the Aracari Blog

Meet a chef with a passion for Peruvian cooking

Our friend, chef Penelope Alzamora

‘Fusion’ is an over-used word in today’s culinary world, but there is no national cuisine that can quite live up to this label as confidently as Peruvian. Take a tradition of experimentation with flavours in the villages centuries ago, add some Spanish flavours courtesy of the Conquistadors and a hint of African and Arabian influences – together with the latter day popularity of Italian, Chinese and Japanese immigrant cooking and you have a highly ‘fused’ recipe for exciting and unique dishes.

One of the most passionate exponents of Peruvian cooking today, Penelope Alzamora has recently returned to Peru after a stint in San Francisco where she taught at the celebrated Tante Marie School of Cookery. Originally trained in the States and the co-owner of the successful chain of three restaurants called Bohemia Café y Mas in Peru, Penelope has decided that the time is right to do something completely different – and this time it also involves the creative world of ceramics.

Where Penelope is passionate about cooking, her mother, Marilyn Deneumostier, is passionate about ceramics as the founder of the exclusive Jallpa Nina range of stoneware and porcelain – renowned internationally for its elegant, timeless design. Now the dynamic duo has opened up the doors of their family home set in the tranquil surroundings of the Lurin Valley near Lima to host an intimate and unique experience for groups*.

Guests tour the factory with Marilyn learning about the ancient processes of Peruvian ceramics, before enjoying a fun hands-on cooking session in the studio garden with Penelope. Here they will learn how to prepare traditional Peruvian dishes such as the famous Ceviche and infamous Pisco Sour drink before sitting down to a delicious lunch with the family. “We have such an abundance of native ingredients thanks to an amazing diversity of microclimates,” says Penelope. “The exotic fruits of the Amazon, the amazing variety of grains and potatoes from the Andes and the excellent quality of the fish and seafood from the Pacific Coast – here we are spoilt for choice.”

And while you may be spoilt for choice with the sheer number of cooking trips available in Peru these days, we hope you’ll agree that we’ve found something truly special here. To make a visit to the home of Penelope and Marilyn, please contact Ricky at directclients@aracari.com.