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…
Llama loin, red pepper mirasol sauce, small stone potatoes, and corn in basil essence
…do as the Romans do.
Cooked…
Llama carpaccio
…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.
Yacare meat in roasted lemon sauce, mashed pumpkin and goat cheese
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
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!) 😀
yum yum! makes me wonder if they serve croc meat, kangaroo meat in aust, how come no koala meat..haha.
Ah, llama ,this is exotic. I would love to get my hands on some llama too. 🙂
I really like the first 3 pics! So pretty! Is it nicer cooked or raw?
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! 🙂
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!
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? 😉
What do you call a very fast llama?
a llamagini
:-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!
Mmm Llama meat. How come I didn’t try that when I was there. Hmmm. All I had was steak, steak, steak and schnitzel! 🙂
unkaleong: Nobody eats the vicugnas! Aiyaya! Eeeek….another llame llama joke!! 😛
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!
errr I’m not sure I’ll be so adventurous :p but the carpaccio hv a lovely pink tinge
When in Rome, sing like Gaga” Llama, Lla-la-ma, Llamma, Lla-la-ma…want cha bad romance”
Lumpy’s school supervisor is called Mrs Lama. And because of your story, I spelt her name in a note as Mrs Llama instead…
*llaughs at all the llame llama jokes*
😛
I want to visit Argentina and Patagonia!
Ok, better start saving money now. 😛
waghh fantastic photos! love them!
“And if llama meat doesn’t 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.
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.
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!!!
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 ;-)))
Rad: like you, I had a fascination for llamas ever since I read tin tin as a little girl. 🙂 you just have to watch out that they don’t spit on you when aggravated. Did you grow up on a farm? 🙂