Peruvian Harvest: Cuzco Serves up More than Machu Picchu

I ate the bizarre foods of Peru

Things to eat in Peru

In a small shuttle bus driving out of town towards the Inca trailhead, I got my first culinary lesson about the things to eat in Peru. Our guide, David Espejo Chavez shopped the Cuzco market that morning to procure a local delicacy, brought it home to prepare and was passing it out as our van careened over the Andes highlands.

“These are very unusual. Maybe once or twice a year you can find them in the market,” the Peruvian said over the rattling windows and straining engine. He staggered up the rocking aisle of the Toyota shuttle bus distributing the rarity. Most of my fellow adventurers peered into the bag and passed on the offer. “They’re sautéed in olive oil before being mixed with roasted corn. The corn gives them some crunch.” But even with corn camouflaging the texture, not many of these norte-americanos were sampling the small, dark lumps.

Eating Caterpillars

Wierd foods of Peru

High-energy foods originated from the Incas

  The Last Supper painted by Marcos Zapata, Cathedral of Cuzco – Toño Zapata [Public domain]

Right across La Plaza de Armas from the cathedral is La Retama Restaurant where we were to eat the guinea pig. As far as I was concerned, the coming meal gave a new meaning to the words “pet food.”