THE CHEF HAS BEEN ON A DECADES-LONG MISSION TO LURE TRAVELERS TO PERU.

Every community in Peru is built around three central locations: the church, the plaza, and the local mercado. The market is sacred in its own right—an integral part of everyday life where vendors peddle everything from scaled cherimoya fruit and football-shaped cacao pods to quinoa by the pound; or slide steaming plates of paella-like arroz con mariscos and freshly tossed ceviche over counters to lines of hungry customers. Many of these vendors have devout followings; their stalls might bear their names or display their portraits. Walk through enough of these markets, however, and you’ll start to notice the same man pictured at their side: Gastón Acurio, Peru’s most famous chef. [ Read more…]

Source: Condé Nast Traveler, May 6, 2019 by Megan Spurrell