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Typical food of Arequipa

The food of Arequipa is one of the most variety and rich from Peru, and the best place to delight with it are the "picanterías" that are the traditional restaurants specialized in this kind of food. They offer you a special beverage called "chicha de jora" served in big glasses and accompanied by four small plates with spicy regional food, in which the "rocoto" (hot chili pepper variety) prevails. These places are usually hosted by singers or regional musical groups.

The tradition of the "picanterías" is to only serve certain plates in certain days, for example on Monday they serve "Chaque", on Tuesday "Chairo", on Wednesday "Pebre", on Thursday "Timpusca", on Friday "Chupe de Camarones", on Saturday "Timpusca" and on Sunday a special kind of meat called "Blanco de Lomos".

Typical plates:

Rocoto Relleno: Elaborated with fragrant and tender rocotos that are cut on its top as a cover, the seeds and veins are extracted to diminish the hot flavor and they are stuffed with chopped meat, peanuts, boiled eggs, olives, cream cheese, and milk, seasoned and baked in the oven; it is served with baked potatoes.

Ocopa: Boiled potatoes covered with a cream (ocopa) made of yellow hot pepper, onion, garlic, cream cheese and huacatay (spice leaf), all blended with dry bread. It is served with boiled eggs, olives, lettuce.

Adobo: Elaborated with pieces of pork meat that have been marinated during the night in chicha, vinegar, hot pepper and spices, cooked in a clay pan and it is served with gravy.

Chairo: Beef broth, marinated with yellow hot pepper, garlic, onion, spices, black chuño (root), pieces of cured meat, tongue of lamb and "patasca" (pork and corn stew). It is served with toasted corn.

Chupe de Camarones: Soup made with potatoes, milk, eggs, cheese, spices, hot pepper, tomato and shrimps.

Chactado: Guinea pig or rabbit that is covered with a spicy and hot pepper gravy and then cooked in a pan placing on top a stone until it is cooked, it is served with boiled potatoes.

There is a regional beer that is considered one of the best in Peru, and also an excellent liquor of anisette. There is also a very good factory of chocolates, bonbons (masapán) and toffees.


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