Hostal Estefania

queso helado

by willy_wonka

this tip is for you richie!!!

arequipa is famous for its icecream, called "queso helado". this literally translates to cheese icecream, but its definitely not cheese that makes up this fresh and yummy desert icecream!
the icecream is actually made from milk, cinnamon, cloves and coconut. the queso helado originated from here in arequipa, and today, you will many women in traditional clothing around the main plaza selling their treats. i had a queso helado in one of the little refreshment stores just under one of the colonnades in the main square - it was delicious!

i managed to find a recipe online too, so richie, get making the queso helado!

Ingredients:
2 cinnamon sticks
½ a cup of coconut flakes (100 grams)
½ a gallon of fresh milk
5 cloves
2 cans of evaporated milk
2 cans of condensed milk
Sugar (sufficient amount)
2 tablespoons Vanilla extract

Preparation:
Boil the fresh milk with the cinnamon stick, cloves and the coconut flakes for 20 minutes. Strain into a large bowl (remove the coconut flakes) and mix with the evaporated milk, the condensed milk, the vanilla extract and the sugar. Pour into a rectangular Tupperware. Freeze the ice cream. When serving sprinkle ground cinnamon on top. Enjoy!!

Plaza de armas by night

by gonzo747

Arequipa has one of the nicest plaza de armas of Peru. Defenately at night it's really impressive.
There are restaurants and bars on the first floor of the buildings surrounding the plaza. These places are quite expensive but the view is worth it.

Arequipa - plaza de armas with cathedral

by chancay

this mayor place is surrounded with beautiful colonial style architecture, especially the arcades are marvellous. On the picture you can see the impressing cathedral of Arequipa, almost as old as the the city that has been founded in 1540.

AREQUIPA

by swesn

Arequipa is Peru's 2nd most important city, located in the south.

The city lies in the highlands at the foot of the snow-capped (currently inactive) volcano El Misti. Arequipa is located at an altitude of 2,380m and is, in fact, surrounded by over 80 volcanoes which can be found in the Valley of Volcanoes. El Misti is located between two smaller volcanoes - Chachani "the Beloved" and Picchu Picchu "Top Top".

The other lovely thing about Arequipa is the many fine colonial-era Spanish buildings built of sillar, a pearly white volcanic rock. This is how it got its nick name - La Ciudad Blanca ("the white city").

The historic center of the city was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000, in recognition of its architecture and historic integrity.

I have been to Arequipa twice, once in 1999 and once in 2005.

PERU 2005 >>
... +| Part of SA 2005 |+ ...

For more details of my AREQUIPA Travelogue (SA 2005), please visit :

08) TOUCH OF PERU
( .. Chiclayo .. Cajamarca .. Huaraz .. Lima .. Arequipa .. Puno .. )