Dried fish and lime.
Archive for the ‘Belén Market’ Category
Fast food
Posted in Belén Market on September 20, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Fish Market
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on August 17, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
I’m clearing out the rest of my fish photos from Belen. These photos represent a busy morning with lots of shopping and conversing across tables full of fish. There were also turtles, which were especially gruesome to look at. Click at your own discretion.
I’m flying to Southern California after work today to spend time with family for a couple of weeks. It will be a working vacation, but I’ll have the afternoons and weekends free. I’m so looking forward to seeing everyone.
Peeler
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on August 16, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Cassava: “Bread of the Tropics”
Posted in Belén Market, Food, Peru on August 14, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
These are unprocessed cassava roots, known as yuca in Peru. Below, the yuca has been processed into powder.
Interesting notes on Cassava, from Wikipedia:
- Extensively cultivated as an annual crop in South America
- The third-largest source of carbohydrates for meals in the world
- Is toxic if not cooked properly
- The root contains significant amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C
- The leaves are a good source of protein
- First domesticated in Brazil 10,000 years ago
- It does well on poor soils and with low rainfall
- Since it can be harvested year-round, it acts as a famine reserve
- Can serve as a side-dish, cake or cereal
- Used in purées, dumplings, soups, stews, and gravies
- Boba tapioca pearls are made from cassava root
- Used to make liquor and beer
- Leaves are used to treat hypertension, headache, and pain.
Egg whites
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on August 12, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
My first morning in Iquitos, I had this delicious drink that tasted like cake batter. I love cake batter. The women in the market beat a large bowl of egg whites into fluffy cloud consistency… biceps, triceps, shoulder complex workOUT! Then they pour you a glass of half egg-white, and half tea or beer. It was so good!
My server didn’t mind me taking her photo. I asked. But the egg beater next to her was making fun of her for it, and let out a hoot and howl when I told this woman I loved the color of her lipstick juxtaposed against the blue wall. My magenta lipped lady smiled at the hoot-howl, a bit embarrassed, as I took this photo.
Sleepy Fish
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on August 11, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
If you make a broth from these fish, it will put you to sleep. Of all the fish I saw at Belen, I was most impressed with these. They were so beautiful in their fierce angles and soldier browns.
The fish in this basket were still alive.
Each pile costs a little over $1 USD.
Fish
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on August 10, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Medicine boy
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on August 9, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Spice table
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on August 8, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Belen longshot
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on July 29, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Here, I’m standing at the exit of Belen’s meat market, ready to go to the outside and check out all the fish.
In other news, Farley got bit today by a German Shepherd on our morning walk. So many people keep their dogs chained, or on roofs, or alone in their yard. In turn, the dogs turn mean and vicious. This particular dog was able to get a hold of Farley’s foot and face through the cracks in his fence. As much as I wanted to kick that dog in the teeth, I realize his aggressiveness is to due the ignorance and/or laziness of the owner. Anyway, Farley cried and cried and I gave him little hugs in the middle of the road as he held up his bleeding paw for me to look at while milking all my hugs.
Blue Bowl Honey
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on July 27, 2011 | 1 Comment »
This woman sold honey from a piece of a hive she carried around in her blue bowl. The bees were buzzing as she scooped out a spoonful of honey for me. I didn’t ask for a tester, but it was good!
Stalk pile
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on July 24, 2011 | 1 Comment »
The boy prepares the stalks and passes them to the women you see below. In turn, they pull the stalk into threads like you would string cheese. People purchase these strings and use them in salads.
I can’t remember what the stalk is called. I should have had pen and paper on me!
Gloomy
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on July 21, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
The market was organized by meat: chicken at the entrance, cow when you enter, pig on the upper level, and all types of fish, turtle, & crocodile outside. Some of the ladies asked if I wanted to try bull’s blood… pass. In fact: pass on all of it these days except for fish.
Wrapped lunch
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on July 20, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Cooked chicken is mixed with rice and then wrapped in giant leaves to provide an inexpensive delicious, portable meal. You can see Spice Lady eating her unwrapped meal below.
Spice Lady
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on July 18, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Larva
Posted in Belén Market, Peru on July 16, 2011 | 1 Comment »
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. Larva is Latin for “ghost.” ~Wikipedia
The first morning I was in Iquitos, the driver who had picked me up at the airport in his rickshaw gave me a gastronomical tour of the City’s open-air market. I learned that larva is eaten for bronchitis and applied for wound therapy. He ensured me that even children gooble up larva, live and cooked.
And I thought chopped garlic and honey was hard to swallow as a kid!
Wiggling larvae.
Banana Load
Posted in Belén Market, Peru, tagged Vignette on July 15, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
