Amazonian Gastronomy

General Information

Course description

This course is an introduction to Amazonian Gastronomy from the cultural, historical, geographical and biological points of view. It orientates the student towards the understanding of the Amazonian biodiversity, the way it is used by the native communities and the techniques and tools that have been developed by them. The student will discover the Amazonian Gastronomy from three points of view: the native indigenous culinary tradition (bora, aguaruna and ashaninka), the tradition from the great jungle cities and the exchange between both native and foreign knowledge.

Professors

Pedro Schiaffino:

He studied at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA)- in Nueva York. The Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners (ICIF) in Costigliole d’Asti, Piemonte is one of his formation references. Before returning to Peru, he worked in many Italian restaurants such as Dal Pescatore (Canneto sul’Oglio, Mantova) and Pinocchio (Borgomanero, Novara), among others, references of the high European cuisine. Later, he began contact with the Amazonian world, its products and preparations. From that moment he has tried to understand its foundations and its cooking practices.

He has created two renowned restaurants –Malabar and Amaz- and a catering enterprise, all related to the Amazonian tradition, oriented to the study of the products, understanding the principal aspects of their culinary art, propagating their culture and preserving their life. This has made him explore also environmental and sustainability subjects, which now constitute one of his principal interests.

Dr. Fernando Roca:

He has a bachelor degree in Maritime Sciences by the Escuela Naval del Perú and a bachelor degree in theology by the Centro de Estudios Superiores da Companhia de Jesús en Brasil. He has a master degree in theology specialized in Fundamental Theology by the Faculté Pontificale de Théologie de la Compagnie de Jésus in France. He has a Diploma in Anthropological Studies at PUCP. Doctor in Social Anthropology specialized in Ethnobiology by the Ecole Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in France. Dr. Roca is the author of books and research about communications, ecology, botanic, ethnobotanics, the Amazon rainforest and sustainable development both in Peru and in France. He is a member of the Science National Academy of Peru and the Geographic Society of Lima.