Yesterday while introducing Peruvian Roast Chicken with Garlic and Lime (Latin Celebration, Season 12), I heard Chris Kimball make a blunder. He claimed that Macchu Pichu was the highest city in the world. Certainly, the infamous vantage point of Machu Picchu is impressive, but the lost city sits at only 7,970 feet above sea level. To reach Machu Picchu visitors travel downward towards the Amazon basin by train (or by foot on the Inca Trail) from Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire (altitude 11,100 feet). In fact, the entire Altiplano averages 12,300 feet. To make his statement less-informed, the Andes mountain range isn’t even the highest mountain range. Most of the highest cities in the world are in the Himalayas.
Chris Kimball claiming Machu Picchu to be highest city in the world
The complete context of Chris Kimball’s statement was that “everybody knows three things about Peru.” First, that potatoes come from Peru. This turns out to be true, but I don’t think it’s common knowledge. Second, that Quinoa is from Peru, which has also been cultivated in Bolivia for 5,000 years.
But all nitpicking aside, I made this chicken last year and happily gave it 4-stars. It is delicious, don’t let his lack of South American knowledge deter you from giving it a try.
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- Arriving at Machu Picchu; 7,950 feet
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- Hiking the Inca Trail; one of two high passes. (13,780 feet)
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- Baking bread at 13,400 feet; Potisi, Bolivia.
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- Biking at 15,260 feet, La Cumbre Pass near La Paz, Bolivia
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- Chris Kimball claiming Machu Picchu to be higest city in the world
It’s Potosi, not Potisi, nitpicker!
^_^ Confucius, the Confused Chinese
haha..you are right !!Thanks for point that out Ricardo…y como estan todos ahi? Vi las fotos de Malena y esta ya super grande.
This week Malena started the school year. She’s in second year of Secondary School…!!! My baby…
well if we’re opening the door for nit picking…these recipes you make and post aren’t Christopher Kimball’s. They are from his staff at his magazine.So to say that “Christopher Kimball says to…” is incorrect since the chef who designed and tested the recipe is listed at the beginning of the article.