The Republic of Peru is located on the Western Coast of South America and is slightly smaller than the US state of Alaska. Peru is bordered by the South Pacific Ocean, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador.

(Click on the image above to enlarge it.)

In ancient times, Peru was the center of several major Andean civilizations, including the Nazca and the Inca. The Inca empire ended when it was captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Following the international fever of freedom inspired by the American Revolution and the French Revolution, the People of Peru declared their independence from Spain in 1821, and defeated the remaining Spanish force in 1824.

About the food...

Modern Peruvian food is a delicious fusion of ancient Peruvian recipes and ingredients, and those of cultures from around the world. Much as modern American cuisine is a mixture of favorites from all her immigrants, the same holds true for Modern Peruvian food. It is the result of taking the ancient ingredients and recipes of the Incas (traditional Quechua cuisine), and adding Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and African ingredients (brought into Peru by the Spanish and their Moorish culture, and by their African slaves, in the 1500s), then French flair of color and presentation (in the early 1800s), followed by Chinese flavors and ingredients in the late 1800s, and finally blending in the Japanese focus on fish and seafood in the early 1900s. All of these cultures contributed their finest to the cuisine of Peru, resulting today in one of the tastiest examples of culinary fusion in the world. Come and taste for yourself at Cuisine of Peru / The Latin Zone.

Did you know...

Many people don't realize that much of the "common" food items eaten in the USA are originally from South America. The list includes the common staples of corn, potato, and tomato, as well as sweet potato, bell pepper, chili pepper, vanilla, beans, pumpkin, cassava root, avocado, peanut, pecan, cashew, pineapple, blueberry, sunflower, quinine, wild rice, gourds, and squash. Tobacco and cacao (chocolate) are also from South America.

About the Bird and Monkey

Why do we have a bird and monkey on our menu and website? Read about the Nazca Lines.