¿Cuy?

Last weekend we went out to eat at the well-known and highly recommended restaurant Tradición Arequipeña, and for the first time we tried Arequipa's famous Cuy Chactado. There would be nothing too absurd about fried guinea pig, but for the way it is served. The picture should give you a good idea - just dig into the little fella with both hands, pulling him limb from limb and trying to get some meat out to enjoy with the crunchy seasoned skin. I realize that this is exactly what you do when eating, say, chicken, but there's something slightly less appetizing about recognizing the various body parts as part of a whole creature, even as it stares woefully back at you. I have to admit, though, he tasted quite good. Thankfully we didn't know about the Arequipeño way to finish the meal, which a teacher told us later - open the head, eat the brain, and play a drinking game with a tiny ear bone. ¡Buen provecho!

Doesn't that look good?

Laura, unsure about eating a leg, claws and all