SNACKS

All over Peru, but particularly in the large towns and cities, you’ll find a good variety of traditional fast foods and snacks such as salchipapas (fries with sliced sausage covered in various sauces), anticuchos (a shish kebab made from marinated lamb or beef heart) and empanadas (meat- or cheese-filled pies). These are all sold on street corners until late at night. Even in the villages you’ll find cafés and restaurants which double as bars, staying open all day and serving anything from coffee with bread to steak and fries or lobster. The most popular sweets in Peru are made from either manjar blanco (sweetened condensed milk) or fresh fruits.
In general, the market is always a good place to head for – you can buy food ready to eat on the spot or to take away and prepare, and the range and prices are better than in any shop. Most food prices are fixed, but the vendor may throw in an orange, a bit of garlic, or some coriander leaves for good measure. Markets are the best places to stock up for a trek, for a picnic, or if you just want to eat cheaply. Smoked meat, which can be sliced up and used like salami, is normally a good buy.