Our Overseas Adventure Travel guide Salvador Torres, facilitated an intimate home-hosted lunch with a gracious, friendly, family. We had Andean quinoa soup, stuffed peppers, and rice. We even had a chance to help the family members prepare the stuffed peppers. It was festive and joyful. The main course was a Peruvian staple: roasted guinea pig. Before we sat down to eat. Aiden came around the table and personally said hello and shook our hands. I was impressed beyond measure.
Known for trying new things, Gordon Ramsey told his National Geographic Show audience, “You don’t know what you’re missing, after tasting a loin cut of guinea pig meat…I’m telling you it’s delicious "
Peru, the ancient heart of the great Inca Empire, is a country with an amazing history. Guinea pigs are not pigs and they don’t come from Guinea. Peruvians don’t keep them as pets. What they are is a delicious delicacy. Guinea pig has been served whole on special occasions since Inca times. The meat is low in fat but high in protein, perfect for people enjoying being on a Paleo diet. My intent is not to lobby for inclusion of guinea pigs in the American diet, but to share a cultural experience and affirm, “When in Rome…”
When dinner ended, one of our group, named Clare gifted two maps: National and International map to Aiden for school. All of us announced where we live, and pointed to it on the map. Clare also gave Aria some colorful gifts and Aria she spontaneously gave Clare a kiss on her cheek. I handed Mercedes, the matriarch of the family a gift from Jason and I.
