High-Altitude Artistry: Reliving Gustu, La Paz

 

Reminiscing about this incredible 3-course journey at Gustu in La Paz back in 2022. Even years later, the memory of these flavors—built entirely from Bolivia’s rich biodiversity remains as vivid as the colors on the plates.  

"Gustu" actually means "flavor" in Quechua. The restaurant was founded by Claus Meyer (the co-founder of Noma), but it’s the local Bolivian talent that has turned it into a world-class destination.

A Taste of the Altiplano: Dining at Gustu

There are meals you eat, and then there are meals you experience. Back in 2023, my mother and I visited Gustu in La Paz, and it remains one of the most vibrant dining memories I have.

Gustu, located in La Paz, Bolivia, is a renowned restaurant focusing on modern Bolivian cuisine, ranked No. 38 in Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2024.

Gustu isn't just a restaurant; it’s a celebration of Bolivian biodiversity. We each did a 3-course meal, which gave us a chance to sample six distinct, beautifully plated dishes that looked like art on a plate.

The Starters: Fresh & Floral

We kicked things off with two incredibly fresh appetizers. The vibrant greenery and edible flowers weren't just for show; they brought an earthy, crisp brightness to the palate that set the stage for the rest of the night.

The Main Event: Land and Forest

For our mains, we went in two very different directions:

The Lamb Chops: Perfectly cooked, rich, and paired with deep, savory reductions that felt like a warm hug in the high altitude of La Paz.

Hearts of Palm & Herbs: A masterclass in texture. Using hearts of palm as a centerpiece showcased how sophisticated native Bolivian plants can be when treated with such care.

The Grand Finale: Sweet Contrast

We finished with a dessert that balanced the tartness of strawberry ice cream with the deep, bitter complexity of Bolivian dark chocolate. It was the perfect "light" ending to a very complex meal.

Sharing this experience with my mom made it even more special. If you ever find yourself in La Paz, Gustu is an absolute must for anyone who wants to "taste" the soul of Bolivia.

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Everyday people (before COVID -19)

 

These are some portraits of everyday people living careless months before COVID-19 carried to our life.

I used to enjoy going out to the street and shooting people but I haven't been able because of COVID, because I don't have time anymore, and mostly because I don't feel inspired enough. Hopefully after getting my second dose of the vaccine will make me feel confident enough to go out more.

 

Enjoy and please share. I always say, RT, liking and sharing post are for free and I will always appreciate it. Thank you !

Time travelers - 1900's photography

  Selected Poems and Prose 

   John Clare 

I am - yet what I am, none cares or knows; 

My friends forsake me like a memory lost: 

I am the self-consumer of my woes —  

They rise and vanish in oblivions host, 

Like shadows in love frenzied stifled throes 

And yet I am, and live — like vapours tost 

Into the nothingness of scorn and noise, 

Into the living sea of waking dreams, 

Where there is neither sense of life or joys, 

But the vast shipwreck of my lifes esteems; 

Even the dearest that I love best 

Are strange — nay, rather, stranger than the rest. 

I long for scenes where man hath never trod 

A place where women never smiled or wept 

There to abide with my Creator God, 

And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept, 

Untroubling and untroubled where I lie 

The grass below, above, the vaulted sky.

Credit: 
www.instagram.com/stephanyaeguino/

Foto Cordero

Foto Cordero

Foto Cordero

Foto Cordero

Foto Cordero

Shooting and walking

Yes, we all look like that. 

Hungry, excited, and ready to take a big bite of what your tummy desires.

For obvious reasons, I find it hard to shoot people eating because we feel expose and in a position where we let our guard down. 

People think they look different when they eat but we don't, we all look the same.

Shooting people cooking is much easier and I would say beautiful. 

I love taking people's photos when they less expect it, I want to show them in action and concentrating on their job. People distracted look natural, they won't fake any smile or pose at all of course.

Shooting everyday activities is also very interesting.

When I go home and look again at the pics I got I find little details, people in the background that maybe were even more interesting to get.

All these images will become history one day, never demean your work or any image you have obtained during the day.