So much of what is now traditional Peruvian cooking was inspired by cultures oceans away. These foreign influences date back to the Spanish conquest of Incan king Atahualpa in the 1500s. Colonists brought European stews, sauces, and baked casseroles. Later, in the 19th century, immigrant workers from Guangdong Province brought their woks and stir fries, and Peruvians today love to eat chifa, a fusion of local ingredients cooked with Chinese recipes and technique. It’s Chinese food with Peruvian influences—or maybe the other way around.
Like food everywhere today, there is a new style of Peruvian cuisine emerging—so-called nueva comida—forged by Lima’s leading chefs like Gaston Acurio and Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. “It’s very ingredient-driven,” explains New York chef Eric Ramirez of the soon-to-open Llama Inn and formerly of Raymi Peruvian Kitchen and Pisco Bar. “With young chefs digging deep to find more exotic ingredients, the possibilities are endless.” So the evolution of the nation’s food continues, into territories of modernist cooking that’s simultaneously old and new.
But for now, here’s a quick tour of just some of the classic edible jewels Peru has to offer. Consider it the checklist for your next trip.
