Frying up a Peruvian storm

Rarely have I wondered what the kitchen of a Peruvian restaurant resembles. And even more scarcely have I imagined myself in one, chopping potatoes, scrubbing bowls and churning soup. Well, yesterday, all my unimagined dreams came true. The children's home I am working for recently opened a small cafe in an attempt to provide some steady revenue for their project. A few volunteers assist daily in the kitchen, to boost the desired success of the restaurant.



Sopita for all.

Poor Peru. Any one who has ever been in a kitchen with me knows how dangerous that situation can be. My last encounter with my home microwave was a little too ablaze for its liking. I was making cookies but the butter was rockhard-- ergo why not zap it a few seconds to melt it a little? Turns out the aluminium foil covering said butter didn't respond too well... but the fire was small and easily extinguished. I miraculously avoided any major faux-pas in this restaurant. I did however spill a little chicha-- a sweet, corn-based, purple drink-- in the green soup. Thankfully the purple quickly dissolved and no complaints floated back to the kitchen. It was actually quite a tiring afternoon, as speed and efficiency are constantly required, but still quite fun.

Later, I and another volunteer were on duty to cook up a succulent dinner for the dozen other volunteers. As good Peruvians, we headed to the market to secure the fresh ingredients required-- namely avocado for my "specialty," guacamole. "Aguacate" was the word used for avocados in Ecuador, but got me nowhere here. We spent about 10 minutes trying to explain what vegetable we were seeking. I picked up eggplant to vaguely indicate the shape, kept pointing at lettuce for the colour... eventually half the women in the market had gathered in a kind attempt to guide us on our quest. And then, at last, in a corner: avocados! Or palta, as I now will never ever forget.



No avocadoes yet.

As you may have gathered, it was a day placed under the cooking Gods, which aided me in my so-far unaccomplished New Year's resolution of learning how to cook.