The Papa of All Papas
German Butterball. Yellow Finn. Desiree. International Kidney. I've learned a lot more about potatoes since we last chatted. I think the figure is closer to 4,200 varieties of potato grown in Peru. Andean people have cultivated this crop for 7,000 
years. And this from Wikipedia ... "Recent genetic analysis has shown that the potato was cultivated from one progenitor in an area of southern Peru." The papa of all papas! Why my fascination with the potato? In October, I'm headed to Peru for another one of my fall adventures. And my approach to traveling involves diving as deeply as I can into the culinary traditions of a country, resurfacing only when my belly is about to burst. I'm thinking a lot these days about ceviche as well (el plato nacional de Peru). Oh, and the pisco sour, that lovely frothy cocktail that first kissed my lips in Chile. The Chileans and the Peruvians battle over the ownership of this concoction, both claiming it as their national drink. I'll be floating down the Amazon for over a week and then hiking to Machu Picchu - about two and a half weeks in country, including some time in Lima. I think that's ample opportunity to formulate an opinion about the roots of the pisco sour. And, I can probably add a few dozen varieties of potato to my life list.
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