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Restaurant Review and Recipe
By Tom Findley, Editor, Silver Llama Dining Guide

EL CHARACATO DE ORO

LIMA:
Av. Aviación 3101 - San Borja T: 475-6346

AREQUIPA:
Calle Romano 115 - Sr. de la Caña T: 273-702

The "El Characato" is a new restaurant for the Silver Llama guide and will be included in the 2005 edition. The food here is all about Arequipa. Lots of camarones, rocoto relleno, ocopa, etc. all of which are well prepared. I especially liked the rocoto relleno but the lamb ribs I had were a little greasy for my taste.

Service is excellent and the place has a nice open, airy feel to it. On a Saturday afternoon it was full of people who appear to be regular patrons. One minor item that could be changed is a plastic menu with pictures of the dishes available. El Characato also has a twin restaurant in Arequipa.

One of the specialties of the house is “CHUPE DE CAMARONES”, which is a crayfish chowder. This is how they make it: Chupe de Camarones   Ingredients: • ¼ kilo crayfish • 1 potato • ¼ ear of corn • 1 egg • Broad beans (habas verdes) • 50gr rice • 50gr feta cheese (queso fresco) • ½ tin evaporated milk • Cabbage • Squash • Spinach • Black mint (Huacatay) • Salt and Pepper • Garlic • Oregano • Red Peruvian Pepper (Aji colorado) Preparation: Place the crayfish in a pan. Add condiments (Red Peruvian peppers, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper). Add 2 cups of crayfish broth. Then add cabbage, corn, squash, potato, rice, egg, spinach and black mint. Let boil, then add the milk and cheese. Serve in a bowl.

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