LIMA DAY 12: Breakfast(s)

Yes, that's beautiful airplane food. Go figure.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

So my plane was at noon. Working backwards, I had to be in a taxi by 8 am.

I planned ahead and purchased a Juanes in the supermarket the day before. I had it for Pre-Breakfast

If you think that looks like a Banana Leaf wrapped around something, you're right. That's how they make Rice and Chicken in the jungle down in Peru. They will prepare it and Boil it when they are ready to serve. Me... I put it in the Microwave (it was 7 in the morning, after all).

 

 

It was good, and certainly more than I had a right to expect at 7:00 am. I am sure it would be better in a real restaurant.

There were no big crowds at the airport, so I got through all the lines quickly and had time to have my Real Breakfast at Tanta. Since it was my Farewell Breakfast, I ordered two Peruvian Classics: Rocoto Relleno and Pastel de Choclo.

 

The Stuffed Pepper was fabulous. I don't think I've ever had a bad Rocoto Relleno. I think that I ordered Tanta's Pastel last time, and I wasn't a fan of it then... that remains unchanged.

Airplanes stock their food at the point of departure, so it shouldn't have been a surprise that Post-Breakfast was both pretty and tasty. Peruvian Food is, well, Peruvian Food.

This was Smoked Trout slices, with something that they said was 'cream' and tri-color Quinoa. And they tossed in a Chocolate Teja for good measure for Dessert. So my final South-of-the-Equator Meal was a very good Bonus Breakfast.

That was it for this trip. Thanks for reading - sorry about the delay on the last few days.

When I got home, Ernie was happy to see me!

LIMA DAY 11: Last Night in Lima

Even in South America, it's All About the []_[]

Monday, March 19, 2018

For Lunch, I went to the real Sofa Cafe (they are all real, but I went to this one first, so it is the most real to me) in Barranco. I had a Latte and a Lomo Saltado Sandwich.

I had a reservation for my Farewell Dinner at Panchita. My favorite Restaurant. My friend Mel was back from her vacation, so she came with me for her first time there.

After we got settled with drinks and Bread, I ordered the Octopus on a Stick as an Appetizer and let Mel and Carlos (my personal waiter 😎) negotiate the rest of the Meal.

 

But first, the Octopus. Since I was with a date, they de-sticked it for us.

 

They decided on Aji de Gallina - a Peruvian classic with shredded Chicken in a not-too-spicy Pepper Sauce and some other Dish (I am not even sure if it is on the menu) that had some Chicken, some Pork, some Papa a la Huancaina and Giant Mutant Corn in some sort of Sauce.

 

 

For Dessert, I had to explain to Mel that "there's always room for Queso Helado." She was dubious, but it turned out to be true. Maybe Queso Helado isn't as famous as I think it is... Mel was not the first of my Peruvian friends to have never tried it before.

That was it for the day. Tomorrow is my trip home, but I managed to fit some eating in before crossing the equator.

LIMA DAY 10: A Little of Everything :)

So if that isn't the most beautiful Strawberries, Heavy Cream and Pastry thing ever, than I don't know what is.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

I woke up Sunday morning, and headed to a different location of Sofa Cafe, this one in San Borja. I knew that their Barranco site had comfy chairs, so I was feeling good about my chance here. I wasn't disappointed.

I ordered a Latte (big cup!) and their Stuffed Waffles.

The Coffee was great, but I think I should leave the American Food to the Americans. Somehow, we are experts at putting an Egg, Ham and Bacon between some Waffles in ways that South Americans could never master.

Since it was Sunday, I found a tree in a park, and read for a while.

Later on in the day, I went for a Sauna and massage. After, I wandered and ate. First stop, diorectly across the street, a Bakery:

 

 

 

So I had a Chocolate Pear Cake - that's Pears between the two white stripes of Cream. And to drink, a Pineapple Cremolada. That's basically a Fruit Slurpee, but made with real Fruit.

After walking a hot four blocks, I next found a random Chinese restaurant, where I had (for some crazy reason), the hottest Bowl of Wonton Soup in history (right in the middle of Summer). You can see the smoke in the Video.

 

Later, Ed and I met up to gamble, Eat, and gamble. I took him (for his first time) to El Bodegon. This is rapidly becoming a favorite place of mine, and -- sadly for me -- many tourists. There was a glowing article in the New York Times about the place recently, and you will usually hear more of other languages than Spanish, especially at night. For lunch, you get a large local crowd of office workers.

Ed and I split four Dishes:

 

 

From the top, we have Rice with Pork, a Mystery Dish (seriously, I am looking at the photo, and I checked their Menu, and I have absolutely no clue what this is), Grilled Octopus, and a Lomo Saltado.

The Rice with Pork was outstanding (I saw it at the table next to me the week before), I am certain the we loved the Mystery Dish, the Octopus was good, but doesn't live up to Panchita's standards, and the Lomo Saltado was excellent. Ed orders this most places, and although it wasn't as good as the one at Fiesta the other night, he said, it was pretty darn good, and half the price.

We were too full for Dessert until we saw some of the things coming out of the Kitchen. I have been there six times now, and have never had room for Dessert. But, troopers that we are, we ordered the Strawberry and Cream thing.

I am sure that it has a name, and it probably isn't Beautiful and Delicious, but it should be.

That was it. After that, off to the casinos to help pump up Peru's economy.