Guinea Pig and Llama in Peru

Cuy is a popular dish of the Andes, a dish that the indigenous people living in high mountains have been eating for a very long time. Cuy can also be found on many restaurant menus, especially those catering to tourists. Curious tourists want to sink their teeth into cuy, not because they may crave it, but rather because of the novelty. Cuy is guinea pig, and as they say, when in Peru….

Guinea Pig 1

While in Peru, I unabashedly thought I’d be adventurous and follow in the footsteps of travel favorites like Anthony Bourdain and Zimmerman. I wanted to fully immerse myself in the culture and food. After all, food is an important part of a culture, one of the defining aspects if you ask me. It is important not to judge the culinary practices of another culture. There is nothing ruder than someone looking down at your plate and announcing “ew that’s gross.” I’ve heard it before, being Spanish and all.

Guinea Pig 2

At one restaurant I avoided the cuy because of its expensive price tag, but I was determined to taste it. However on one of our tours they decided to show us not the dish cuy, but rather the guinea pigs themselves. Look at the picture below! I just couldn’t do it after that.

Eek! Guinea Pig 3

Llama is another popular choice on the Peruvian menu. From what I am told it is tougher than beef. Although I didn’t try llama in Peru I did taste some in Bolivia. In true stereotypical American fashion, I had llama on top of my pizza. Although it’s definitely a new topping I’ve never tried before, don’t think I’d ever put it on pizza again.

Here is a picture of an alpaca, cousin to the llama. Alpaca’s are smaller than llamas and have ears that point backwards.

Alpaca