The many faces of Perú

Perú is a fascinating country. From the lowland, coastal regions of Lima to the high Andes, you can experience a full variety of cultural flavor.

Speaking of flavor, do you know one of the traditional dishes of Perú?

Cuy (pronounced koo-ee) is a particular specialty in Cuzco. Whereas most food prices are very inexpensive, Cuy is nearly 10 times as expensive. If you want to try it, you need to order it the day before (I don't know why!). And unless you are pretty willing to try something very different and new, at that price, I wouldn't bother.

What exactly is this delicacy?

Ready?

It is guinea pig. Nicely roasted and served warm--yummy! Personally, I prefer cuy picante (roasted guinea pig in a spicy, red sauce).

Would you like to make your own? Here is a recipe from Fundación Intervida.

Why would you want to eat cuy? Well, for one, it is quite rich in protein. For another, it is actually quite good. (Don't be put off by how it is served: head on and split down the middle.)

More than just eating guinea pig, it seems that the guinea pig has been used for healing and for diagnosing diseases. See the interesting article on these properties.

Tom