Counterintuitively, the term 'menu' at a restaurant is not the paper menu itself, but rather it refers to the daily specials. Usually a menu includes two courses and a drink. If you're lucky you'll get a dessert. The great thing about menus is that they are a lot of food for very little money, with the average menu costing between 5 and 10 soles. In US dollars, 5 soles is just under $2. The 5 sole menu is pretty easy to find and something I love. The feeling of thriftiness is very fulfilling to me, and so is a huge pile of food.
The first course, or the 'entrada' as it is called, is usually an option of soup, salad, ceviche, aji de gallina, or papa a la huancaína. The last of those options usually being what I order, because it is creamy and delicious. The entrees vary between a variety of dishes starring fried pork, goat, beef, chicken, fish or noodles. I usually take either fish or the noodles. Oh, the noodles.
Side note: I think the word 'noodle' is fun in English and in Spanish. In Spanish, we call them tallarines or fideos. Both of those words are super fun :) I want to learn how to say noodle in all languages, because I bet it will always be fun.
Anyway, I'm a big fan of menu. Authentic, local, cheap, plentiful. The only thing you sacrifice is the customer service. But hey, it's Peru. The idea of service with a smile around these parts hasn't quite caught on just yet.
Here are some shots that I snapped last week during a nice lunch hour in Trujillo. Enjoy :)
How it starts: that glorious sign on the sidewalk.
Fresh fruit juice: it's a good thing.
Course 1: Papa a la Huancaina, shadowed by my lunch buddy's ceviche.
Course 2: Tallarines verdes con pollo. Chicken with green noodles, literally.
And no, I didn't eat the chicken ;)
My compañero's second course: Goat and beans.
Notice that it's already been tucked into. I can never get complete food pictures with volunteers around.
All for just 5 solcitos :)
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