LIMA DAY 11: The Last Supper(s)

Monday, March 14

Our last full day. I met Ed for Breakfast at his hotel, and we walked to Surquillo Mercado #2 to visit the Seafood Lady.

Rosa was happy to see me, and excited to see Ed. She wanted to know how my Lunch went the week before, and she wasn't surprised when I told her that there was Too Much Food.

We looked over everything she had, and we pointed at what we wanted for Breakfast. While she was preparing our Seafood, we each had a Bowl of Chilcano (Fish Stock Soup).

Our Mixed Plates arrived as we were finishing up the Soup.

Mine was Fish, Octopus and Scallops. There might have been Calamari involved, too -- I don't remember. Ed's plate had Fish, Calamari, Shrimp, Snails and a couple of other things as well. We wound up trading a Shrimp for a Scallop.

We decided to do some last-minute shopping, but it was hot as hell, so in the course of our walking around, I had a Cremolada, we stopped in a Restaurant that promised Ice Cold Chicha Morada and French Fries (Yellow Potato Fries are MUCH better than the White Potatoes we have back home), where I had about a quarter of the plate of Fries, and a Dunkin Donuts for a Frozen Chocolate Drink. It helped, a little, but it was pretty hot all afternoon.

It cooled off later, and since Sandra didn't get out of work until 9:00 pm, I kept Ed company while he had Dinner at Tanta in Larcomar.

He had an order of Aji de Gallina.

It was one of the dishes that we served at my apartment last week, and he really liked it. I guess he really liked Tanta's as well, because he made short work of his plate. I felt bad watching him eat alone, so I had a Pastel de Acelga while I kept him company.

 A Pastel de Acelga is -- as close as I can come to describing it -- a kind-of Spinach-like, Quiche-like item. Whatever it is, It's good, and it has been a while since I had one, so I really enjoyed it.

Sandra came and rescued me from the Backjack table, and we went back to Larcomar for Dinner. This time, we went to a new place, confidently called Popular. It was pretty crowded, so maybe they weren't just being optimistic.

Sandra had a Salad with Salmon, and I had a Farewell Grilled Octopus.

Sandra has really benefited from meeting and getting to know Ed -- her Blog Photos have improved tenfold since she learned to take her pictures 'Ed Style' ('El Estilio de Ed').

Either she was really hungry, or it was really good, or both, because she cleaned off her plate. She usually leaves food over, so I am going to go with 'both.' My Octopus was delicious, except for th fact that it apparently only had four arms. It was on a bed of Mashed Beans of some sort. I made short work of it.

That was it for the day. The Last Suppers. Peruvian Breakfast tomorrow, then Airplane Food.

LIMA DAY 10: Another Day in Paradise

Sunday, March 13

First, here's an Octopus. I couldn't wait for Dinner to post it.

The other day, Sandra's Aunt sent over some Rice with Chicken for me to try out. Apparently, the Duck lobby wanted me to "Eat Mor Chickn."

I had it for Breakfast, and when I liked it, Sandra said that her Aunt would have me over for some next time.

Sandra had suggested that we go to Mahumi, all the way in San Martin de Porres, for Lunch. It's all the way far from Miraflores, but, she said, they have really good food, and the prices are, well, not Miraflores prices. Off we went in a taxi.

We ordered a pitcher of Frozen Chicha Morada. Between that, and the fact that the place is Air Conditioned, it's now one of my favorites.

For our Appetizers, I had a Cebiche, and Sandra had a salad that was full of Nutritional Stuff that I had never heard of, but she looked them up on her phone, and it was true.

For Our Main Courses, Ed had a Chicken Breast with Mashed Potatoes (I have been running his stomach ragged, and he needed to slow down, he said), Sandra had Ravioli (the special of the day), and I had Mero a lo Macho.

My Fish Filet was covered with mixed Seafood in a slightly spicy Sauce, and it was delicious. I tried one of Sandra's Raviolis, and it was excellent as well.

Only Sandra had Dessert. She ordered the Quinoa Brownie.

Hanging with Ed has certainly taught her how to take Blog Photos.

Ed and I tasted the Brownie, and it was warm and delicious. I have no idea what the Quinoa brought to the table, but it was in there, I guess. It tasted like a Chocolate Brownie to me.

After resting up in the afternoon, Ed and I did a little exploring of some Lima neighborhoods. He really likes La Punta, out by the port area.

For Dinner, we went to Jose Antonio in San Isidro. It's one of my standbys; they serve classic Peruvian Food. Really good classic Pervian Food. It's all dark wood and hushed waiters, but the food is excellent.

We started by splitting an Octopus.

By 'split,' I mean that Ed had a little, and I had a lot of the Octopus.

FOr our Main COurses, we both ordered the Steak. Ed had his straight up, with Fries, and I had mine 'a lo pobre,' which means it comes with a Tacu Tacu (Rice and Bean Patty), Plantains, and on top -- a Fried Egg.

We bith polished off our dishes.

On the way home, we walked by 4d, which is a diner-type place. I got a cup of Gelato for Dessert; Ed watched.

That was it. Only two Meals, unless you count all of them In which case, it was three Meals.

LIMA DAY 9: Soup, Sandwich, and Ribs!

Saturday, March 12

Ed and I met for Breakfast, and we walked to the little Coffee/Sandwich Shop near his hotel.

I had a Cafe con Leche and a Hot Dog Sandwich. And a Tamale Sandwich. Ed had a Ham & Cheese.

Later, we shopped. Ed says, "Hi!"

Alex picked us up for Lunch. I was itching to have a Caldo de Gallina (Chicken Noodle Soup), and Alex likes everything. Off we went to La Victoria. It's a little drive, but these guys do an excellent job with their Soup.

I had the Jumbo Caldo, Alex had a Chicken Breast and Fries, and Ed had the regular-size Soup. I know that Ed's looks as large as mine, but no... mine was immense.

For Dessert, we stopped at a Cremolada place on the way home. Alex and I each had one. Mine was Coconut.

We met Sandra for Dinner. I had made three reservations at Panchita -- proving that it is my favorite restaurant -- and tonight was the last one.

I had the Rocoto Relleno (Stuffed Pepper) for my Appetizer, and Ed & Sandra split an ordr of Grilled Mushrooms.

This was an absolutely fabulous Pepper, and Sandra & Ed loved the Mushrooms. Additionally, her time knowing Ed has paid off -- Sandra has become quite the Blog Photo Food Model!!! :D

For our Main Courses, Sandra had the Suprema de Pollo, which is a Chicken Breast with stuff done to it. We probably have something like it back home, but call it something else -- it is on all the menus here. Ed Had the Cochinillo -- Baby Pig, and I -- in a surprise move -- had Ribs.

Mine came with a Baked Apple. I haven't had one of those in years, and it was fabulous. As were the Ribs. Ed & I cleared our plates, and Sandra at a normal amount of food.

I had an order of Queso Helado for Dessert. I always say that the is 'room for Queso Helado," but this night was quite trying. But I muddled through.

We all stumbled home in what felt like Food Comas. Sandra and I were going to go watch my friend's band, but neither of us could even imagine doing that.

LIMA DAY 8: Amoramar and Mas!

Friday, March 11

For Breakfast, I had the three Empanadas that I had bought the day before -- when I picked up the Delicious Chocolate Things.

Later, while I went foraging through the city, I ought a Marciano (Ice Pop to you and me). This one was Strawberry.

I was hungry, so I stopped at a random restaurant on the street. It had a bunch of customers, so I assumed it was good.

When the guy saw that I was alone, he told me to sit a table that was already being used by one woman, Sonya. I checked with her, and she was happy to let me join her. She didn't know that she was going to in the blog, but she was happy to let me take a picture.

She was eating Pollo con Mani. That's Chicken with Peanuts. Maybe it was in the Sauce.

I had a Cebiche, and then a Jalea.

The Jalea was mixed, Fried Seafood. It was very good, especially for a hole-in-the-wall joint. And especially for $7.


Sonia and I chatted for a while, and I finally went on my way.

My next stop was to meet Bertha later that afternoon. We went to a Sandwich Shop near her house, and I had a Asado Sandwich (Beef), and we both had a Cremolada.

Sandra met Ed & I for dinner when she got off of work. We went to Amoramar in Barranco. We've been there before, and it's great. But this time -- much to Sandra's concern -- there were no flowers on our table. Other tables had them, but not us. It was touch and go for a moment, but we muddled through.

They started us off with Mini-Causas and Bread.

Then something happened. We were looking at the Drink menu, and I noticed that they had Tapas on the list. Since I am always concerned that I won't get enough Food, I ordered some Tapas before the Appetizers.

From the top, there was Grilled Calamar on Chips, Grilled Octopus on Toast, and Pork Sandwiches. They decided that we needed six of them -- not sure why, maybe because they are expensive -- but they were excellent.

For our Appetizer, Ed watched Sandra and I share a Cebiche made with Mixed Seafood and Tuna.

By 'share,' I mean that she took some and I didn't pierce her hand with my fork.

For our Main Courses, I had Rice with Duck, Sandra had the Cabrito de Leche (Goat), and Ed had a Tuna Stir-Fry.

We passed on Dessert, but they brought us some mini-Brownies with the check.

That was it for the day. Good food, and I made a new friend.