Quechua, an official language of Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, provided the word "ch'arki" for dried meat. Via the Spanish "charqui," the connection to the English "jerky" is plain to see, though somewhere along the trail the llamas made good their escape. Nowadays beef is typical, even in the Andes. Often the meat takes the form of chips or flattened strips, though on this plate — where it was served over hominy and accompanied by potato, egg, cheese, and hot sauce — the charqui resembled nothing so much as dried ropa vieja.
For many more photos from this annual celebration, see the Eating In Translation page on Facebook.
Bolivian Carnival of La Fraternidad Morenada Central
St. Peter's Church, 19 Smith St. (Westchester Ave.-William St.), Port Chester, New York
www.Facebook.com/events/1706656689559498
(The 2014 carnival was held on November 9)
