User:Raymo m123/sandbox

The origin of Papa a la Huancaina is controversial. On one side, stories exist that point to the area of Lima:

·        The most well-known story explains that it emerged during the construction of Peru’s Central Railroad, stretching from Lima to Huancayo. Food for the workers was prepared by Huancan women who boiled potatoes and served them with a cheese, pepper and milk sauce, which would become Papas a la Huancaina.

·        A more modern story explains that the plate was served at the railway stations between Lima and Huancayo, sold to passengers as a light food comprised of potatoes bathed in a delicious cheese and pepper sauce. From that came the name “potatoes that you eat in route to Hauncayo” which would later be changed to Papa a la Huancaina.

It should be noted that while the cheese and the potato are produced along the Peruvian sierra, they are also produced along the coast. In fact, the cultivating of the yellow pepper takes place only in coastal zones (4,000-year-old yellow pepper remnants have been found in the archeological sites of Huaca Prieta and Ancon). In addition, the olives that accompany the preparation, also originate from the coast, and not the city of Huancayo. It should also be mentioned that it does not match the preparation style of typical Huancan food, which often consists of hot foods made with red meat, additionally in the cities along the Peruvian sierra it is uncommon to serve appetizers.