The word "menu" has a different meaning in Peru than in North America or other regions. In Lima, menu (pronounced meh-new) is basically the daily special or list of offerings for that meal or time of day. This is normally a list of options of the day for a full lunch at a flat price, that includes- a beverage, soup or salad, and entree. Some may include a light desert. The "menu" is usually for only be for a limited time period, not all day, as the proprietor determines. Most often, the "menu" and prices are listed on a sign or blackboard posted outside the front of the eatery. This is good for tourists to know exactly what the cost will be. Be adventurous! Try sample something that you can not get at home.

The printed list or "booklet" style list of offerings is referred to as "la carta." Restaurants may have standard offerings on their "carta" that are not shown on the daily "menu" offering. You could ask to see the carta by asking- "Tiene una carta que puedo ver de sus platos" or Do you have a carta that I can see of your plates (platters) ?

Lima has a varied culinary tradition, which fuses Andean and Spanish tradition as well as some African, Asian (mainly Chinese and Japanese), French, Italian and Muslim cuisine. The city is becoming world-famous for its seafood and unique vegetables, creole, Peruvian–Chinese (called chifa) and fusion cuisine. Criollo (kree-o-yo) cuisine refers to an old traditional recipe of the culture of Peru.

Desayuno starts the day in Lima as everyone wakes up to fresh brewed coffee or the whirrr of blenders preparing fresh fruit juices. Take advantage of your time in Lima to try fresh papaya juice. This juice is somewhat thick and has a distinct flavor that becomes more refreshing every time you have a glass. Fresh mango juice is similar but a sweeter flavor. There are a variety of juice combinations as well as fresh fruits to try. Fresa Con Leche (strawberry with milk) is a popular combination, like a smoothie.

A typical Continental Breakfast consists of coffee and/or tea, juice (jugo, "who-go"), bread (pan) and marmelade. Try a strawberry juice with milk (jugo de fresa con leche) or a delicious mixed fruit juice (jugo sortido). There would be restaurants in Miraflores that open to serve breakfast, eggs (huevos, "way-vos"). In residential areas, generally the eateries do not open until about noon.

There are many panaderias in almost every neighborhood of Lima. Some have tables to eat-in, while others are take-out only. They open early to serve fresh breads, interesting rolls and other items like juices or empanadas. Empanadas are very good to try, and convenient to carry if short on time. They are normally baked, not fried, but still fattening. Empanadas contain a mixture of cooked vegetables and meats, baked in a pastry crust. Empanada de carne (beef) or empanada de pollo ("po-yo" - chicken) are the two most common. When you enter the panaderia, choose what you would like to buy, then pay for it at the cashier-box "cajero." They will give you a receipt which you take over to the counter to give to the worker that will prepare your order.

Please, do not be afraid to sample the many delicious local fruits. There is a rumor that eating fruit abroad will cause some problem. We have enjoyed all types of fresh fruits and juices in Peru with no problems caused by the fruit. Of course, be careful not to eat the skin of fruit that has just been washed, having tap water on the skin. When in doubt, remove the skin of a fruit before enjoying it.


- Alcachofa- avocado
- Algarrobina- (al-go-ro-bina) a natural dark syrup from a tree, like maple syrup "jarabe".
- Camu Camu- citrus berry, much higher vitamin C than an orange.
- Carambola- Star Fruit, cut sections resemble a "star." Also used for juice (yellow-greenish fruit, center-right of photo)
- Chirimoya (ched-e-mo-ya)- a "custard apple" with a soft, dark green skin, delicious flavor of pineapple-coconut.
- Coco- coconut
- Durazno- peach
- Frambuesa (fram-bway-sa)- raspberry
- Fresa- strawberry
- Guanabana (wah-nob-ana)- Soursop, similar to cherimoya, used for juice or ice cream.
- Lucuma (lu-ku-ma)- used for ice cream, great, smooth flavor
- Mango- mango
- Manzana- apple
- Maricuya (ma-dee-ku-yuh)- Passion Fruit- liquidy, acidic fruit with black seeds, used in juice or ice cream (halved fruit in lower photo)
- Melón- cantaloupe
- Naranja (nar-an-ha)- orange
- Palta- avocado (the "Haas" type of palta is creamy, somewhat sweet, very good with bread, as a substitue for butter.
- Pacai (pah-kai)- season June to August, sweet cotton lining of a pod.
- Papaya (pa-pie-ya) - papaya
- Pera- pear
- Piña (peen-ya)- pineapple
- Platano- banana. A bunch of bananas is called "una mano de platano"
- Sandia- watermelon
- Tomate- tomato
- Tuna- cactus pear
- Uva (uba)- grape



Pacai (pah-kai)- If you are in Peru during June to August, this unique fruit is a must to try. This fruit is from the mountainous sierra region of Peru. It is sold in Lima at produce markets, supermarkets or by street vendors. Pacai or Pacay looks like a long hard pod, about 12" to 15" long. To open, make a cut along one side. Inside, there will be a white, felt-like lining protecting large black seed. This lining is eaten as a sweet treat. The cost is well worth the experience; approximately s/1 to 3 soles.

Lunch time in the Peruvian culture is generally 1pm to 2pm. By noon, most eateries are open for lunch. A few offer buffets. Don't be afraid to try local plates. The cuisine is not hot and spicy, except for an "aji" (yellow chili pepper) sauce that may be hot or not depending on the chef, so check or sample first before ordering it. The aji is made into a yellow, creamy sauce and is very good in a meal called "Aji con Gallina." Small, family restaurants or cafes also very good lunch platters. Most all have a "menu" combination special at a pre-fix price which could range s/.5 to s/.15 soles, depending on which neighborhood you happen to find yourself between noon and 3pm, for example. (these platters, below, may also be found offered for lunch or for dinner, interchangeably)

A panaderia may offer small fare like burgers or sandwiches. A common sandwich is of shredded chicken on a roll with a handful of potato chips or "sticks." But, they put these fried chips in the sandwich! So, ask for the chips on the side (al lado) or better yet, omit them altogether. Also they most all have empanadas, which looks like a mini calzone but normally filled with a stew or meat pie-type mixture with vegetables, pieces of potato and hard-boiled egg. There are good, and great to take "on the go."

Empanadas de pollo ("po-yo" chicken), carne ("car-nay" ground beef), jamon ("ha-mone").

Chifa is an alternative to regular Chinese food, having a Peruvian fusion. There are many Chifa restaurants in Lima, although more expensive chifa eateries in nicer neighborhoods would make for a better experience.


Example entrees:

- Aji con gallina- boiled chicken, shredded and mixed with a creamy, mild pepper sauce. Served with rice., as our most plates.
- Causa Limena- various versions or mashed potato layered with tuna or chicken in a caserole dish, sliced into single servings. (pictured)
- Papa a la Huancaina- a delicious appetizer with similar sauce as above served over two halves of a boiled yellow potato (skinned) on a bed of lettuce and garnished with black olives and quarter sections of a hard-boiled egg.
- Chupe- soup gumbo, usually of fish or seafood. "chupe de arroz" is with rice.
- Sopa de pollo (Caldo- broth)- chicken soup
- Dieta de pollo- also chicken soup. May include a larger pieces of chicken.
- Papa Rellena- "stuffed potato," actually mashed potatos which are formed with chopped or ground beef in the center, and in the shape of an oval ball and baked. Very good.
- Palta Rellena- A ripe avocado, peeled, halved and filled with chicken or tuna salad. A delicious, lite lunch.
-Parihuela- a gumbo, usually with freshwater shrimp and/or other seafood, spice and vegetables.
- Carapulcra- a stew made with dried potato, pork, chicken, olives, toasted peanuts, various spices and sweet wine. Very good.
- Atun- tuna or tuna fish.
- Pato - duck
- Pollo a la plancha- Grilled chicken, normally a boneless and skinless filet.
- Ceviche - Cebiche- both are pronounced "say-bee-chee." This dish is of fish cooked by marinating in citrus juice (fresh lime) and served in combination with other seafood or ingredients like fresh onion, boiled corn kernels, sweet potato (camote). (pictured)
-Tiradito- this is similar to ceviche or carpaccio, with fish cut fina and long, while ceviche is of bite-sized cuts. Tiradito is served with cilantro and ginger, and without onion.
-Sudado de Pescado- fish stew with tomatos, boiled yuca or sweet potato (camote), garlic, onion, chili pepper. Very good.
- Rocoto- red bell pepper, usually prepared stuffed (rellenado or rellena)
- Refresco- beverage. Perhaps being Chicha Morada- juice from the purple corn, sweetened similar to grape juice.

Note: In Peru, the chicken meat is more specifically classified at restaurants as Pollo (roster) and Gallina (hen). The local people believe that there is a great difference in the gender of the meat. Gallina is said to have a better flavor and smoother texture than pollo. Therefore, gallina is a better meat and does have a higher price in the markets.

Cena

Dinner in Peru is usually eaten well after 6pm for most families, as the normal work schedule ends at 6pm. The larger restaurants of Miraflores and elsewhere in Lima will continue serving meals from lunch through to closing at night. The smaller, neighborhood or family-type eateries may switch meal offerings and/or prices for dinner. One example of this was a restaurant that ended their lunch pricing at 4pm, then had more expensive dinner offerings.

- A La Plancha- grilled
- Sancochado- boiled (or hervido)

- Aji de gallina- Shredded chicken (white meat) combined in a creamy, light garlic sauce (or of yellow onion) and served with rice. Very tasty.
- Anticucho- strips of barbecued bull's heart, similar to liver.
- Bistek a la Pobre- beef steak with rice and a fried egg on top, perhaps a side of fried plantains.
- Bistek con puree- beef steak with potato puree.
- Lomo Saltado- strips of beef and tomato, and maybe green pepper, grilled or sauteed, and mixed with rice. Many times it is also served with french fries, sometimes combined. (pictured)
- Pollo a la Brasa- very popular, rotisserie chicken.
- Rocoto Rellena- stuffed pepper (red).
- Puree- similar to mashed potatos but smooth and runny.
- Chancho- pork.
- Cuye "ku-e"- guinea pig (tastes like rabbit)
- Pato- duck.
- Pavo- turkey, not commonly served at restaurants.
- Carne- normally refers to beef.
- Asado de res con puree- broiled beef served with potato puree.
- Lomo Ahyumado- Smoked beef or sirloin.
- Mariscos- seafood- scallops, mollusks (moluscos).
- Camarones- crayfish, fresh water shrimp, usually a large size.
- Pescado- fish, may be cooked as fried. Seco - dry.
- Trucha- trout

One of the best choices for desert in Peru is the ice cream - "helado." It is like a fresh gelato, soft or hard to dip. Helado Naturale is refreshing and healthier as it is more of a sorbet-type, without the use of milkfat.

The large variety of familiar fruits and tropical fruits offers a wide display of flavors and colors (pictured). There are ice cream stores "heladeria" or "gelateria" or vendors around Lima. Natural flavors and ingredients are used, unlike the artificial colors and flavors used in the U.S.

Panaderias offer many types of cakes, pies and tarts. Alfajor o manjar blanco o dulce de leche is a similar sweet concoction used in pastries in Latin/Andean countries. It is a creamy, sweet paste (almost like a milk-based caramel), made from sweetened condensed milk.

There are also pies and cakes in which local produce is used to create a new twist on familiar recipes. As you pass through the panaderias or pasteleria (pastry shop), you can see the skills of the local bakers in fancy cake creations, pies and other flavored bread rolls.

- Cremalada - normally this is like a water ice or sorbet or sherbert, without milk.
- Helado - ice cream, as normally made with milk.
- Helado Natural - like a sorbet or water ice.
- Keke- cake
- Mazzamorra Morada - a pudding made with purple sweet corn.
- Arroz con leche - rice pudding
- Empanada dulce- empanada filled with something sweet.
- Pie de Manzana- Apple pie

Here are a couple of many otions for an experience at Lima's best restaurants

Fine Dining with a View

Costa Verde Restaurant - This beautiful restaurant serves seafood and international cuisine, and variations of Ceviche (aka Cebiche,) a typical Peruvian recipe. This restaurant is located on a pier over the Pacific ocean and has a beautiful view of the sea and the cliffs from Barranco to Miraflores. The Costa Verde Restaurant is located to the south of Miraflores, along the coastal roadway Costa Verde. It is a restaurant with an incredible number of delicious culinary plates, enjoy a buffet or one of the many seafood or pasta dishes from the menu. Their extensive seafood buffet is listed in the Guiness Records. Buffets: Lunch - Monday to Saturday- 1pm to 4pm. Dinner- Monday to Friday, 5pm to 7:30pm. A special Sunday buffet is served from 1 to 4pm. Available for private events. The lunch buffet is approximately US$30.00. Telf. 247-1244, 477-0010.

Location: Along the beach and the Costa Verde roadway on the "Circuito de Playas," in Barranco. (Two other restaurants are along the beach, the gourmet "La Rosa Nautica" in Miraflores, and another nice, but of a lesser or mid-level atmosphere, is the nearby "la Rustica")

Fine Dining -Buffets

Los Delfines hotel - The restaurant of the 5 star Los Delfines hotel in San Isidro offers full sumptous lunch buffets wth salad bar and desert table. Tuesday to Friday, 12:30 pm to 3pm. Tuesday- Italian, Wednesday- International, Thursday- Fusion, Friday- theme day. US$22.00 plus drinks, including tax, service and cover. Check for brunch or tea time buffets, or special pricing. Valet parking. Telf. 215-9614

A unique feature of Los Delfines is their two Dolphins that have their own glass aquarium, located off the lobby. Here, there is a lounge/bar area where guests can watch the dolphins swim, enjoy drinks and listen to live music in the evening. The dolphins are fed at regular times so that diners can enjoy this as well. "Knossos" gourmet restaurant is also located on this level, serving international cuisine, buffets and flambe specialties.

The "Delphos" coffee shop is open 24 Hours. There is a special tea time buffet, another chance to watch the wonderful tricks of Yaku and Wayra, our dolphins.

Location: Hotel Los Delfines, Av. Los Eucaliptos 555, San Isidro.

RESTAURANT-DINING

Restaurant's Menu- la carta
Daily special(s)- "menu" (may-new) (commonly a prefix price for a 2 or 3 course meal)
Chifa- chinese cuisine with a Peruvian fusion
Comida- meal

Enjoy your meal!- Buen provecho!
Very delicious- Muy rico!
Parking- estacionmiento
Rest room- Baño (ban-yo)
Tax- impuesto
Tip- propina
Waiter- moso, Waitress- mosa.

And - y, pronounced as "e"
All - todo
On the side - al lado (lad--doe)
Nothing - nada
No Peanuts/nuts - No mani
No eggs - no huevos (way-vos)
I have an allegry to __ - Tengo una alergia a ___ (al-air-he-ah)
No ice - no hielo (he-ail- low)

Mesa- table
Chair- silla (see-ya)
Seat- asiento (as-ee-en-toe)
Cup- copa
Fork- tenedor
Glass- vaso
Knife- cuchillo
Plate-plato
Tablespoon- cuchara
Teaspoon- cucharita

MEALS

Appetizer- entrada
Bread- pan
Desert- postre (pos-tray)
Entree- plato al fondo
Salad- ensalada
Soup- sopa


SPICES

Spicy- picante

Cinnamon - canela
Hot pepper- Aji (ah-he). This can be prepared mild or can be very hot, depending on the chef. Ask first!
Pepper- pimiento
Powder - polvo
Salt- sal
Sugar- azucar


SPREADS-TOPPINGS

Butter on the side- mantequilla al lado (mon-tea-key-ya)
Cream- crema (cray-ma)
Cheese - queso (kay-so)
Lemon/Lime - limón (Peru's lemons are like a lime, green and somewhat sweet)
Mushrooms- Champiniones
Olives- aceitunas
Olive oil- aceite oliva
Onion- Cebolla
Syrup- jarabe (ha-rah-bay)
Tomato sauce- salsa de tomate

BEVERAGES

Drink/beverage- Refresco or Bebida
Beer- cerveza
Bottled Water- agua botella (boiled-hervido)
Chicha - refers to a juice, normally being Chicha Morada- from sweetened purple corn. This is a popular drink included with the "menu"
Coffee- cafe
Juice- jugo (hu-go)
Milk- leche (lay-chay)
Fresh Milk - leche fresca
Hot- caliente
Pisco- grape alcohol (clear like vodka)
Pisco Sour- pisco, egg white, sugar, lemon. Strong and sweet.
Tea-te (tay)
Wine- vino, vino tinto (red wine)


FISH-MEAT-POULTRY

Eggs- huevos (way-vos)
Beef- bistek, or "res"
Chicken- pollo (po-yo, Rooster), gallina (ga-yin-ah, Hen). Local culture believes that gallina is a better meat.
Meat- carne
Tuna- atun (ah-tune)
Turkey - pavo


SIDE DISHES-VEGETABLES

Apple sauce- puree de manzana.
Fruit- fruta
Beans- frijoles (free-hole-ace)
Carrot- Zanahoria
Choclo- peruvian yellow corn, having very large niblets
Potato - papa
Mashed potato- "puree." commonly this is of Peru's delicious yellow potato or papa amarilla
Stuffed/filled- rellena or rellenado (ray-yea-na)
Red Bell Pepper- stuffed- Rocoto relleno
Red Beet - remolacha
Tomato- tomate (to-mat-tay)


GRAINS-NUTS

Almond - almendra
Oatmeal- avena (a-vay-na)
Peanuts- mani (or nuts in general)
Raisins - pasas
Rice- arroz
Walnuts - nueces (new-e-ses)
Wheat - trigo

Life is an adventure, so too is travel.
Get out there and live!