We found some compelling historical reasons in a 2008 Bon Appetit interview with the then-owner of one of the restaurants we visited today.
All that is interesting, but the truth lies in the eating, and one can dine exceptionally well in Lima eateries for affordable prices.
Having enjoyed our 2018 experience one evening with the Lima Gourmet Food Tour, we signed up with the same company for a daytime tour that proved to be equally enjoyable.
Our guide, Carlos, arrived promptly at 9:30 AM, and we boarded the bus to find with a little disappointment that we were in a group of 12. It proved to be congenial, though, and we covered a lot of culinary and historical ground during the next several hours.
We learn that Peru has become a major exporter of food, and is proud of its reputation for high quality.
We started off in a little joint with a cup of exceptionally mild black coffee that was closer to brown in color.
From there we walked through a charming old neighborhood. in Barranco, one of the 43 districts Carlos tells us make up Lima, Miraflores being another.
Murals abounded as we approached the gallery of one of Peru’s best known artists, Jade Rivera.
We stepped inside to admire his work.
From there we walked some more and stopped in at the Bodega Verde to sample an amazing fruit drink, a lúcuma smoothie.
Our next stop was a busy local market, where Carlos showed us a great variety of fruits, vegetables, and even some homeopathic medicines that were largely new to us.
This tour is meticulously organized , and Carlos gave us each a cardboard box of fruit to sample on our coach as he described such exotic items as aguaymanto, granadilla, and cherimoya on our way to the next stop.
Our next stop was the Limaná Restaurant and Bar, where a rather thoroughly ttattoed mixologist expertly concocted some tasty Pisco sours for us.
Next, we each got to mix up and eat some coconut ceviche, interesting although not our favorite.
The kitchen assembled plates of tasty morsels, which we devoured with pleasure.
The grande finale of our tour was a visit to Huaca Pucllana, where we dined outside, adjacent to the famous pyramid.
Carlos and his skillful driver, Juan, dropped us off back at the Hilton around 3 PM. We can enthusiastically recommend the company. We learned a lot and had a great time.
Four hours later, after a Pisco sour in the Executive Lounge, we decided to partake of a light dinner in Social, the Hilton’s highly rated restaurant.
We shared a ceviche that was ample for two.
We chose pasta for our main course, a squash ravioli for Kathy and a spinach and sausage concoction for Brian.
That “light dinner” left us well and truly stuffed, and we’re not even going to think about food until morning.
4 comments:
Ahhhh…. I so miss Lima and the pisco sours….. I lived there for a year and I envy you being there and eating the best food on earth!!! Enjoy! And if you get a chance do make your way to the steakhouse overlooking the beach.
So many great restaurants, so little time!
You are so right…. The steak restaurant is called el hornero.. or something like that.. yes it was a few years ago but I can’t imagine it not being there. Do go… if there is time��
We’re abstfukk after an outstanding four-hour cooking class and dining experience, but we’ll definitely look into El Hornero for our last day in Lima tomorrow.
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