Cheers!
Since the very beginning when Francois was planning his
trip to Peru,
I let him know he would be in the country for National Holidays (July 28th
& 29th – yes 2 days, I know it, but we have too much too
celebrate, haha). The whole country celebrates it, but I suggested him to come
to Lima to
experience it. I was thinking the Lima TB’s community is growing, so maybe all
of us could join and have a great time together. But… unfortunately, not
everyone was in Lima.
I felt so sorry for Francois, he decided not to go to Bolivia, just
to be back on time for the National Holidays, mmm.
hey! don't take away my lipstick, haha
Well, I felt responsible and
would do my best so he’d have an amazing time here in Lima. My 1st idea was going to a pena, but it was too difficult to find space. But I got a new plan ;)
He arrived to Lima
at 10:30 approx. A cab was waiting for him and drove him to his hostel. This
time he was staying in Barranco, the bohemian area, which was close to my house
too, hehe. I met him around noon. It was so great to see him again. He was
completely red because of the sun in Puno and his lips were covered with
injuries. Poor guy! Fortunately, I had a lipstick with me, hehe. But it didn’t
have any color, haha. So he could use it ;) We both were happy to see each
other, but it was time to tell him the true… the big plans for the night were
cancelled.
Francois and the chicha morada
I don’t like to say there is a problem, unless I have a solution and
this time wasn’t the exception. I told him about the cancellation of the big
celebration with the TB’s. He was a bit sad about that, but before he said
anything, I told him I had an idea to celebrate the National Holidays in a fun
way and very Peruvian of course. An aunt had birthday. And she and her family
are so proud to be Peruvian, that every time they have a party, something fun
happens. Also she’s a photographer and her friends are artists. I asked
Francois if he would like to experience a Peruvian Family Party for National
Holidays and well the answer was: OUI!
Ok, things were clear now and was time to have lunch. We
were in Barranco and there was a food festival. We stopped there, so Francois
could taste the “Chicha Morada” a Peruvian soft drink made of purple corn.
enjoying Peruvian Cuisine for National Holidays :)
There
were some nice dishes and were cheap, but if we would like to taste everything
it might be almost as expensive as going to a nice restaurant in the Main
Square of Barranco and have a Peruvian buffet, so better go for the buffet,
haha. Besides that restaurant is nice and the atmosphere is great too. I’d
write a review about it :)
Because I wasn’t sure where we would go for lunch, I didn’t
make any reservation. Wrong!!!! The restaurant was packed, so we had to wait
for almost 35min! There were other places without line, but you know if a
restaurant is packed, it means the food is really good. So, we decided to wait.
Every time the girl came to the gate, we were waiting she called my name and
finally we heard: “Yadira
Salazar?” Our table was ready, yay!!!! We took a sit and
ordered Peruvian beer – Cuzquena – to toast for the National Holidays.
Peruvian Coyote Ugly haha
Once we
got it, we stood up and went to the buffet, hehe. There were so many things to
choose, wow! And everything looked delicious. By this time, Francois knew about
our dishes, so he could go just by himself and picked up what he preferred. We
were back at our table, enjoying our tasty dishes and Peruvian music. Suddenly
one of the guys of the restaurant who saw me with a camera told me there would
be a show in the bar, mmm. Well, do you know the movie “Coyote Ugly” with the
girls dancing on the bar. This happened here too. It was the Peruvian version,
since the girls danced Peruvian music, haha. The food was delicious! But we
were full, OMG. Mmm, well not completely full. There was room for dessert.
The variety of desserts wasn’t big, mmm. But there were
fixing something sweet Francois had never tried: “Picarones”.
Francois and the picarones
They are a bit like
the beignets, but made with sweet potato. And they have a syrup made of fruit.
They had to be really fresh, just made; otherwise they would be chewy. Francois
enjoyed his picarones and I had a rice pudding. I couldn’t believe it was
around 3:30pm and there were still people waiting at the gate, ufff. It was
time to keep on going. While I was driving I listened in the radio that the
museums were free that day, haha. So, it was time to go to a museum and do
something cultural, hehe.
Not only we were able to see some of Peruvian History, but
also about the recent years. Francois didn’t have any idea, how big was the
problem we had with the terrorism 1985-2000. And there was a good exhibition
about that. It was a really hard time for the country, so many dead people and
poverty, and I could explain Francois a bit about it.
Viva el Peru!!!
I considered important
for him to know also about our recently years. It was almost 6pm and they had
to close. I drove him back to his
hostel, so he could get ready for going to my aunt’s later. I went back to home
and would be back for him in 1 ½ hours.
I have already talked to my uncle and let him know I would attend
to the party, but with a friend, hehe, a French one, hehe. Well, he was more
than glad to hear about it. Before leaving the house I put the bottle of
Riesling in the fridge, so it would be ready by the time I was back with Francois.
My parents were waiting for us, since all of us would be going in 1 car. It was
pointless going in 2 cars. The wine was ready and we toasted for Perucito
before leaving. Thanks Eric, the wine was delicious! I was the designated
driver, haha.
I didn't know he could speak French,mmm
We arrived to my aunt’s and party was ready to get started.
We had some drinks – actually I just had 1 – and they served the food. They
served different kind of Peruvian dishes, but in Cusco’s
style. Francois recognized them. He just came back from Cusco,
which he loves, hehe. He said he works with the wine and became the authority about
the wine, haha. An uncle wanted him to try the Argentinean and French and
decide which one was better. I’d just say: “Good work South
America!” My uncle Luis arrived. I knew he speaks French, but didn’t
have any idea he does it so well. He and Francois were speaking in French and I
was in the middle, haha. Another aunt speaks French too, so Francois asked me: “Why
don’t you speak French?” hahaha.
that woman has a really good voice :)
It was midnight, so it was time to sing “Happy Birthday” to
the Bday girl. She blew the candles and everything, but the song wasn’t the
regular “Happy Birthday”, not even the translation in Spanish. It was a
traditional song from Cusco, haha. Some of the
friends of my aunt were singers & musicians. The musicians started to play
guitar and the singers decided to sing as a present. There was a woman who used
to be part of a duet famous in the early 80’s with a good voice, but the one
who impressed me the most was a man who sang a song in Quechua. Quechua is a
native language, spoken mostly in highlands since the Inca times. This guy
might have not had the best voice, but he was amazing. He really felt every
word he was singing. The whole body language was incredible! Wow! Francois, you
couldn’t have asked for something more Peruvian, hehe.
The song was sad and he seemed to be in real pain.
The dance started and of course Francois danced too. We
were having a lot of fun and I was so glad Francois was enjoying the night with
my family. I was happy, nobody asked how I met him, hehe. Explaining the whole
TB story would have been too much. I’m sorry I didn’t take many pics there. It
was almost 2:30am when my parents, Francois and I left. We drove first to
Francois’ hostel and then back home.
My parents have met some TB's but it was the first time I introduced one to the big family, OMG! Anyway, we had a great time there! Didn’t we Francois?
Affordable and excellent criollo buffet in Lima - Rustica
Nobody can doubt that the Peruvian Cuisine is becoming more popular everyday, that's one of the main reasons why there are several restaurants which offer a Peruvian buffet.
This popular restaurant is not the exception and they serve an excellent criollo buffet during the day. I think it's one of the best options for affordable criollo cuisine. Every popular Limeno dish can be found there, including ceviche, cau-cau, lomo saltado, pachamanca and a range of Peruvian potatoes.
For dessert I'll recommend you to try the picarones (pumpkin fritters) drizzled in syrup. They prepare them really good and are so tasty!
I'll suggest you coming here for the buffet, although there is also a carte menu available.
The atmosphere was great. Besides the Peruvian food you can listen to Peruvian music and even see a small show performed by the waitresses as it they were part of Coyote Ugly, haha. Their drinks are good too and the service is nice. Although it can take long if the place is packed.
They have several locations - are becoming a franchise - but I visited the one in Barranco, which is located on Barranco's main square. It's an elegant colonial house and can get very crowded on the weekend or holidays, so a reservation is recommended. At night it becomes a bar.
They open daily for lunch and dinner, Thursday-Saturday for late night.
Although I live in Lima, I went there for 1st time with Francois - a TB - and I was very happy to find this nice restaurant with an excellent Peruvian Cuisine.
the line for the buffet
packed
crowded
Peruvian Coyote Ugly, haha
picarones!
round of appetizers: tamalito ve
…
lunch!
