Last night, I was given a fish as a thank you gift.

More specifically, I was given Patarashca, a traditional Peruvian dish of an Amazon river fish wrapped in leaves (usually Bihao), then roasted over a fire.

My thank you fish was from two Señoras who were grateful for my help translating at the clinic where their dogs had surgery. They arrived at the clinic on a motorbike and took three steaming plastic bags out of basket on the front of the bike. Inside the bags were two enormous white fish wrapped in leaves, a pile of yuca and a recipe so I can make my own Patarashca.

The women caught the fish that morning so the Patarashca was incredibly fresh. It was richly flavored, with a salty flesh so perfectly cooked each piece fell off the tiny fishbones as I pulled it apart to enjoy.

I had never been thanked with fish before, but after trying Patarashca it may become by preferred means of giving thanks.