Poor Lambchop!

Lambchop doesn't know what's coming!

We ate Lambchop! I knew that would get your attention. Let me explain.

I enjoyed the fresh foods that we ate in Peru, but at times, fresh brought on a whole new meaning. As my team and I hiked in the Andes, we were fortunate enough to have cooks with us to prepare and serve all of our food. Most of the food was fresh from local farms, or from other areas of Peru. Some of our meat was actually purchased from the local farmers that we came in contact with in the villages we passed through.

Face to face with dinner...this is not
for the faint of heart!

The group decided to pool our money and buy a sheep which the cooks would then fix for dinner for us. I was excited about this because it meant REALLY fresh meat. I was also a little grossed out because it meant coming face to face with dinner. Admittedly, I am not often spending time with my food before it ends up on my plate. Talk about a reality factor!

The sheep we purchased was nicknamed "Lambchop" by our group. It walked from one village to the next with us. And then, the cooks butchered it. Several group members watched the butchering close up,  but I decided to refrain. I decided I didn't need to see this process close-up. Other team members reported that it was interesting. Even my own hubby watched and didn't seem bothered by it.

The cooking of the meat was the most amazing part. Our cooks built a little "oven" out of stones. They wrapped the meat in individual foil packets which they placed in the oven, and then they piled stones over top. Veggies and potatoes were cooked on top of the stones. The whole process was amazing.

The food...delicious! The fresh lamb was so good, and the veggies and potatoes were all locally grown and harvested. This was some great eating! But, the entire group did agree on one thing...poor Lambchop!