Chef Gastón Acurio’s establishment sits in the heart of Arequipa, where it pays tribute to the region’s rich and vibrant culinary tradition. More than a restaurant, Chicha is an experience that takes us on a tour of the city’s flavors and aromas, using local ingredients of the highest quality and age-old culinary techniques reinterpreted with a modern touch, such as the traditional rocoto relleno (stuffed rocoto chili pepper), the chupe de camarones (shrimp chowder), and the Arequipa-style adobo.
This historic, spacious picantería, a veritable institution with over three generations of family heritage behind it, invites us to immerse ourselves in the region’s undeniable flavors. Secret recipes and techniques from the olden days, such as the use of the irreplaceable batán (a millstone used to crush ingredients), highlight the jewels of Arequipa’s cuisine with heaping plates of food, such as the cauche de queso, revuelto de habas, and rocoto relleno.