Tony Hawk Talks Food, Skateboarding, and Punk Bars in Peru

By Erika Owen

February 14, 2017

Credit: Courtesy of Tony Hawk

While you were busy playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater videogames, the famous skateboarder himself was traveling all over the world. He’s traveled so much, in fact, that a bucket list destination doesn’t immediately come to mind.

“I've gone all of the places I had hoped to go,” he told Travel + Leisure. “There's no one place that I can think of where I really just have to go.” But eventually, he does come up with one: Transylvania.

“That would be the one place we've considered, and tried to make temporary plans and it just didn't work.” But that’s another story.

Hawk is putting his world travels to use while working on an idea for a new show. There are few specifics—“We've been throwing around the idea at my office about doing some sort of travel, skate, food, and culture show,” is how he describes it—but a recent trip to Peru served as a creative pilot, if not for anyone but Hawk.

It all started with Central Restaurante in Lima. After reading about chef Virgílio Martínez’s background in skateboarding, Hawk sent an Instagram message that lead to a dinner invitation. Although Hawk originally went to visit the restaurant, he did much more than enjoy a meal on his trip. (In case you’re wondering what Hawk’s go-to airplane song is, we’ve got you: “Heartbeats” by The Knife.)

Get a behind-the-scenes look at Hawk’s travels with his own notes on each experience in the photos below.

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Gonzolito at Converse Skatepark

Credit: Courtesy of Tony Hawk

"We visited the Converse Skatepark which is among the best-designed parks in Lima. Here is local 9-year-old ripper 'Gonzolito' showing me how he can do hardflips down the stairs… first try."

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Market Stall Ceviche

Credit: Courtesy of Tony Hawk

"Getting what was possibly the world's best ceviche at Canta Ranita with my friend/writer Dave Carnie and Lucho, our tour guide for food, skating, and punk music."

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Dessert at Central

Credit: Courtesy of Tony Hawk

"Dessert #1 at Central: 'Humid Green' (caigua, cushuro, sweet lemon, chaco clay). It looks savory, but was refreshingly sweet."

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Farewell Lunch

Credit: Courtesy of Tony Hawk

"On our last day, we were treated to a home-cooked meal with Virgilio and his buddy Diego Munoz, another superstar chef in Peru. This was their version of 'potato salad.'"

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Pisco Sours at Hotel B Bar

Credit: Courtesy of Tony Hawk

"Making Pisco Sours (the famed local drink) at the Hotel B bar, known for having the best bartenders (me excluded)."

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'Marine Soil' at Central

Credit: Courtesy of Tony Hawk

"Course #8 at Central: 'Marine Soil' (sea urchin, Pepino Melon, Razor Clam, seaweed). The melon compliments the urchin like nothing I’ve ever tasted before."

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Lima at Sunset

Credit: Courtesy of Tony Hawk

"I shot this while waiting for our crew to reset a shot along the boardwalk. It wasn’t planned, but it sums up the scenery quite well."

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Backyard Pool Skating

Credit: Courtesy of Tony Hawk

"Lucho asked if I wanted to skate 'the only backyard pool in Lima with smooth transitions.' I was reluctant at first (since most pools made for swimming are difficult to skate), but it turned out being a blast to skate. We skated until it rained."

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Converse Skatepark

Credit: Courtesy of Tony Hawk

"Doing a McTwist for the locals at Converse Skatepark. I’ve never heard a relatively small crowd make so much noise before."

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Tasting Menu at Central Restaurant

Credit: Courtesy of Tony Hawk

"Somewhere near the beginning of our 17-course journey of Peruvian flavors at Central Restaurant. It was the first time I finished an entire tasting menu without feeling uncomfortably full at the end."

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Skateboarding in the Streets

Credit: Courtesy of Tony Hawk

"When asked if we could get towed instead of riding inside, our driver was unfazed (and unimpressed). It got scary when the road got rough though."

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