Last month, before Peruvian independence day, Teresa Izquierdo passed away, and an entire country mourned the loss of one of its greatest and humblest cooks. Though I never had the opportunity to meet Teresa, her cooking has made a wonderful impression on me. And I feel that I’ve gotten to learn a little bit about her magic by recreating the… Read more →
190 years ago, on July 28, 1821, Peru declared its independence from Spain. And history books will tell you that Jose de San Martin, the Argentine born general, played an instrumental role. But recently, I discovered a story in the Peruvian Traditions by Ricardo Palma, that narrates how San Martin was able to triumph without having to go into battle.… Read more →
History was made this week as Susana Baca became the first Afro-Peruvian woman to be appointed Minister of Culture in Peru’s newly elected government. She is one of my favorite singers and I’ve seen her perform almost every time she has been in San Francisco — but as I proudly read the news, my thoughts turned to the day, almost… Read more →
100 years ago, on July 24 1911, Hiram Bingham re-discovered Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca city on top of a mountain at 8,000 ft. above sea level some 50 miles from Cuzco. In a span of several decades, I have been very fortunate to have visited Machu Picchu 3 times. The first time, it’s sheer beauty took my breath away,… Read more →
Many of the recipes I have posted here come from some of my favorite Peruvian cookbooks, however, I always give them my own personal touch. For example, I decide on different amounts of spices based on my preference, and sometimes I add or substitute for local ingredients. But regardless of the recipe, I won’t post it until I am happy… Read more →