LIMA DAY 3: Poor Duck, Lucky Us. Amamos Pato

Sunday, May 7, 2017

"Poor duck, lucky us. Amamos Pato." So says my friend, Bertha. She's right... we do love Duck.

And there's some Duck. We will get to it in a bit.

Sunday is as laid back as it gets around here. Most of the Coffee shops aren't open, but News Cafe is. I had a Latte, and even though I wanted an Empanada, I let the guy talk me into a Sandwich.

After that, I headed to Central Park, found a tree that had both shade and the perfect spot to sit, and I read for an hour. Absolutely delightful.

After taking a nap, I realized that I had been in town for almost two full days, and had not yet had any Duck. I knew that the fancy places were waiting to feed me, but I didn't feel like dealing with Tuxedo Guys on such a chill day.

I decided to ask around. I sent messages to a few friends, asking for a Duck recommendation at a place I didn't know. My amiga Deisi came through, and suggested that I go to Mi Tradicion.

So I hop in a taxi at around 4 pm. This place is a two blocks further than Saturday's restaurant... hell & creation plus 2. It's a neighborhood joint, and they wouldn't know a Tuxedo if a penguin walked in wearing one. But the food was good.

I started with a Rocoto Relleno (Stuffed Hot Pepper), and followed it up with Arroz con Pato... Rice with Duck.

While I was eating it, I realized that the Rocoto Relleno is the George Harrison of the Peruvian Food World -- A star in it's own right, but dwarfed by the bigger stars that it hangs out with, most notably, Ceviche and Lomo Saltado. If Rocoto Rellenos came from Colombia, for example, it would be the National Meal, and probably would wind up on the country's flag. But here, it is often an afterthought.

Both dishes were delicious. I could have walked to Panchita and eaten the same thing there. It would have cost more, but I would have gotten more Duck (what they gave me at Mi Tradicion was plenty). And I wouldn't have had to take a taxi both ways; that could have offset the extra cost. Basically, I went there to try somewhere different (I might have been their first American ever) and besides, I am gong to Panchita (with three women!) on Monday.

I usually pass on Dessert, but this place makes Picarones to order.

They are like Donuts, only different. And the mess of them cost less than $2. I had three, showing great restraint.

I passed on Dinner... I was full.

That Empanada I didn't get for Breakfast? The man who manages my apartment left me a 'welcome Empanada' in my refrigerator. I nuked it and wolfed that down at 1:00 in the morning.