Frommer's Selects Peru As 2012's Top Food & Drink Destination

By Michael Lopez

As if the Machu Picchu ruins weren't enough, now tourists have a whole new reason to book a trip to Peru. The famous travel guide Frommer's has listed it as 2012's Top Food & Drink Destination.

Frommer's specifically honed in on Lima and all of the edible goodies the capital city has to offer. And, in case you're curious, the travel brand has built a huge reputation for its global recommendations. Frommer's guidebooks have sold in the millions and they've proven to be quite trustworthy for adventurous (and hungry) travelers.

So getting the top food and drink nod is quite an accomplishment. Of course, culinary experts are already well aware of Peru's stellar reputation. The country's Astrid y Gaston eatery was recently named one of the top restaurants in the world.

Part of what makes Lima's cuisine shine is its sheer originality. A little bit Spanish, a little bit African, and doused with unique Asian spices, a good Peruvian meal tastes unlike anything else in Latin America.

"Lima's cultural miscegenation -- a rich stew of Spanish, African, Chinese and Japanese -- is reflected in its culinary fusion," Frommer's printed in their latest edition. "Limeño cuisine encompasses spicy creole dishes, Nikkei (2nd-generation Japanese), and chifa (a Peruvian twist on Chinese)."

There is even a new documentary chronicling what makes the platters so special. Titled MISTURA: The Power of Food, the film details the types of ingredients and preparation needed to create the perfect Peruvian delicacy. Astrid y Gaston chef Gastón Acurio is heavily featured in it and even gets touted as the next cooking superstar.

MISTURA takes its name from a huge food festival in the country. One of the highlights of the event (and the movie) is Peru's world-famous ceviche sampling. Featuring special lime juices, marinade, and ajíes peppers, it may just be the best cold dish you ever eat!

In the film, Gaston seems confident about his country's ranking on the world food scale and encourages tourists to bring their appetites to Peru.

"If you want to live, feel, laugh, dance, cry, eat, sang, kiss, love, and never forget, that's MISTURA," he exclaimed. "[It's] a party where we all reunite around our pots and fires to celebrate our differences, and join together as tribute to history, tradition, creativity, culture and biodiversity."

Of course if you want to keep it closer to home, try Googling "Peru Restaurants" in your neighborhood and see what pops up.

Are you a fan of Peruvian cuisine? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Astrid y Gaston, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Cultura, Food, Frommer's, Gaston Acurio, lima, MISTURA, MISTURA: The Power of Food, peru, travel