By Daisy Polowetzky

National Geographic has called Peru “one of the great culinary meccas of the world,” and for good reason. This past summer, I had the opportunity to travel to Peru for the first time, and the food is what I remember most. Here is my trip to Peru, through some of the most delicious dishes I have ever eaten. 

City: Lima

Dish: Lomo Saltado

My first stop in Peru was Lima, the capital city on the coast. I started my culinary adventure by trying Lomo saltado, a traditional Peruvian beef dish similar to a stir fry, that is served with rice mixed with white corn. Fun fact: Peru is home to over 50 varieties of corn! The combination of marinated sirloin, onions, and tomatoes made for a perfect introduction to Peruvian cuisine.

 

City: Lima

Dish: Tiradito de Navaja

On my second day in Lima, I had the pleasure of eating lunch at Maido, one of the world’s top 50 best restaurants. Maido’s head chef, Mitsuharu Tsumura, combines Japanese and Peruvian cuisines into dishes I still dream about. 

In the late 19th century, Japanese people began immigrating to Peru to find work in mines and sugar plantations. The influx of Japanese people to the country greatly influenced Peruvian food and increased the presence of Japanese restaurants. In fact, some of the best sushi I ate was in Lima.

While all of the dishes I had at Maido were amazing, my favorite by far was tiradito De Navaja, Raw Razor Clams on top of a ponzu emulsion, drizzled with truffle oil, and topped with fish eggs. I normally stray away from raw clams, however, given that I was at one of the best restaurants in the world, I obviously had to try at least one bite. Let me just say, I cannot be happier that I did. Besides being stunned by the presentation, I was astonished by the blend of the dish’s flavor. The freshness of the clams, incorporated with the tanginess of the ponzu sauce, proved why Peru is a global culinary destination. If I ever have the privilege of visiting Peru again, Maido will surely be the first place I go back to. 

City: Lima

Dish: Peruvian chicken

On my last night in Lima, I made sure to try a Peruvian staple, Peruvian chicken. Also known as pollo a la brasa, this tasty version of rotisserie chicken can be found in restaurants all around the city. While I have had rotisserie chicken in many different styles before, Peruvian style is by far my favorite. The chicken was perfectly roasted, with crispy skin marinated in garlic on the outside, and juicy, tender meat on the inside. If I was living in Peru, this would definitely be my comfort dish.

City: Cusco

Dish: Cuy

Now this last dish I probably would not eat again, however, I could not have gone to Peru, or written this article without trying cuy, or guinea pig. To the average American, the idea of eating what is a childhood pet to most, may seem strange. But, what seems strange in one culture may be the norm in another. In Peru, guinea pig is a delicacy that has been eaten for thousands of years. While driving across the country, I even saw women selling the small rodent on sticks on the side of the road. 

When I tried cuy, it was roasted, and kind of tasted like chicken. Even though I did not eat cuy again during my trip, I was glad to have crossed eating guinea pig off my Peru bucket list.