Copy of IMG-20180622-WA0062.jpg — TTLT founder, Annie cheng sim, with chef nacho in peru

Encircled by the Andes Mountains in Peru, in the heart of what once was the Incan Empire, sits the Sacred Valley of the Incas, or the Urubamba Valley.

On our 9-day Taste of Peru trip, we spend our first few nights in the country at an adorable boutique hotel nestled in this valley. Because the altitude is quite high here at 9,500 feet above sea level (still not as high as the city of Cusco at 11,000 feet), we start slowly here for a couple days as we adjust to the altitude (for reference: Seattle is only 152 feet above sea level, and altitude sickness can kick in after 2,500 feet).

A visit with Chef Nacho is one of our first activities at this hotel, and he undoubtedly leaves a mark on our travelers & guests. As the resident chef, Chef Nacho not only makes exquisite dinners for our travelers when we visit, but also hosts Peruvian cuisine cooking classes in his kitchen for our small groups.

During the trips, we get treated to a "behind the scenes" chef's dinner in the restaurant's kitchen where we watch Chef Nacho calmly and patiently guide us on how to make certain dishes, meanwhile keeping an eye on all the cooks in the kitchen (literally) as they whiz around concocting local specialties for the diners in the restaurant.

Over the years, our friendship with Chef Nacho has grown over the mutual love of Mexico City, his Frida Kahlo apron, and his doggos running circles around each of us. Nacho brings a liveliness (and delicious eats!) to our first few days in Peru, just like he does in our virtual classes.

Without the ability to work when COVID-19 closed borders for Peru, he adapted to online cooking classes quickly, which he says, “allowed us to have a minimum income to survive, since we cannot work and therefore don’t have a salary.”

“What I like the most with the classes,” he continues, “is interacting with the participants and being able to continue sharing Peruvian cuisine, which is so varied and rich, with gastronomic cultural wealth.”

Market in Urubamba where Chef Nacho buys his ingredients

Chef Nacho during the TTLT Taste of Peru cooking class

Chef Nacho’s classes have become a sought after staple in the repertoire of live cooking classes we offer because of this rich variety of flavors and also his fun stories shared throughout class, not to mention the surprise appearance of his dogs, or his “lazy kids” as he calls them. So far he has taught over 100 classes with us since April 2020 when he joined the TTLT team, with some of the favorites being empanadas and lomo saltado (Peruvian Stir Fry).

This spring, Chef Nacho will be bringing back the intricate flavor combinations with a causa and ceviche combo class. Causa rellena remains an iconic Peruvian dish centering on potatoes. Did you know that Peru has more than 4,000 varieties of native grown potatoes, including a range of colors like blue, pink, and bright purple?

Causa, referring to the yellow potatoes used (papa amarilla in Peru), can be said to originate from the Quechuan word kausay, which means “gives life.” However, the origins of the word causa can vary. One version says that in 1879 during the Pacific War when Chile fought against Peru and Bolivia, women collected potatoes to help feed the soldiers since food was so hard to get in cities. The meal was prepared “for the cause,” therefore causa. A layered dish of potatoes, fresh seafood, and avocado and bursting with bright flavors such as lime, aji amarillo paste, and cilantro, causa rellena is a must to make.

Alongside this dish, Chef Nacho will also prepare ceviche - also known as “cebiche, seviche, or sebiche” - a seafood dish declared such an integral part of the country’s national heritage that it even has a holiday in its honor on June 28th!

Ceviche is marinated fresh raw fish that has been cured in fresh citrus juices, alongside onions, garlic, cilantro, chilis, and salt and pepper. Local and regional flavors get added to customize it, so in this class Chef Nacho will prepare his favorite recipe with everyone. Try it for yourself to see how amazing it is!!