Our first great introduction to Peruvian food was this lamb head soup, complete with skin and fur attached. I didn’t quite finish all the soup, but I ate about 1/4 of it.
Oh, look at this cute little guy! Such a sweet little guinea pig (Cuy in Spanish). I think I probably ate one of his family members…
Barbecued Cuy (top of plate – you can see its ribs). Quite tasty. Tastes like chicken, but the meat is a little tougher.
Can you stare into the eyeballs of this innocent fishy, and still eat him?
Ceviche – raw fish “cooked” in lime juice. So very flavorful and delicious.
If there was ever a way to get me to drink coffee, this is it. This is barley coffee. Very sweet without the bitterness that comes with coffee beans.
Masamora Morada – very sweet purple corn and peach soup.
Though sometimes difficult to swallow, can I tell you the great joy there can be in experiencing a culture in all its differences… I rejoice in the Lord with every bite, and rejoice in the creativity of the cultures to use the resources to make amazingly unique dishes.
And yes, I got sick for a week. Montezuma’s revenge is not kind. My stomach has shrunk a bit, and the smell of chicken and rice still makes me a little nauseous. But had I to do it again, I would gladly break bread with these gracious people and eat all of it. I totally believe that you can experience and express the love of Jesus to people by joyfully eating their food.
