Writer

As a writer, I’ve visited a high-elevation winery and distillery in Peru, explored the origins of Lima’s creole street food, researched Inca food systems, distilled the history of pisco cocktails, and reported on Afro-Peruvian food culture. I’ve also travelled to Hong Kong to search for the roots of Chinese-Peruvian chifa cuisine.

“Vera is a brilliant storyteller, driven by cultural, familial and historic connections in all that he does. Stories inform his food and his advocacy, and it’s impossible not to be affected by his passion for place.”
— Laura Borrman, Iconic San Francisco

My mission is to preserve Peru’s culinary culture by giving a voice to the farmers, winemakers, distillers, brewers, bartenders, and cooks that define it.

“I always really appreciate how Nico weaves history, cultural significance, and cooking how-to in his TASTE stories.”
— Matt Rodbard, TASTE

Spirits at Destilería Andina. Photo by Nico Vera.

Here are some of my stories and essays:

Whetstone

• The Spirits of the Andes

• The Origin of Lima’s Creole Street Food

Punch Drink

• The Pisco Punch Comes Home

• Lima’s Clandestine Street Cocktail, Emoliente Piteado, Lives On

• The Chirulín Is Peru’s Original Pisco Cocktail

• The Capitán Is Lima’s Old-Guard Aperitivo

TASTE

• This Tamales Story is Still Being Written

• The Underground Story of Slow Cooking

• Mashed Potatoes Are Better Cold

• The Coca Story Goes Way Beyond the Cola

• A Stuffed Avocado for Every Century

• Pasta and Potatoes, The Peruvian Way

• The Soul Food of Black Peru

The Cleaver Quarterly

• The Chifa Diaries