Peru’s Culinary Festival Mistura Features the Country’s Best Cuisine

Peru has been in the news lately for its amazing culinary offerings, making it a prime South American destination for foodies and cooking vacations. We asked our partners in Peru, from Taste of Peru, to talk about a culinary festival they recently had, Mistura. In both words and pictures, they talk about how much fun this country has with their delicious food.

“Mistura is Peru’s international culinary fair that offers traditional and fusion cuisine from its diverse regions. Peruvians and visitors from all over the world have the chance to try both traditional dishes and new creations prepared from the finest ingredients, products of the country’s rich biodiversity. Peru’s distinct and delectable flavors are exhibited in Mistura’s dishes.

“The Mistura project began in 2008 and is held every year for ten days in September. The festival now hosts over 500,000 people.

“At Mistura there is so much to see and taste from street vendors, restaurants, and country kitchens; the Great Market with products from all over the country; the Bazaar with kitchen tools; the Pisco and coffee lounge; and the chocolate and bread corners. The best suppliers, cooks, pastry chefs and bakers come together from all parts of the country to promote their goods in one place. This year Mistura featured Eneko Atxa, Quique Dacosta, Paco Torreblanca, Joan Roca and Rodrigo De La Calle from Spain, Massimo Botura from Osteria Franciscana in Italy, Saan Hoon from L’air Du Temps in France and Peter Gilmore and Dan Hunter from Australia, among others.

“Mistura seeks to promote not only Peruvian food and culture but also issues such as agriculture, fishing, education, sustainable development, fair trade and diversity. At Mistura the public learns about so much more than just cuisine.”

The same can be said for our cooking vacation Taste of Peru. Not only will you learn how to make the best traditional dishes — such as limo saltado and ceviche — as well as Peruvian cocktails, but you’ll also get to experience the country’s culture. You’ll participate in a local fruit festival and tour the magical city of Cusco and the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu.

This South America cooking vacation is available any week on request year round for a minimum of two people. The Mistura festival happens every September. Questions? Feel free to contact us at any time.

By Liz SanFilippo Hall

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Originally published October 4, 2012.