Easiest subject for me: Peruvian food. I remember the first time I was introduced to it. It was back when I met Gino (whose wedding I came to Lima for) back in Montreal in the winter of 2004/2005. He cooked a big meal of Peruvian dishes which blew my taste buds away. When I went to a new Peruvian restaurant a few months later with my McGill Spanish class, I was even further tantalized - equally by the food and erotic art.
The best decision we made was to make Gino one of our housemates in Chateau de Montmelian when we were at INSEAD. When we came back from a night of partying, he would quickly whip up amazing arroz con pollo at 4 in the morning. But even better were the big multiple course meals where we'd feast on my favorites:
Sancochado - beef and veg stew with yuca
Ají de gallina - a chicken in a rich, yellow nut sauce
Tacu tacu - kind of like a rice casserole
Well this weekend we basically had a limitless buffet of these dishes and countless others I tried like causas, empanadas, and amazing ceviche (spelled with a 'b' in Peru) which is raw fish marinated in lime, chili peppers and onion.
I did not try cuy chactado (basically fried guinea pig) or some of the more extravagant seafood cebiches available (though some of my seafood- loving cohort did indulge regularly).
The fruit stands were out of this world. Big, fresh, fragrant fruit. Though I was very cautious due to hygienic reasons, I would often be tempted as I walked by one and got a whiff of mango.
Uh yeah. Time to go get a mango...
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