Peru (Gastón Acurio)

Product Info

Physically, this is what I expect from a Phaidon book: beautifully presented, with bookmarks, with multicolored paper and beautiful photos. Between the covers, the author presents many, many aspects of his country’s culture.  He notes that Peru “has more than eighty different climates,” which have enabled the farmers to “domesticate an enormous variety of products that today are enjoyed by the entire world.” Acurio points out that Peru’s food history goes back over 5,000 years and, in the last 500, has experienced immigrants from Japan, China, Africa, Spain, Italy and the Arab world, all leaving a mark on their culture and their food. The book begins with ceviche as a 40-page chapter. It covers street food along the way; 40 pages of soups; as well as basic recipes. A 400+ page introduction to Peru awaits a new owner.