Peru with flavour Ceviche is a classic Peruvian dish is made from fresh raw fish marinated in citrus, such as lemon or lime, and spiced with ají chili peppers. Besides its luscious texture and refreshing tartness, ceviche is an essential part of Peru's heritage and a must-try as part of any Peru culinary travel experience.Historians believe its forebear was brought to Peru by Moorish women who accompanied the Spanish conquistadors. The raw fish mix was eventually infused with native Peruvian flavors and styles. This August, Aracari's founder Marisol popped by the Pittsburgh office of our friends at Frontiers Travel to demonstrate the basics of ceviche preparation with a ceviche cooking class. Marisol prepared Aracari's flagship dish, a classic Ceviche. In this video, she explains when to eat ceviches, how to choose the right fish, and why sweet potatoes and corn often accompany the delightful dish. Click to watch the video below. https://vimeo.com/135462281 In addition to a ceviche cooking class, there are a myriad of peru food travel experiences you can enjoy if you visit, from street food tours to pisco cocktail making classes to trying out traditional pachamnaca cooking techniques. Check out culinary tour peru ideas for more inspiration or take a look at our 10 day Peru with Flavor itinerary.
Peru with flavour Ceviche is a classic Peruvian dish is made from fresh raw fish marinated in citrus, such as lemon or lime, and spiced with ají chili peppers. Besides its luscious texture and refreshing tartness, ceviche is an essential part of Peru’s heritage and a must-try as part of any Peru culinary…
This Wednesday afternoon, there was no lack of diversity amongst the crowds at Lima’s illustrious Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI, for short), one of the top museums in Lima. Roving students on school trips scampered past groups of nuns in habits, as tourists in sneakers and jeans mingled with freshly ironed businessmen and women on their lunch breaks. Despite their differences, every guest buzzed with anticipation for the same reason: the opening day for MALI’s long-awaited permanent collection. MALI Permanent Collection For seven years, the second-floor of MALI has been closed to the public for renovations. When the reopening date was announced to be September 9, 2015, Peruvian art and culture aficionados excitedly marked their calendars and planned excursions to the famed Palacio de Exposición. The renovated permanent collection boasts 1,200 of the best pieces from an extensive collection spanning 3,000 years of Peruvian history. The exhibit is housed in an exquisite new area with hardwood floors, a resplendent octagonal skylight, and high-powered lights to best display the pieces. Naturally, I was there on opening day. The exhibit is divided into four parts: Pre-Columbian, Colonial, Republican, and Modern art. The layout is designed so that visitors can walk “through history” in a chronological circuit while exploring offshoot rooms that delve deeper into specific topics, such as ancient textiles and metalworking. The exhibit provides an encyclopedic, illustrated history of Peru, intermixing the vast array of pottery, paintings, and photographs with the descriptions of each era’s political and social climate. Peru’s dynamic past is imbued in its rich and varied cultural legacy. The Pre-Columbian quarters kicks off the exhibit with a timeline of pottery ranging from 1532 AD to 1200 BC. The artifacts are divided by location, so the visitors can see the variations in pottery based on the needs
This Wednesday afternoon, there was no lack of diversity amongst the crowds at Lima’s illustrious Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI, for short), one of the top museums in Lima. Roving students on school trips scampered past groups of nuns in habits, as tourists in sneakers and jeans mingled with…
As winter in Peru draws to a close, Andean guides in Cusco and Puno may soon swap their wooly layers for lighter trekking garb, packing away their colorful Andean chullo hat until the next chilly day. The chullo is the iconic Andean stocking cap with earflaps, usually made from the wool of sheep, llama, alpaca, or (for the luxurious) vicuña. The thickly-knit hat insulates from the harsh elements of the mountainous region. Wearers can also tie that hat beneath the chin for even more insulation in extremely cold or windy conditions. History of the Chullo Hat Chullos have been used in the Andean Mountain region by its indigenous people for thousands of years. The different colors, patterns and weaves have significance throughout the region, as they are often used to distinguish between communities. While for many years it was seen as an unfashionable mark of the lowest class of Peruvian society, the chullo has always been an integral part of the cultural fabric. But though the chullo is iconic to the Andes, there is some disagreement to its origin. As Arturo Jimenez Borja details in his book “Indumentaria Tradicional Andina” (“Traditional Andean Clothing”), archeological evidence shows that headwear in the Basque country of Spain was shaped more like the chullo than that of pre-colonial Peru, where the four-pointed Huari was the hat of choice. Other academics fiercely defend the chullo’s pre-Hispanic origins as the debate continues. Authentic Andean chullos are popular souvenirs for travellers that want to bring home a memory of Peruvian culture. Many modern clothing designers add feathers, pompoms, tassels, and other extra adornments to their hats, but these tend to be added in questionable taste and without respect to Andean culture. The best chullos can be purchased in and around Cusco, particularly in towns where the chullo still
As winter in Peru draws to a close, Andean guides in Cusco and Puno may soon swap their wooly layers for lighter trekking garb, packing away their colorful Andean chullo hat until the next chilly day. The chullo is the iconic Andean stocking cap with earflaps, usually made from the wool…
First opened in August of 1964, the Amano Museum, now known as the Pre-Columbian Textile Museum, recently went through a years’ worth of renovations and reopened at the end of May 2015. After 50 years promoting and conserving Peru’s textile heritage, the remodeled museum in Peru's capital, Lima, doubled the exhibit space and improved conservation methods in anticipation of a large amount of visitors in the future. The permanent exhibit includes an impressive collection amassed by Amano including over 600 ancient textiles as well as ceramics from Pre-Inca cultures. Amano Museum Showcases Pre-Columbian Textile The concept of the museum started as a passion of Yoshitaro Amano, a Japanese businessman who relocated to Peru. Through his travels around the country he began to collect and preserve textiles that had been left to the elements without recognition of their true value. Originally part of his private collection in his Miraflores home, he soon started a foundation which became a renowned institution among scholars in Peru, Japan and beyond for Amano’s dedication to protection and preservation of Peruvian cultural and history. The Textile Exhibits The exhibit starts upstairs with an explanation of the emergence of textiles in different parts of the world and the first raw materials used. A large world map pinpoints the locations and raw materials native to each area of the world. The history of textiles in Peru covers the development of the Chavín, Paracas, Nasca, Moche, Huari, Sihuas, Lambayeque, Chimú, Chancay, Chuquibamba, and Inca cultures. The museum exhibits more than 120 textile works representing the long history of cultural development in pre-Columbian Peru, in addition to a room with display cases showing the various tools and raw materials required for the textile production that was explained in the first few rooms, such as dyeing, spinning, knotting, looping, and use
First opened in August of 1964, the Amano Museum, now known as the Pre-Columbian Textile Museum, recently went through a years’ worth of renovations and reopened at the end of May 2015. After 50 years promoting and conserving Peru’s textile heritage, the remodeled museum in Peru’s capital, Lima, doubled the…
Find the Best Coffee in Miraflores Happy Peruvian Coffee Day! The Ministry of Agriculture in Peru declared the 4th Friday of the month of August “El Día del Café Peruano” and some restaurants and cafés are offering discounts or free cups of coffee today. Whether it’s free or not, Peru is known for producing high quality coffee, and here in Miraflores there are many great coffee shops to choose from. Here is a guide to just a few of the many options in the area where you can enjoy a delicious cappuccino, latte, americano, espresso or even a chai latte or tea if coffee isn’t your thing! 1. Arabica (C/ Recavarren 269, Miraflores and C.C. Larcomar, Miraflores) A small red door marks the entrance to Arabica, located on a street off the main throughway of bars along Calle Berlin. Right inside the entrance is a tight squeeze, but if you continue on to the back there is a cozy area with a few tables and couches that is always filled with couples and groups of friends in the evenings. Interesting art covers the walls and in addition to coffee and pastries, they serve sandwiches, salads and other small plates. The owners, Hannah Scranton and David Torres Bisetti, opened Arabica in 2008 and also run two other coffee shops, Arabica in the Larcomar mall and Tostaduría Bisetti in Barranco. Word on the street has it, more locations are to open soon. Coffee available to go. Hours: M-Th 8an-10pm, Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 10am-11pm, Su 2pm-9pm 2. Coffee Time (C/ Colón 122, Miraflores) A tiny café with a big heart, located across from the Crowne Plaza Hotel, this hole-in-the-wall café serves delicious coffee that goes perfectly with the fresh empanadas, including fillings such as ají de gallina (creamy sauce with shredded chicken) and rocoto
Find the Best Coffee in Miraflores Happy Peruvian Coffee Day! The Ministry of Agriculture in Peru declared the 4th Friday of the month of August “El Día del Café Peruano” and some restaurants and cafés are offering discounts or free cups of coffee today. Whether it’s free or not, Peru…
Shopping for quality Peruvian alpaca products while sipping a glass of French wine? Now it’s possible--and I don’t mean online. Recently, two Aracari team members, Caroline and I, had the opportunity to visit the Concept Store “Cajamarca 219” in Barranco, which opened last year in 2014. Set down a quiet street in the Bohemian district of Lima, this new addition to the neighborhood is one-of-a-kind in the area and worth a visit, especially if you’re in the market for high quality clothing or furniture made from alpaca (although they sell other things as well). The store and its products are the creation of Thibault van der Straete, a French designer based in Peru. He designs and produces articles of clothing such as sweaters, scarfs, slippers and vests using pima cotton and alpaca wool, handspun and hand-woven. In addition to the staple alpaca sweater, the store sells rugs, pillows, sofas and other homeware created from vintage woven alpaca ponchos beautifully stitched together forming patterns of patchwork and stripes. Der Straete is not a newcomer to Peru. In fact, his first trip was over 20 years ago, when he was inspired by the colors, scenery, people and their traditions. After becoming familiar with traditional weaving of alpaca wool, he began to use alpaca fabrics, woven in the Peruvian Andes, in his fashion collection. Everything is made in Peru with Peruvian materials. Originally focused on exporting, sending sofas, rugs, and clothing to Europe and Japan, Der Straete’s collection of alpaca products are now, not only available in stores in London, New York, Japan and elsewhere in Europe, but have a homebase in Lima, where the designer has been living since 2008. The entrance to the Concept Store is a hallway with art, design and lifestyle books for sale as well as their own
Shopping for quality Peruvian alpaca products while sipping a glass of French wine? Now it’s possible–and I don’t mean online. Recently, two Aracari team members, Caroline and I, had the opportunity to visit the Concept Store “Cajamarca 219” in Barranco, which opened last year in 2014. Set down a quiet…
