Finishing the shopping

We tried a couple of different varieties of locally made 70% cocoa solids chocolate.  The one flavoured with lucuma was very good, but our favourite was one that had salty, sweet, and chilli notes.  Something else to buy for the truck!

Our last stop in the market was to buy vegetables.  Alvero showed us some of the 3000 varieties of Peruvian potatoes and also got those who were brave enough (including Mark!) to try tiny, extremely hot, round chillies.  He told us how to remove the heat from chillies but retain the flavour by boiling them first.  It was all fascinating.  I need to do a lot more research and experimenting!

From the market, we walked a few blocks to Alvero's very well-equipped and impressive cooking studio, passing Mark's Barber Shop on the way!  Once there, we met Alvero's two kitchen assistants, were given aprons, washed our hands, and made ourselves comfortable at the workstation.Read more