Demonstrating that regional gastronomy is a decisive factor in national and international travel, PROMPERÚ announced that the Bicentennial edition of the "Perú Mucho Gusto" gastronomic fair held from July 26 to 28 in Parque Perú in Tacna brought together more than 85 thousand national and international visitors.
Of the total number of attendees, more than 8,000 were foreign tourists from Chile, Colombia, Argentina and Bolivia, who enjoyed regional delicacies from the coast, mountains and jungle of Peru. This marks a new milestone, making this edition of “Perú Mucho Gusto” the most popular and successful since its creation.
“We are very grateful for the great turnout we have achieved in this edition. We have almost doubled the estimated projections and more than half of the exhibitors sold out their portions and products within a few hours of the third day of the fair; others even on the second day. In addition, we have received visits from foreign tourists and visitors from neighboring regions such as Moquegua and Arequipa,” said Claricia Tirado Diaz, executive president of PROMPERÚ.
The public's favorites
On the last day of the fair, the traditional awards were given for the Most Popular Dish, Tradition, Innovation and Development of Gastronomic Tourism.
The pork ribs in wine in a Chinese box from the “Restaurante Ochoa” (Tacna) was chosen as the favorite of the diners, who formed long queues to try the exquisite dish. Meanwhile, the Innovation award was given to the Tacna chef Juan Marcos Gonzales Maquiavelo for his innovative proposals such as the Tacna-style pork belly marinade or the Tacna-style trout in olive oil, succulent dishes that mix traditional Tacna cuisine techniques with contemporary techniques.
The Tradition Award went to “Amazonas Restaurant” for its regional stew, where yuca, mote, beans and misto come together in a special way, demonstrating that the mountains and jungle can coexist in the same dish. The Rubio Chauca family has preserved the preparation of this delicacy for generations, making it known through their restaurant.
Finally, the recognition for the development of Gastronomic Tourism went to “El Corsario Cevichería” from Ilo (Moquegua region) for its delicious powerful ceviche, a dish that harmoniously combines a humble ingredient like horse mackerel and sophisticated ingredients like sea urchins. El Corsario’s gastronomic offering has made it a must-see during a visit to the city of Ilo.
Bicentennial edition
The “Perú Mucho Gusto” fair in Tacna was held within the framework of the national holidays, so the public was able to enjoy a varied program with elements and components associated with the national anniversary and Junín and Ayacucho, invited regions that celebrate this 2024 the consolidation of their independence.
In addition, for the first time there was a Bakery Zone, giving space to regional bakers who displayed products made with local ingredients. Another space that was very well received was the Show Cooking zone or gastronomic demonstrations, which allowed for master classes on bread making, ceviche preparation, pisco and coffee tastings, and a batanes contest to prepare the best ocopa.
Additional information
This is the seventh edition held in the heroic city. The last edition in Tacna was in 2023 and was attended by 45,000 people.
The event was organized by Mincetur, through PROMPERÚ, and was sponsored by Latam Airlines.
The next edition of the “Perú Mucho Gusto” fair will be held from October 31 to November 3 on the Explanada de la Costa Verde in Magdalena del Mar, Lima.
Source: PROMPERÚ.