By Arely Bautista, Unitel:

During the commemoration of the 217th anniversary of La Paz’s independence movement, gastronomy once again takes center stage with flavors that are part of the city’s identity and celebrations

Every July 16, La Paz commemorates its liberation movement, and food plays a special role in the festivities.

Among the most representative dishes and beverages are the following:

The traditional plato paceño, which includes corn on the cob, broad beans, fried cheese, and, depending on personal preference, fried meat.

[Photo: Social Media] / The traditional plato paceño

Chairo, a soup made with dried meat, chuño (freeze-dried potatoes), hominy corn, and aromatic herbs such as huacataya, which give it a distinctive and comforting flavor.

[Photo: Social Media] Chairo soup

Fricasé paceño prepared with pork ribs, hominy corn, and a spicy broth made with yellow chili peppers and spices, is one of the most popular dishes during the celebrations.

[Photo: Social Media] Fricasé paceño

To cope with July’s cold temperatures, many people choose the traditional sucumbé, a hot beverage originating from the Yungas region of La Paz that contains singani, milk, cinnamon, and egg.

[Photo: Social Media] Sucumbé

Another favorite is the llaucha paceña, a pastry filled with cheese, yellow chili pepper, and plenty of savory juice, enjoyed at any time of the day.

[Photo: Social Media] Llaucha paceña