Eating Guinea Pig in Peru

By Jonny Blair

Travelling means trying new and random foods. One such food was Guinea pig in Peru! Just one of countless meals over the years. Guinea Pig is known as Cui in Peru.

With the Inca Trail behind me and having just seen the lost Inca City of Machu Picchu, it was time to relax in the town of Aguas Calientes in Peru. Everyone was in awe of the surroundings and we made plans to meet at Chaski restaurant for lunch at 3pm. I was going to be hungry and was thinking of trying something local.

When I was growing up our annual Christmas dinner was always of high importance. Like a highlight of the year. On this day I found a church in Aguas Calientes for lunch and after that it was time to head to the Peruvian restaurant for Christmas Dinner.

I had never tried Guinea Pig before and was set on it. Peru and Ecuador are the best places in the world to try Guinea Pig. I am adventurous in ordering and trying new food. However I must admit, if I don't like something, I won't finish it just for the sake of it.

There were a couple of options with the Guinea Pig Christmas Dinner. The choices were either Cuy Al Horno which is Roasted Guinea Pig. This comes with potatoes, cheese and salad. There is also the option of Pepian de Cuy which is Stewed Guinea Pig and that one is topped with peanut sauce and comes with rice and spuds. The price of them both was 55 Soles. I went for the Roasted option as I like cheese. It was nice to be having potatoes on Christmas Day.

And soon my roasted guinea pig was here and ready to be eaten. Our table raised a toast to completing the Inca Trail and we all ate and drank to our hearts content.

OK so I tried the roasted guinea pig, but how was it? Well I really will try anything once, but I will not always try anything twice. It was nice and a good feed for my Christmas dinner but it's not the sort of thing I would want to eat regularly. It was well cooked and if I had to compare it - I'd say it tasted a bit like chicken. The meat is hard to find, especially in big chunks and you have to pick at the bones. But I did it and I almost finished it. It was then time for a few more celebratory beers after completing the Inca Trail. If you are in Peru, the guinea pig is worth a try. It might be your only chance!

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To find more articles like Eating Roasted Guinea Pig head to Jonny Blair's worldwide travel, work and lifestyle website called Dont Stop Living for regular travel features and advice.