Trekking is a major component of Peru’s tourism industry. As Julio pointed out, becoming a guide takes years of experience and education, usually involving working your way up from porter/horse wrangler to assistant chef/guide to chef/guide.
Jesus was our “chef” and while his culinary creations were amazing, the remote, often dark and primitive cociñas where he made our breakfasts, lunches and dinners rank him as a culinary genius! Plus, he’d pack his kitchen and pass us along the trail, headed to our next meal!
Granted, cold exertion creates massive appetites, but his offerings were too special Not to enjoy! And they are specifically catered to utilize local ingredients (less to pack) and satisfy the body’s needs based on the prior or pending Trail characteristics.
Jesus is also Quechuan, and his conversations with Julio were obviously animated and often hilarious, like apparently his jibes for us not bringing fish for supper that evening…seems word got down the trail that we’d stop to wet a line. As Julio shrugged about our empty creel, Julio rolled his eyes and went back to work.
He’s also a little shy and prolly not used to having a gringo lingering about his kitchen, pointing and asking questions in bad Spanish, and generally being in the way.
But after a few days he realized I’m just a hands-on guy, Happy to return with dirty dishes or carry out the next course. Even willing to wash dishes and help with 05:00 coffee making (no surprise there!). He always made way more than we could consume and I convinced Julio to tell Jesus how much we appreciated all he did and it wasn’t a reflection on his work!
Buying cold beers that evening to share with Julio, Jesus and his son Randall on his first trek as asst chef (for his Dad!!!), finally cracked the ice. Can’t say we “talked” much, but the fondness and appreciation for each other was clearly communicated. Jesus even smiled!
The next morning I stood in the tiny cociña with my headlamp towering over him so he could see his food prep since his headlamp batteries had died…he even smiled and thanked me then!
Just a few photos of his work-pretty fancy looking, but simply amazing to eat too!
Can honestly say I’ll miss Jesus’ gruff demeanor around the kitchen but slight glimpses of pride for appreciation of his work. Feel like his twinkling eyes and crinkle of a smile concealed volumes of knowledge about local foodstuffs and therapeutic eating.
Despite hiking 40 miles, may have actually gained weight on the trek! And always appreciated the ready hot coffee each morning, as well as the loads of fiber to digest from the evening before! Crucial to enjoying long days on the trail…
No comments:
Post a Comment