Ch'Allay

In the indigenous tongue and custom of the Andes, ch'allay is an offering or libation to Pachamama, or Mother Universe. This book of recipes, likewise, aspires to honor the Bolivian experience; that which holds a discernible connection to the land. The ch'allay presented here speaks of crops cultivated by the Altiplano's original settlers and those carried by colonists. It shares customs influenced by the Incan Empire and others influenced by the high altitude. It reveals habits of daily life as well as those of special occasion. Centered in food, this collection aims to demonstrate the unique circumstance of Bolivia and the inextricable link to its cuisine. A culture can be revealed through an intimate view of a single aspect, especially that which nourishes the body and soul. Unique to most regional cookbooks, ch'allay takes a vegetarian's outlook to emphasize tradition but with a preference to quinoa and oca versus beef or pork.