Astrid Y Gaston

Dining Room

Astrid Y Gaston
Av. Paz Soldán 290, San Isidro
Lima 27, Perú
+511 442-2775
Official Site

For those that don’t know who Gaston Acurio is, he is one of Peru’s greatest ambassadors; bringing Peruvian food and ingredients to the world. He is the Rene Redzepi and the Ferran Adria of Peru, giving birth to nouvelle Peruvian cuisine that we all know. A restaurateur with an empire of more than 40 restaurants stretching in three different continents and arguably one of the most and influential figures in the world of gastronomy. His flagship Astrid Y Gaston in Lima was voted as one of the 50 best restaurants in the world, occupying the 18th spot in 2014.

After studying at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, he came back to Lima, Peru and opened Astrid Y Gaston in 1995. Chef Acurio began serving French cuisine and later turning it into a Peruvian inspired fare using only local ingredients while applying the techniques and skills that he acquired in Europe. In September 2014, he announced his retirement from the restaurant relinquishing control of his flagship to Executive Chef Diego Munoz who had been in that position for the past two years.

Astrid Y Gastron

Prior to this year, the restaurant was located in Miraflores for twenty years after relocating to Casa Moreyra in San Isidro (the only restaurant I visited outside of Miraflores). Walled in from the outside, Casa Morerya is an elegant Spanish colonial hacienda. Complete with its own garden, patio, event space, a food lab and another restaurant called La Barra that offer a la carte dishes of Astrid Y Gaston’s tasting menu.

On my arrival at this Relais & Chateaux property, I was received at the restaurants spacious reception area, then after verifying my reservation I was asked to be seated at the patio to wait as my table was prepared. A few minutes later the hostess emerged and gave me an escorted tour of the compound that eventually led to kitchen where Chef Munoz was busy with his brigade and then to my table.

Kitchen

The restaurant’s modern décor has a dining room that’s clean, airy with high ceilings and bookshelves throughout.There were plenty of windows to brighten up the room with hardwood flooring and grey walls that has beautiful artwork. Large round oak tables paired with ivory padded chairs were distanced far apart from each other giving each guest their own personal space.

Dining Room

Bar

Astrid Y Gaston offers one tasting menu ($125 or Sol 386) for both lunch and dinner that consist of 27 courses and changes every six months. The menu tells the story of Peru and on my visit it was titled Memories of My Land inspired by food and flavors that every Peruvian had growing up.

The first chapter was “Let Us Toast in The Good Old Days”. I was served with cocktail called guinda of Huaura made from Huara cherry (a province in Peru) and was accompanied by a snack. That was followed with“Sweet After School”, a cookie tin that contained an ambrosial of small bites. Barquillos made of lemon basil, strawberry, rocoto pepper and yogurt. Ginger and chicken skin camotitos, merengue kisses with black botija olives and anchovies, then the charada made with prawns and peanuts. They were served with lucuma chocolate and chestnut ice cream.

Memories of My Land:

The next chapter was “Home Memories”. A trio consisting of interesting dishes that were meticulously crafted beginning with the medlar beverage called Garden Fruits. Water infused with exotic Peruvian fruits encased in a large ice cube that needed to be drunken right away. Then there was the vibrant “Mom’s Patita”, suckling pig trotter (substituted with chicken) with mustard and cress. To finish, a crispy Grandma’s Torrejita or chickpea with white asparagus caviar.

Medlar Beverage Called Garden Fruits

Mom’s Patita

Grandma’s Torrejita

“Summer at The Beach” is the “Raspadilla” made with vegetable ice, syrups, fruits and herbs from the restaurants garden. It had a refreshing and wonderful vegetable essence. “Morning of Punta avocado and crackers” sliced avocado, garnished with white sesame seeds, green onions, aji limo pepper, maca, and candied lemon slices. The plate was placed the long way on the table then I was instructed to eat from the front. There was a lot of elements on one plate that produced some very good flavors. It got better with the next course. “Frozen Delicia Apple”, apple ceviche with leche de tigre of rocoto, sea urchin and borage. The curled thinly sliced apple gave the fruitiness that the compliment the citrusy sauce and creaminess of the urchin. Lastly, “That Pink-Clam Chowder” made with fake pink clams from pacae (with a taste and texture like clam) with tender fava beans, creamy potatoes and swimming in spicy sea food broth. A light dish with a profound savor from the sea. The trio makes up “Products that are leaving us”, local ingredients that either disappeared or were replaced.

Frozen Delicia Apple

That Pink-Clam Chowder

“Recipes That Are Leaving Us” are split into two courses. The first was shrimp tails cooked with roasted peanuts, garlic roasted onion broth, mirasol pepper, nuts, huacatay and shrimp essence oil. The shrimp had a lovely firm textures that was married to an outstanding pungent aromatic sauce. The second was the “Escabeche of Cojinova”, smoked onions with marinade oil, tomatoes and aji pepper which had a terrific intense smokiness to it.

“Homage to mashed potatoes with fried eggs” the sole representation of “Going Back Home”and was inspired from a home coming dish after being gone for such a long time. Made with chaulina potato cream, chicken jus, dried tomatoes and pocini, fried quail eggs, tomato powder and spinach.Poached eggs on top it had a creamy texture along with a complexity of flavors.

Homage To Mashed Potatoes with Fried Eggs

A journey to the different region of Peru in“Regional Longing” began with a tasty dish called “Between a Potato Ajiaco and a Tongue”. Semi-dried native potatoes, fresh cheese cream, onions, roasted yellow aji pepper and beef tongue. It was followed by “Rabbit Pachamanca”, rabbit loin and liver with corn, garlic cream, oca and olluco. The lean rabbit loin and the nuttiness of liver shared with all the other ingridients created a pleasant dish. “Homage to Shambar”, brisket, pork rib broth (was substituted), bean germs and peppermint sprout. The tender pieces of briskets were flavored superbly and marked the completion of the savory courses.

Between A Potato Ajiaco and A Tongue

Rabbit Pachamanca

Homage to Shambar

“Children Pranks” was playful introduction to the sweet plates. The enjoyable “The tasty banana and cheese” was made with Isla banana, spices caramel and pisco, crumbs of paria cheese, arugula and black pepper. “Pomegranate Wars During the Break” pomegranate bombe was served on woven steel wires. A dish that had the WOW factor. An explosion in the mouth that felt like a broken glass. “Strawberry with Milk” was a sugary blend of condensed milk and strawberries while the U-Alianza, homage to Mazamorra Morada (Peruvian purple pudding) and arroz con leche was a small bite of compacted saccharine.

Sweet Memory were “Lima blanquillos”, apricot cooked with chamomile, almond cake, apricot kernel ice cream and “Why is it called King Kong?” Made with quince compote, peanut jelly, herb soup and flower ice cream, it was a big mess of goodness on plate.

The kitchen reminisced with the flavors that were changed in the last chapter “Lost Flavors”. “Real Chocolate Bar with Peanut and Cocada” was the petit fours. Finally to conclude this monumental meal was a made to serve “Emoliente”, a classic Peruvian drink is typically served hot during winter. Here it was served in both cold and hot together in one glass with a plantain leaf that served as a separator between two temperatures.

Real Chocolate Bar with Peanut and Cocada

Emoliente in Two Temperatures

After nearly four hours I was finally done. This was a fine meal, each of the 27 or so courses flowed fluidly with an excellent succession of taste with one to two bites one after the other. Everything about this meal was theatric, from the moment the server explained the theme of the tasting menu and the story of each dish to the presentation of some of the courses that were crafted in front of my table. The cooking techniques were interesting and even playful in creating different textures, elaborate flavors that carefully constructed in each plate. The successful pairing of wines (Sol 255 or $84 for the wine pairing) from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Chile and South Africa was just an exclamation to excellence.

Wine Pairing:

Wine Pairing

Wine Pairing

Service at Astrid Y Gaston was formal and professional. Majority of the time there’s one individual server focused on one specific table creating a more personal experience. There was definitely no shortage of staff and each and every one of them spoke perfect English which was expected to handle the influx of foreign diners that visits this restaurant on a daily basis.

Garden

As the birthplace of nouvelle Peruvian cuisine, Astrid Y Gaston paved the way to restaurants like Central and IK Restaurante. This is just not any other restaurant but an institution. For 20 years it has been on top of its game and still lives up to its reputation among the very best not only in Peru but the world. Though Gaston Acurio is no longer in the kitchen the restaurant is in good hands under Chef Diego Munoz.

Visiting Peru is not complete without coming to Astrid Y Gaston. The restaurant and Gaston Acurio is as synonymous to Peru as Machu Pichu and the lines of Nazca.

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be considered. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a curing set to treat few ailments. What do you have to consider about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you must ask your dispenser about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In addition, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are ordinarily able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may include erectile disfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other people even if their state appears to be the same as yours.

IK Restaurante

Dining Room

IK Restaurante
Calle Elías Aguirre 179,
Miraflores 15074,
Lima, Peru
+511 6521692
Official Site

When travelling I make an effort to choose at least one restaurant to visit in that city without the Michelin guide credentials or the 50 Best Restaurant accolades. The ones that are deemed underrated with cries of injustice from their avid fans. That’s when I came across IK Restaurante and added it to my dining itinerary in Lima, Peru.

IK Restaurante was the first solo project of young and talented chef Ivan Kisic. A rising star in Peruvian gastronomy, he was set to open this restaurant three years ago until a tragic accident took his life at the age of 34. Instead of scrapping the project, his brother Franco, who at that time was working with Albert Adria in Barcelona, decided to return back to Peru and continue what Ivan had begun. In 2013 the doors were opened and has been well received by critics and the dining public.

IK Restaurante

In the kitchen, Franco works with a team of talented chefs that include his cousin Monica Kisic, designing menus that utilize local ingredients prepared with modern techniques. A la carte and six and eight course tasting menu is available for both lunch and dinner but to get a better understanding of the skills the kitchen possesses I had the ten course tasting menu for Sol 280 ($94).

Tasting Menu:

Alpaca Loin with Chocolate

To start I was served a trio of pacae (a local fruit), araccha and coconut mouse and finally the avante-gardish alpaca loin with chocolate. It was stimulating to my palate, teasing it for what is to come next.

River Prawns

Scallops

Highland Sweetbreads

The first course was a large river prawn in a fava bean puree, coral bread, and Andean herbs. Served whole, the meaty prawns were cooked in four different textures but with similar tastes. Grilled scallops in coffee butter sauce with camu camu and celery followed after. Swimming in coffee butter, the scallops were able to absorb the buttery and bitter taste while the camu camu provided some tartness to this excellent dish. The third course was a grilled veal sweetbreads, ollucos, chalaquita sauce also known as “Highland Sweetbreads”. Scrumptious and colorful, this dish was outstanding.

Sardines and Pickles

Bonito

Spicy Yuyo

Before the next course arrived, I was presented with a sardine in oil and garlic served in a can accompanied by a piece of pickle. Bonito fish lacquered in escabeche sauce with pickled vegetables and cause vinaigrette followed. The contrast of sweet and sour was wonderfully paired with a fresh piece of bonito. The spicy yuyo was the next, made with native potatoes, Peruvian chili sea-weed and mushrooms. Combined, this dish was a savory collision of earth and ocean with a hint of spiciness.

Sudado De Anguila (Eel)

Plátano

Alpaca Stew

Sudado de anguila or eel, cooked in eel sauce, saffron, tomatoes, chilli and mushroom served and cooked in an oven bag. When opened an aroma of scrumptiousness was released along with an intense flavor. Plátano with Lima beans, egg yolk, rice crisp and pallar puré was beautifully served in dried leaves with a delightful creamy texture. Alpaca stew or “La Puna” was the eighth and final course before the sweet dishes. The stew has a bounty of flavors that brilliantly coexist with the roast beef, charqui, quinoa, and Andean perfumes.

Broken Bon-Bon

There were two desserts to finish the tasting, the first was the broken bon-bon wrapped in Peruvian chocolate with a rich citrusy filling of key lime cream and rocoto chili paper. Finally, cooling of the palate was the refreshing “Selva Blanca” made with cocoa mucilage sorbet, cupuaçu iced mousse, chirimoya.

Selva Blanca

Petit-Four

This was an outstanding meal and inexpensive compared to other restaurants in the US and Europe of the same caliber. Having the ten courses tasting portioned properly was enough to let diners get a grasp of each dish. There was a lot of creativity and precise execution in the kitchen. The flavors are defined and have Peru all over it. To add, Sommelier, Pedro Guerero, beverage pairing (an additional Sol 120 or $40) was spot on. His choice of three types of wine from Chile, Argentina and Spain, and a cocktail with sake, fino Sherry and lychee liquor drops. Delizzia and cream of organic chocolate from Quillabamba Cusco and pisco brandy from Ica, Perú was paired with the desserts.

Beverage Pairing:

Beverage Pairing

Set in the busier part of Miraflores in Lima, I was welcomed with the warmth of Peruvian hospitality on my arrival and was immediately drawn to the cozy sunken bar that resides in the front for pre meal drinks.The dining room has tall ceilings with plenty of wood and designed to replicate a wooden food crate. The atmosphere is hushed with lots of vibrant green plants on the wall and the humming of the forest and sound of sea wave is played throughout, allowing me to be one with nature.

Lounge

Dining Room

Not all of the staff speak English well but they were very attentive to every guest that are occupying one of those smooth uncovered round tables that are clustered together in the dining room. A window that stretches the length of the kitchen shows the kitchen staff in action while guests enjoy their meal.

Dining Room

Although there is no shortage of fine dining in Lima Peru, IK Restaurante is a great addition to grown trend of Modern Peruvian cuisine that is sweeping the gastronomic world. Sure it might not have the star power like the more established restaurant like Central and Astrid Y Gaston, but in the span of less than three years, it has impressed the dining public. Soon there will be flocks of travelling epicureans from all over the world visiting this restaurant. IK Restaurante will be a force to be reckoned with in years to come.

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be considered. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a therapy preassigned to treat few ailments. What do you have to view about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you should ask your dispenser about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In complement, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are as a rule able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may turn on erectile dysfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other humanity even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.

Maido

Maido

Maido
Calle San Martin 399, Miraflores
(esquina con Calle Colón)
Lima, Peru
+511 4462512
Official Site

In the late 19th century there was a great Japanese migration to Peru. Looking for gold and land they brought along their cuisine that later became part of the Peruvian culture. Known as Nikkei, it is the ultimate fusion cuisine of Japanese techniques using local Peruvian ingredients. There are many “Nikkei” restaurants in Peru, especially in Lima where Maido sits among the very top. The restaurant was recognized as one the best in Latin America ranking #7 in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2014.

Maido

Like most of Lima’s fine dining establishments, Maido is located in the Miraflores District on a nondescript street. There are no signs outside, valet personnel and a door man standing in the front is enough to prompt curiosity from passerby’s. In this multi-level restaurant guests are led up a spiral staircase to get to the dining room on the second floor where the sushi chef behind the black marble sushi bar welcomes your arrival. There are rows of ropes dangling horizontally that cover the entire ceiling in the dining room while bare top rectangular blonde wood tables partnered with grey leather padded seats fill up the space. There’s also a kaiseki style chamber on the third floor for private dining.

Dining Room

Chef and Owner Mitsuharu Tsumura, (a Peruvian of Japanese descent) desired opening his own restaurant which led him to Japan. There, he learned the kitchens strict discipline and developed his culinary techniques while fully understanding Japanese cuisine. He returned back to Peru with what he gained from Japan, laying the foundation of Maido.

A la carte and two types of tasting menus are offered for both lunch and dinner. I had the tasting menu called the “Nikkei Experience” for Sol 370 ($125). The “Nigiris Experience” (a tasting menu that consists of 20 pieces of the fresh catch of the day) looked enticing as well, but unfortunately time was not on my side.

Nikkei Experience:

The Bonito-Porcon-Umami and its nice combination of salty and sweet flavors jump started this 15 course tasting. The dish was made with chopped bonito fish on potato crackers served with chawamushi or egg custard. Lapas Cebiche, raw clams served in a half shell with avocado and pulverized chulppi corn that provided a grainy texture to the deep sea flavors. Then there was the Rocoto Relleno, beef rib eye stuffing deep fried in tempura batter. The crusty tempura outer shell was a prelude to the delicious and tender rib eye stuffing.

Tofu Ccapchi, tofu turned into a creamier consistency with tomatoes marinated in mirin for a hint of saltiness then garnished with baby corn and crispy potatoes. The Pajesapo Sandwich followed, fried pajesapo fish (monk fish or frog fish), steamed bun, tartar sauce, and a creole salad. The fish was fried fittingly leaving the inside nice and moist. Sivinche, made with river prawns, cilantro sprouts, flying fish roe and jora chica (corn beer) sauce for a bit of sourness. Fresh sea urchin, squid and salmon roe served in a cocktail glass was served afterward and you could definitely taste the freshness as it still had the remnants of the ocean. The next course was sushi from the sea that came in twos. Octopus and scallops from Paracas. Served with chopped tomato and avocado on top, the octopus had lovely firm texture. Meanwhile, the scallop was meaty with an added bit of maltiness from the maca emulsion.

Sushi-Sea

The second half of the tasting was a transition from seafood to poultry and land proteins. Lamb dumpling or Seco De Cabrito, served in a bamboo steamer was distinctive yet was such a profound flavor. Then there was the Cuy San, a small piece of fried Guinea pig or cuy (a delicacy of Peru) with yucca cream and sprouts. This was a first for me eating this type of animal and it was very interesting. Cuy meat was lean with a taste similar to rabbit. The yucca cream provided a rich sauce which went well with it. Next up was Sushi from the earth. Three pieces of sushi made from red meat; grilled pigeon, al pobre (steak and egg) with quail egg, and crispy duck. Each individual piece were both pleasing and somewhat fascinating.

Seco De Cabrito

Cuy San

Sushi Earth

Hen stock with sichimi and lime served with crispy skin followed. The crispy skin had an undistinguishable texture but at the same time retained the fried chicken skin characteristics. The stock on the other hand shocked the palate with a burst of flavor from all directions. Next was the miso black cod. An excellent piece of fish cooked to perfection and draped in sweet miso sauce. Braised short ribs on top of fried rice with cured meat and served on a piece of heavy rock. This was a superb dish of luscious short ribs that melted in the mouth. It was perfectly complimented with fried rice flavored with cured meat.

Caldo De Gallina

 

 

Miso Black Cod

Estofado Nikkei

Finally it was on to the sweet stuff and the first to arrive was the Cebiche dessert, a hodge- podge of lemon ice cream, sweet potato paper, chili macaroons, cherimoya, and tangerines. This was a refreshing, yet fruity dish with just a dash of spiciness to it. Coffee and cacao (C &C) was a stark contrast from the previous dessert. It was slightly bitter from the coffee powder which balanced the sweetness of the rich chocolate. A shot of espresso to go with the petit-fours finished the Nikkei Experience.

Petit-Four

For an additional Sol 120 ($40) I had the beverage pairing with the tasting. It was pleasant but the absence of sake was noticeable, especially for a Japanese restaurant. I mentioned this omission to the manager and he acknowledged what was missed and was willing to make up for it.

Wine Pairing:

Wine Pairing

Service at Maido was approachable and unpretentious. The friendly staff provided a relaxed atmosphere in the dining room. Though not all the servers spoke English, they were engaging especially the sushi chefs behind the bar. Language was not an issue as there was a manager who spoke perfect English and took care of mostly non-Spanish speaking guests.

Maido is one of the restaurants that I had to visit in Lima (Central is the other one). My hopes were high, but I’m glad to say that I had an excellent meal there. Chef Tsumura’s pristine flavor combination of Japan and Peru on each plate one course at a time was a stroke of genius. His use of local and foreign ingredients as well as applying his own technique in modernizing the Nikkei cuisine was creative.

Peru’s Nikkei combines the culinary wealth of two countries separated by the Pacific Ocean. Maido reinvention and representation of this cuisine continues to solidify Lima and Peru as a gastronomic powerhouse.

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be considered. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a curing prescribed to treat few ailments. What do you have to consider about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you have to ask your dispenser about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In addition, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are ordinarily able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may turn on erectile disfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.

Central

DSCN5999

Central
Calle Santa Isabel 376 Miraflores,
Lima 18, Peru
+511 2428515
Official Site

In the past few years there has been an explosion of Latin cuisine in the global gastronomy stage which can be compared to the New Nordic movement in Scandinavia. Peru and its capital city, Lima, is the epicenter of this trend. With influences from Pre-Columbian, Spanish, African and East Asian, the city has been dubbed as the gastronomic capital of Latin America. In the past twenty years, Lima’s restaurant scene has blossomed and has seen an influx of fine dining along with young and innovative chefs, like Chef Virgilio Martinez, who are popularizing Modern Peruvian cuisine.

Chef Martinez’s restaurant, Central, is considered to be amongst the top restaurants not only in Peru, but throughout the world. This year, Central was awarded the top spot in the 50 best restaurants in Latin America and no. 15 on the prestigious San Pellegrino The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. It was also voted as the top restaurant in the nation by SUMMUM Peru for the past three years.

Central

Early in his career, Chef Martinez cooked in the US, Europe, and Asia. Upon returning to his native homeland he became the head chef of Gaston Acurio’s flagship restaurant, Astrid y Gaston in Lima, arguably the most celebrated restaurant in Peru. He was also chosen to be the head chef in the Madrid and Bogota branches. Afterwards, he opened Central with his then girlfriend Pia Leoni (now his wife). To date, he also has a restaurant in Cuzco and in London also called Lima, the first Peruvian restaurant to receive a Michelin star.

Dining Room

Central is located on the quiet residential street of Miraflores, a few blocks away from Larcomar shopping mall and can be easily bypassed if you’re not looking for it. The restaurants modest exterior blends in with the rest of the homes in the area. Two tall wooden doors serve as the entrance. In the front is a pisco bar with dark lighting and it was also where I waited as my table was being prepared. The bi-level layout is designed with a modern interior and the main dining room is bright with high ceiling and plenty of natural light. An open kitchen behind glass walls looked out into the dining room. The tables were covered in neat white cloth and sparsely spaced with affluent locals who make up the majority of the guests. On the second floor are more tables and a wine storage area enclosed in glass.

Dining Room Second Floor

For both lunch and dinner the restaurant offers a la carte and two types of tasting menus, “The Matter of Elevation” (seventeen courses) for 388 Sol ($132) and the “Corto Central” (eleven courses) for 288 Sol ($97). I opted for the “Matter of Elevation” on my visit.

The tasting began with pisco and grapefruit juice that included herbs made of oranges. A parade of small dishes followed, beginning with Paita Expedition, frog fish with crispy algae. Then, Orchard of Mala or cactus milk with retama petals that was lightly citrusy and floral. Dry Andes made with chacao clay and ocas (a form of tuber). This was the first time I’ve eaten clay, it had a fascinating soiled flavor. The Ten Mile Fish was calamari with sargassum (seaweed) served atop sea rock. Diversity of Corn, created with three types of local corn (choclo, kculli and corn from San Geronimo) in different textures. High Jungles was made with Yacón, a yam grown in the Andes, and duck, all served in a wooden box of open achiote. The Dead Amazon, Ungurahui, Achiote and Coca Leaf was made into crunchy chips finished off this part of the tasting.

Matter Of Elevations:

Bread that was smoked in leaves for an extra smoky flavor came with two types of butter and was served before the big plate arrived. I enjoyed this bread so much that I had to request more!

The first main dish was Rock of the Sea made with clam and sweet lemon. The skillful technique used created a firm yet foamy texture with plenty of acidity, making this a wonderful dish. The next dish was a delicate yet tart Cold Cultivation, made with scallops, loche squash, and tombo. A vegetarian dish called “Valley Between the Andes” made with avocado, tree tomato or “tamarillo”, and a grain known as kiwicha. This was a trifecta of nuttiness, tanginess and sweetness. Octopus in The Dessert continued the tasting. The Octopus was cooked perfectly with airampo (usually used for coloring) along with a creamy sauce and corn for additional texture.

Extreme Altitude, (where the main ingredient, cushuro, a bacteria that grows at altitudes of 11,000 ft in the province of Cusco) followed. It had a look and feel similar to fish roe. This was supplemented by tunta (freeze dried potato) to create a interesting dish. Prior to the next course arriving, the server showed me a whole beef heart that was cooked and dehydrated and later shaved on top of kaniwa(a type of Peruvian quinoa) and served with milk. This delectable dish was called Mountain Beef.

Beef Heart

Mountain Beef

There was an array of dessert that followed. First was a chocolaty Arid Forest with algarrobo and mamey that sweetens the cacao from the Palo Blanco region of Peru. Afterward was Coco Leaf Environment, (coffee, chiromaya, muna mint), such a fruity and refreshing blend. Barks and Resin Jungle followed, shambo quiro, sachapapa, and huampo. This had just a hint of sweetness. To finish the tasting was Theobromas Solar Infusion, an Amazonian fruit macambo infused with stevia as a sweetener.

Arid Forest

The Matter of Elevations tasting was an educational and informative culinary tour of Peru’s rich biodiversity landscape. It tells the elevation where each ingredient that was used in the course came from. I enjoyed this meal very much, as the flavors were just fascinating to my palate. Wine pairings were mostly European and can often pose a challenge for such a tasting, but Central’s sommelier conquered it. The wines chosen were paired perfectly with the distinct taste of the food.

Wine Pairing:

Wine Pairing Wine Pairing

Exceptional hospitality at Central was expected and definitely received. The service was attentive and polite. The staff is well trained and spoke excellent English. Courses were explained clearly and they were more than happy to give me a tour of the kitchen when requested.

With all the accolades that have been given to Central, my expectation was running high. It was met with the brilliance of Chef Martinez that was displayed during my visit. The ingredients that were procured from the jungle of the Amazon, to the mountains of the Andes, the ocean of the Pacific and from their own personal garden were masterfully created. The different textures and combination of flavors were both complex and interesting. Each plate was a work of art, beautifully arranged with vigorous colors. This exceptional cuisine merits its place among the very top and continues to impress the dining public. Restaurants like Central have continuously put the city Lima on the world stage.

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be elaborate. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a medication prescribed to treat few ailments. What do you have to view about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you have to ask your dispenser about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In supplement, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are mostly able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may switch on erectile dysfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other men even if their state appears to be the same as yours.

Pio Pio Hell’s Kitchen

Pio Pio Hell’s Kitchen
604 10th Ave
(between 43rd St & 44th St)
New York, NY 10036
(212) 459-2929
Official Site

There are quite a few chain restaurants that started right here in New York City and have become successful locally and nationally, even worldwide. Restaurants like Danny Meyer’s Shake Shack are now all over the country, with one opening in Dubai. Dos Cominos and Sushi Samba. One of my favorite NYC chain restaurants is Pio Pio, a Peruvian restaurant that has branches in Manhattan, Queens, and Bronx.

Chicken is one of my staple proteins (along with fish), it’s simple to cook and it’s also very easy to overcook. At Pio Pio they take pride in their chicken. It’s moist, seasoned perfectly, and full of flavor. The Latin culture has many ways of preparing their chicken, but Pio Pio’s has a distinguishable taste that can only be found here. They also have a green spicy sauce that elevates the flavor to new heights if one enjoys spicy food.

I’ve also had a few of their starter dishes, like Cebiche Limeno. Made with fresh corvina chunks marinated in lime juice and mixed with red onions, and cilantro. It is slightly acidic and is reminiscent of a similar dish that I had in the Phlippines growing up. Also the Calamar Frito (fried calamari) is very tasty as well, fried perfectly so that the calamari is still soft and easy to chew.

Pio Pio has two combos that are great for a group of four, The Matador and Peruvian Combo. For $36 The Matador combo includes a full chicken and comes with rice and beans, tostones, salchipapa, and an avocado salad. The Peruvian combo which includes a full chicken served with an avocado salad and fries with hotdog for only $30. During lunchtime a $10 special is offered. It includes a half chicken and comes with your choice of one side and an avocado salad.

Not only does Pio Pio have great food but they also have a Red Sangria that is by far one of the best, in my opinion as well as my friends that have dined here multiple times, in New York City. The sangria has a rich fruity sweetness that is not overbearing while the alcohol can still be tasted in the background.

Hells Kitchen’s Pio Pio is different from the rest of its other locations. It has a flare of sexiness with the décor and interior that rivals even the trendiest restaurants below 14th street. The restaurant space is massive and has no problem accommodating dinner parties of 8 or more with ease, unlike it’s other locations where the space is limited.

Guests are greeted at the entrance by the host before being lead to their table. There’s a lounge section in the front packed with beautiful people on any given night. The lounge is followed by a long narrow marble bar that leads to the concrete steps downstairs to the dining area which is situated below street level. The high ceilings and walls are covered in tree branches that intertwine within each other. Several communal wooden tables with wooden chairs are spaced perfectly. During dinner service the noise level is amplified in this boxed in dining room, but never the less it’s still a pleasant dining experience along with service that is attentive.

What I love about Pio Pio is the consistency of their food. I know that I will have the same flavor and quality whether I am eating at their Jackson Height location or the one in Hells Kitchen. Their prices are cheap for the quality of food that they serve.

Compared to the Murray Hill location, which I used to frequent, the Hells Kitchen Pio Pio has become my favorite location. The atmosphere takes the dining experience here to another level.

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