12 Nov 2022
So my final day in Peru was to experience a taste of Peru with a foodie guide and take part in a Peruvian cookery course…
I was picked from my hotel in Lima by the local guide Nick who was charming and fluent in English and other languages.
First stop was the local food market, seeing the market via the eyes of a local foodie is a totally new experience and perspective! He explained fruit, vegetables and meat which I’d never even seen before. We tasted fresh papaya, cucumber melon, incredible passion fruit (check out the size of the passion fruit!), the freshest mango, lucuma, golden berry and even prickly pear!
Next onto the fish market in the Chorillos area - wow - again Nick showed me fish I’d never seen, so fresh that live pelicans were eagerly waiting! There was also a few delightful souvenir stalls away from bustling touristy areas - this is where the locals shop…
Next stop was a lovely restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean where we started our cookery lesson.
Every meal starts with a drink and this was no exception as I was taught to make the famous Pisco Sour. WOW
Next on the menu was Causa Limeña de Pollo (a chicken filled layered potato dish) - totally delicious. Finally my favourite, the equally famous ceviche - so simple yet so tasty it’s a recipe you can adapt again and again….
Then we sat down with our two course meal and Pisco Sour to the views of the Pacific Ocean and enjoyed a relaxing two course lunch with Nick the perfect host with a great chatty personality…
Finally I was driven back to my hotel but en route, Nick used his expert knowledge of the area to make further suggestions of places I should visit whilst in Lima.
So all in all a wonderful combination of foodie shopping, cooking, drink making and eating in a beautiful setting made this a great course and experience that I’d recommend to anyone….