Win Peru News Today

We knew about other communites in the highlands of south america, like machu picchu in peru, but it was believed until this point that people only lived nomadically or in tiny settlements in the amazon. and this is older than any other site we know of in the amazon. lets speak to stephen rostain, director of research at the cnrs national center for scientific research. thank you for being with us. why has it been undiscovered for so long? because nobody was looking out there, its a part of ecuad...

>> coque: the -- the street food in peru is starting to disappear, really disappear, yeah. >> anthony: really? why? >> coque: because, you know, the neighbors, they -- >> anthony: oh, the neighbors complain? >> coque: complain. >> anthony: our friend coque brought us to this place. [ coque speaking spanish ] >> anthony: to dona pochita, a street stall named for the lady who runs the joint. [ coque speaking spanish ] [ anthony laughs ] >> anthony: they specialize in one thing. >> coque: beef hear...

Locals escape by hanging out at the beach. and why not when you can and maybe get a tattoo while youre at it. is that sanitary? ♪ youve been here before. >> eric: oh yeah, man. >> anthony: i take erics suggestion, and we head over to see chef javier wong, uniquely nonconformist seafood specialist, famous for his incredible and uncompromising ceviches and his flaming wok. if peru has a national dish, its probably ceviche. the freshest fish only needs the right cut, a little citrus, and no heat.

>> eric: yeah. >> anthony: and which is pretty much what were here to look at. >> eric: yes, absolutely. >> anthony: where, where, where it comes from, whats involved. eric ate some of chriss chocolate, heard about these wild cacao trees he was sourcing from in peru, and promptly got me involved in this designer chocolate bar business. im rather famously a guy that i dont really -- i never really gave a -- about desserts. you, on the other hand, you, you are -- you eat chocolate every day. >> er...

So thats why were in peru. but before we get all indiana jones, were spending some time in lima, as we like the capital city just fine. and we have, both of us, from previous trips, friends here. lima is the cultural hub and culinary capital of a country that has exploded in the last decade with scores of world-class chefs, cooks, and restaurants. it has long been considered to be one of the best food scenes in all of south america. lets do it. >> eric: how far away is the house? >> coque: thats...

Tony and world-renowned chef Eric Ripert, explore the far reaches of indigenous Andes, from hip, modern Lima back in time into pre-Columbian Peru in search of...

Test. test. test. test im in the cannon of peru with my friend and chocolate bars, chef eric, were end treated by the ultra rare all white beans we heard about. we set up a meeting with another farmer elsewhere in the valley. >> we thought it would be a nice gesture given all the high test culinary talent between he is to make him and his family dinner in return for his hospitality. >> what are you thinking. >> we were there, a lot of -- butter fly margin in anied grill, which would be nice to...

>> anthony: takes in flavor from the leaf, too. >> pedro: and here we have, uh, paiche. its the second biggest freshwater fish in the world. underneath, you have a puree of aguaje that is a palm fruit, and the sauce is a reduction of fermented wild mandioca yucca. >> eric: fermented. >> pedro: yeah, this is, how you say, toxic or, uh -- >> anthony: or poisonous, yeah. >> pedro: poisonous. >> anthony: yeah. >> pedro: yeah, so they let it ferment and it becomes -- uh, you can eat it. >> anthony: t...

Cilantro, uh, but its long leaves and its -- >> anthony: uh-huh. >> eric: -- much more powerful in flavor. >> anthony: it would be wrong to not point out that peru, along with brazil, is at the forefront of a movement celebrating the incredible and unique larder of ingredients from the andes and the amazon. flavors you find no place else on earth. there seems to be a lot of interest in the last decade in the amazon because its an amazing -- >> pedro: and youre right. >> anthony: -- spectrum of e...

Youre not loving that, are you? >> eric: no. >> anthony: imagine you took a lot of acid and then you ate that whole bowl of ants, and then you go home and you experience violent diarrhea. and, like, youre tripping and its like, 4:00 in the morning, and you turn around and you look at the toilet and like, all these ant heads floating around in there. itd be cool. >> eric: yeah, it would be super cool, tony. i cant wait. [ anthony laughs ] >> anthony: so now that weve confirmed what we already kne...