NOT a food blog
The mighty camelids of South America – llama, alpaca, vicugna and guanaco.
In the Jujuy province in the north-west part of Argentina, en route to the Salinas Grandes (the great Salt Plains), we spotted these agile, graceful beasts – the diminutive vicugna.
The camelids are herbivorous animals. They do not have hooves, but possess two-pronged toes, and have long slender necks.
Llamas and alpacas are domesticated animals while the vicugnas and guanacos are wild. Llama meat is commonly eaten in Argentina.
So when in Rome…
…do as the Romans do.
Cooked…
…or raw.
Not quite chicken. Less gamy than beef, and tender in texture. It was our virginal experience at Jose Balcarce in Salta, a restaurant which serves exceptional Andean cuisine, concentrating on fresh and local produce.
And if llama meat doesn’t suit your fancy, there is always yacare meat. (Yacare is a species of caiman from the alligatoridae family.)
Jose Balcarce
Necochea 590,
Salta,
Argentina
Food, for me, is a means to an end and not an end in itself.
Food, for me, represents the love of family, the fellowship of friends, and the community and communality it brings.
Sean
September 28th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
i really like llama riddles (which is the wisest llama of all? the dalai llama!), but i bet i’d like llama meat even more! (how long can a llama hold a grudge? sellama-llamanya!) π
lotsofcravings
September 28th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
yum yum! makes me wonder if they serve croc meat, kangaroo meat in aust, how come no koala meat..haha.
Michelle chin
September 28th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Ah, llama ,this is exotic. I would love to get my hands on some llama too. π
Baby Sumo
September 28th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
I really like the first 3 pics! So pretty! Is it nicer cooked or raw?
Lyrical Lemongrass
September 29th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Sean: hahahaha! Such horrible jokes, but so funny! More more!
Nips: Koala meat….gulp! How to eat those cute furry creatures!
Michelle: Now you know you can fly to South America and get yourself some llama meat! π
Baby Sumo: I knew you’d like those since you’re into nature photography (and an amazing photographer too!). It is nice in both forms. I was more comfortable eating it cooked, though!
unkaleong
September 29th, 2011 at 11:15 am
Ooo..Llama meat. Nice! The vicugnas look mighty tasty as well. Can imagine them slowly cooking over a spit. I wonder if this is done there? π
What do you call a very fast llama?
a llamagini
minchow
September 29th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
:-O I was nicely settling into the post upon the first picture, all prepared for adventure with that azure sky backdrop! GULP! Not sure I’d be prepared for that adventure on the plate, so will simply have to live vicariously through you LL!
Ravenous Rabbit
September 29th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Mmm Llama meat. How come I didn’t try that when I was there. Hmmm. All I had was steak, steak, steak and schnitzel! π
Lyrical Lemongrass
September 29th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
unkaleong: Nobody eats the vicugnas! Aiyaya! Eeeek….another llame llama joke!! π
minchow: Haha….as long as it isn’t endangered or protected, I am willing to try anything! Dunch worry, will share all my eating adventures with you, but I think Sean Yoong will do a better job since human flesh is on HIS agenda.
Ravenous Rabbit: I notice that llama meat is more popular in the north, but I could be wrong. You spent most of your time in the South anyway, didn’t you? Eh, I had llama schnitzel too! Yummeh!
babe_kl
October 1st, 2011 at 5:30 pm
errr I’m not sure I’ll be so adventurous :p but the carpaccio hv a lovely pink tinge
alilfatmonkey
October 2nd, 2011 at 11:26 am
When in Rome, sing like Gaga” Llama, Lla-la-ma, Llamma, Lla-la-ma…want cha bad romance”
gfad
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Lumpy’s school supervisor is called Mrs Lama. And because of your story, I spelt her name in a note as Mrs Llama instead…
Kenny
October 4th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
*llaughs at all the llame llama jokes*
π
Devil cK
October 5th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
I want to visit Argentina and Patagonia!
Ok, better start saving money now. π
KY
October 6th, 2011 at 9:35 am
waghh fantastic photos! love them!
TangeCYI
October 6th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
“And if llama meat doesnβt suit your fancy, there is always yacare meat. (Yacare is a species of caiman from the alligatoridae family.)”…WOW, so many words i dunno in one sentence. fascinating….jangan tunggu llama llama before the next post. we are waiting with eagerrrr anticipation.
The Yum List
October 10th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
I miss Argentina. What a beautiful country. It is a prerequisite though that you’re a big meat eater. Looks like you’re doing well.
ciki
October 18th, 2011 at 9:29 am
zomg! raw Llama.. you’re brave! funny, i would have thought that the meat would taste gamier than beef.. i bet it’s lower in cholesterol too, maybe ..? The Yacare meat looks nice and safe like meat patties.. yum!!!
Rad Sujanto
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:07 pm
Oh, I always find llamas fascinating animals which I’ve always wanted to see in person and touch! I used to grow up having goats in our neighborhood ;-)))
Lyrical Lemongrass
December 23rd, 2011 at 1:49 am
Rad: like you, I had a fascination for llamas ever since I read tin tin as a little girl. π you just have to watch out that they don’t spit on you when aggravated. Did you grow up on a farm? π