his German wife Astrid met in Paris while pursuing their careers as chefs, they opened their first restaurant ‘Astrid & Gaston’ in Lima in 1994, and it was one of the first restaurants to feature Peruvian haute cuisine. Gaston has received worldwide recognition for putting Peru on the gastronomy map. At present he owns many restaurants not only in Peru but in other cities of Latin America, USA and Europe. He is also the principal promoter of ‘Mistura’, the biggest food festival in Latin America. Mistura was launched in September 2008 and since then it has been growing fast, attracting visitors not only from Peru but from other countries in South America. At this festival, people from different backgrounds and cultures mingled to enjoy the amazing culinary tradition, dishes like the famous ceviche – marinated raw fish, cuy – deep fried guinea pig, sanguche de chicharron – steaming, salt crackling, their answer to the bacon butty. Other stands are devoted to Chifa and Nikkei (Chinese and Japanese respectively) fusion cuisines which makes Peruvian food so different and appetizing. Believe it or not, this is the way Peruvians eat all year long. A country where class barriers fall when it comes to food, everyone samples the same dishes at Mistura. The Peruvian cuisine as a whole is the result of its wide cultural diversity and influences.
Here are a few of our recommendations for restaurants in London to sample Peruvian food before you visit the country. A very accomplished restaurant called ‘Lima’ in central London, owned by another famous chef – Virgilio Martinez has recently been awarded a Michelin star, you can enjoy a combination of flavours with vibrant colours. ‘Ceviche’ by entrepreneur Martin Morales is another such restaurant, located in Soho and known for its classic ceviche. Recently Morales has added a picanteria ‘Andina’ offering unusual and tasty combinations.
Elena Larkin
Sunvil Traveller
