Events You Can’t Miss at Mistura, Peru!

Peru's largest food festival, Mistura, will be descending upon the coastal Miraflores district of Lima, Peru this weekend, kicking off September 4th and stretching until September 14th. With so much ground to cover, 200 participating restaurants, 9 days, and worlds of food to discover, we're hitting the ground hungry! Here's the rundown. And if you happen to see founding editor Marie Elena Martinez (@mariesworlds), say hi! 

So there are four basic parts to Mistura: the events, the attractions, El Gran Mercado, and 12 "worlds" to check out. Here are the happenings that we've got our eyes on. 

The Events 

Mistura will be hosting forums, discussions, demos, and of course plenty of parties. We're excited for:

• September 4, Forum: Heirs of the Kitchen with Carlos Petrini
• September 8, Hunting and Fishing in the Jungle 
• September 8, Keynote Lecture with José Luján on ancient Cusco
• September 9, The Magic of Pisco
• September 10, Forum: Peruvian cuisine to 2021 with Piero Ghezzi, Mirko Lauer, Virgilio Martínez, and Mariana Valderrama
• September 11, Keynote Lecture: Discovering Amazon Flavors with Paulo Machado and Pedro Miguel Schiaffino
• September 13, Keynote Lecture: Chocolate / Healthy Pleasure with Giovanna Maggiol

The Attractions

There are three main attractions to check out at Mistura: the Bazaar, the Children's World, and the World of Beer. At the Bazaar you'll find all the cool gadgets and toys you've ever wanted in your kitchen as well as edible gifts to take home. Load up on the alfajores! At the Children's World, you can teach your little one about biodiversity, sustainability, and global cuisine. Through interactive games, they'll be able to learn about why they're there and hopefully, become lifelong return visitors. Finally, there's the World of Beer. Here, visitors can learn about the history of beer in Peru, attend cooking classes with sommeliers, and of course, try craft brands. There will also be live music every day.

​El Gran Mercado

At El Gran Mercado festival goers will have the unique opportunity to meet the farms who grow the food that they're eating at restaurants around the city. Here, they showcase their ingredients, from chili peppers to sweet potatoes to corn to exotic jungle fruits, and interact with guests. They're the bloodline, the reason Mistura exists. And now you have a chance to meet them. In addition, each day a different critically acclaimed, world-class chef will prepare both traditional and modern dishes with iconic Peruvian ingredients. So wander, get lost, have a bite, and emerge with a new understanding of Peruvian cuisine. 

The Worlds

With a staggering list of more than 200 participating restaurants, stands, and businesses, it would be almost impossible to find what you're looking for. That's why Mistura has smartly subdivided them into 12 "worlds", so that you can plan your day accordingly and get a taste of everything you're craving. Here they are: Creole, Barbecue, Ceviche, Andean and Amazonian, Southern, Northern, Pushcart, Sandwich, Chifa and Nikkei, Desserts, and Bar Food. Comparable to grand tasting tents, they're a place for you to chow down, relax, bite, drink, and enjoy.