Mistura is probably my favorite cultural event that I have attended here in Lima. Mistura is the annual festival that showcases Peruvian cuisine. It takes place on La Costa Verde (Lima’s coast), in San Isidro, and the entrance fee was really reasonable with a student discount (S./ 16, or like $5). As I’ve mentioned before, Peru is famous for its unique gastronomy, and it was a lot of fun trying popular dishes from around the country.
The festival had hundreds of vendors, each categorized and placed in different tents—los de las brasas (barbecue), los regionales (regional foods), los del mar (seafood), los tradicionales (traditional foods), los dulceros y los chocolates (sweets and chocolates)—you name it, there was a tent for it. I went with two Americans and a Peruvian, which was great since he could explain each dish to us. We tried chaufa de la selva (fried rice from the jungle), pollo a la brasa (a popular rotisserie chicken), ceviche (VERY popular raw fish dish!), and more. Eventually, we ended up in the dessert tent where we spent a whole hour. We had arroz con leche (rice with milk), queso helado (cheese ice cream, from Arequipa–picture below!), dulces limeños (a famous dessert from Lima), and so much more.
I’ve also been to two reggae concerts while here, which is funny since I’ve never been to one in the States. Both times I went in Barranco, the “hipster” district of Lima. Reggae is really popular here, and both concerts had a full crowd. Last night I saw Laguna Pai, one of the more popular bands in Peru, for the grand total of $9.37. Most people in the audience were in their twenties, and the atmosphere was really laid back. After the show, members of the band stepped off the step to chat with fans and take photos. Like back home, smaller venues almost always produce better shows.
