One of the biggest reasons why I like to travel is the opportunity to try new foods. I wasn’t always like this, though. When I was around your age, I was an extremely picky eater. There were only a few foods that I liked, such as bread, pasta, eggs and beans. I was even a vegetarian -- mostly because I hated the texture of meat. As I grew up, I slowly began to try more and more foods. Over time, I got used to eating dishes that were out of my comfort zone until, eventually, I ate almost everything. Today, I’d call myself an adventurous eater. Wherever I go, I make an effort to eat the most popular local dishes. This has extended to my time here in Peru.
I tried cuy [koo-ee] or guinea pig!
In the mountains of Peru, cuy is a very common dish. This might seem strange because, in the U.S., guinea pigs are pets. However, in Peru, guinea pigs are food! They’re typically a speciality dish that people make specifically for celebrations, like birthdays or anniversaries.
The first time that I tried cuy, I was very uncomfortable. Rather than eating a cut of meat, the whole guinea pig is served on a plate; so, you can see the head, legs and even its toes! I stared at the meal for at least a couple minutes before I worked up the courage to take a bite.
