Guinea Pig Food Festival Peru

Also there are local festivals which are even more important.

Guinea pig food festival peru. Eating cuy is such a tradition in fact an estimated 65 million guinea pigs are consumed annually in peru that there are festivals celebrating the humble beast with contests for the best dressed largest and of course best tasting guinea pig. Today this tiny animal has a special day on the list of national holidays in peru. They are served pretty much as a fish would be served often only the intestines are removed. Hundreds of stands line up and there s food as far as the eye can see and as far as the nose can smell.

Cuy dishes form part of the novoandina new andean cuisine movement but most regions in peru will have their own recipe. Between the period of july and november many villages and cities across the country commemorate guinea pigs. Cuy guinea pig lomo saltado ají de gallina and papa a la huancaína. That s a lot of guinea pig.

Most people see them as fluffy adorable pets but in peru guinea pigs or cuy as they are known locally are a delicacy. These dishes present not only a wide range of tastes but also peru s geographical regions. In fact an estimated 65 million guinea pigs are consumed annually in peru. The peruvian guinea pig dish cuy is mostly served on special occasions rather than as a meal eaten regularly but is readily available for adventurous tourists to try in restaurants or at different food stalls.

On the second friday of october the country celebrates national guinea pig day. There s now even an annual festival in the town of huacho where guinea pigs are dressed up and judged in various categories including fattest and best dressed there s even a fashion show. A banner promoting helado de cuy or guinea pig ice cream is put up in quito ecuador the rodents are a traditional hot dish in countries like colombia peru and bolivia. Guinea pig cuy is a delicacy that is very typically associated with typical peruvian cuisine but it is also eaten throughout other countries of south america such as ecuador colombia and bolivia.

Diego oka executive chef at la mar gaston acurio s miami restaurant served up guinea pig at the restaurant for peruvian independence day. Guinea pigs bred for food are eaten once they have reached a couple of months old. You ll see the classics. Guinea pig festival in peru the one day festival includes an animal show and a food and fashion contest which features the guinea pig native to the andes advertisement.

Media caption inside a guinea pig farm.