We made the shift from the Pacific Northwest to Lima, Peru this week. It took a few days to juggle and shift things where we wanted them, and another couple to get ourselves south of the equator. Napping became the primary objective after we arrived because nothing is more exhausting than sitting on a plane for hours at a time. After that, the next priority was finding food.
We kinda sorta made a list of what we might want, but mostly we wanted to see what there was at the local super mercados. The stores are laid out almost the same as they are in the United States. Fresh foods up front, frozen and dairy towards the back, and aisle for sweets/snacks, the liquor tucked away by itself. Peppa Pig and other cartoon characters were slapped on kiddie food, big kids got an early dose of holiday marketing. Typical.
Some of the big brands like Frito Lay and Nestle were the parent companies for local versions of their products. Other US brands sold their stuff direct but with Spanish packaging. After that, the adventure began.
Eggs are not refrigerated down here. That’s not terribly shocking, I suppose. The farm fresh eggs I got in the states weren’t either, but it’s really a jolt to see pallets of eggs sitting out everywhere. We didn’t buy any, though I suppose I’ll get over it and scramble some for brunch in a few weeks.
The produce section had its mysteries, too. Veggies, fruits and herbs that we’d never seen before sat side by side with multiple varieties of items that you don’t see in the states. We had a choice of avocados! There’s a whole world beyond the usual Hass, people! I expected more types of potatoes, but seeing the aisles of varieties really brought it home how short-changed we are in the states. And some produce was the same, but better. Cilantro, for example, was perfumed and robust like it never is in the states.
We piled up veggies and headed for condiments.
When was the last time you bought jelly in a plastic bag? Olives? Ketchup? None of the usual suspects can be found in expected packages. That was okay with us because we’re carrying everything too and from the store ourselves and it saves weight. Maybe that’s why they package things this way down here, too. Or maybe it’s just less packaging overall. I like it and wonder why the switch can’t be made up north.
Another word about condiments — we have abandoned our usual Ketchup and mustard and will forever more douse everything in yellow hot pepper sauce. We’ve had it on potatoes, sushi, and stir fry so far. My new culinary goal is to figure out how to get a steady supply of Aji Peppers when we get back to the states.
Some things were absent or really hard to find. It took three stores before we spotted peanut butter, and the Peruvian idea of snack food doesn’t include pre-packaged tortilla chips. Diet Coke does not exist. These things aren’t hardships, just noteworthy.
And finally, serving sizes are definitely smaller here. Everything from yogurt to bread loaves were three-quarters the size you’d see in the United States. I’m not sure why that is, but it’s probably better for our waistlines if we accept the new normal.
Today we quest for coffee, which I hope is much better since we’re closer to the source. And as long as we get a good cup of coffee every day, I’m sure we’ll be alright. Cheers!