Peru Food Up Close: Mushrooms and Figs at Surquillo No. 1
- Giant porcini mushrooms, figs and blackberries for sale this week at Surquillo Market No. 1, Lima; photo by Barbara Drake
My eye was caught by this remarkable fresh produce for sale at the local market in Surquillo. The porcini mushrooms (“hongo funghi”) are enormous. Black figs like those on the bottom are now in season. Blackberries are rare in Peru.
Within the next year, the proletariat Mercado No. 1 will undergo a massive renovation. It is being turned into a gastronomical destination by Peruvian superchef Gaston Acurio. The same stands will be selling produce on the ground floor; the second and third floors are being transformed into a food court and cooking school.
Barbara
I am an American writer who lived in Lima for seven years (2007-2014), where I covered Andean traditions, melting glaciers and daily life in the capital for Miami Herald, MSNBC and Huffington Post. I now live and work in northern Florida where I champion climate change advocacy and compassionate, affordable eldercare.
One Comment
Miguel Fuentes
Great idea!! I hope prices stay the same. My grandparents have blackberries and strawberries in their garden, even though they are sort of uncommon in Lima 🙂