On Sunday morning we explored the Southern Valley of Cusco beginning with a bus ride to Oropesa. This small town is known for a special eucalyptus-scented spongy-like bread called pan chuta, made in loaves as a big as a wheel and traditionally offered as a gift to the host when visiting a home in the Cusco area. We visited a small bakery operated by an innovative award-winning baker.
She gave us an introduction to how she goes about making her bread and told us that everything is fresh and natural and is baked in their domed adobe oven. We had the opportunity to ask her questions with help of our guide Salvador who translated. She told us she has been baking since she was ten years old. In spite of the fact she works long hours everyday, she said she loves her work.
She demonstrated how she also makes bread for children on special occasions and adds a doll like figure to her creations (i.e., a doll for a girl and a horse for boy, though these days motorbikes area becoming more popular. She often is asked to add the child’s name on the bread and used my name as an example. Before leaving, a photo was taken of me and the baker, and another was taken of Saundra and the baker, where they switched hats.
Saundra, who used to live in California is a Jersey girl who used to live in the same town of Hoboken, NJ as I did as a kid. The baker gave our guide two breads for us to share on our way back.
