Cinco de Mayo Fiesta!
Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone! May 5th commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. In the US, this date is observed as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, which in present day loosely translates to people drinking a whole lot of tequila and cerveza. … Read more
Aji De Gallina
Aji De Gallina is a traditional pulled chicken dish with aji sauce that we prepared as the main entrée in the Peruvian Cooking Class in Lima. It is a stew of chicken strips in a cheese sauce served with rice and boiled egg. Because of time constraints, our instructor pre-cooked the chicken itself prior to our arrival. Chef … Read more
Tiradito
Tiradito is a popular Peruvian appetizer that reflects how Japanese cuisine has influenced Peruvian cooking. It is prepared with sashimi-style fresh fish that is marinated with lime juice. Tiradito is similar to ceviche, but the fish isn’t diced into cubes and no onions are used. Both are typically garnished with boiled potatoes and Peruvian corn. … Read more
Papa A La Huancaina
I made this appetizer in my Peruvian Cooking Class in Lima. In the interest of saving time, the chef had pre-boiled the potatoes and eggs for us. The dish is a relatively heavy appetizer, since it is potato based with a creamy cheese sauce, so it’s a pretty strong start to a meal. Some of … Read more
Taco Salad with Roasted Chickpeas and Cilantro Lime Dressing
I stumbled across this recipe from deconstructingthehome a few months ago and was immediately infatuated. Chickpeas aren’t an ingredient I am used to stocking so the recipe photo link just sat there tantalizing me for weeks on my “Recipes to Try” Pinterest board. Finally, I came across a tower of chickpea cartons on sale at … Read more
La Cerveceria, NYC
La Cerveceria Chef: René Ibarra Cuisine: Peruvian Neighborhood: East Village Price: all plates are under $20 Phone: 212-777-6965 Address: 65 Second Avenue, NY, NY 10003 Hours: Mon-Thurs 3pm-12am, Frid-Sat 2pm-3am, Sun 2pm-12am Located on a busy stretch of Second Avenue amidst numerous bars and eateries, La Cerveceria is a Latin American/Peruvian restaurant that serves up … Read more
Rayuela Brunch, NYC
Rayuela Executive Chef: Máximo Tejada Cuisine: Estilo Libre Latino, contemporary Latin American and Spanish Neighborhood: LES Price: $30-50 pp brunch Phone: (212) 253-8840 Address: 165 Allen Street, NYC 10002 Kitchen Hours: Mon – Thur 5:30pm – 11pm / Fri – Sat 5:30pm – 12am / Sun 5pm – 10pm Lounge Hours: Mon – Thur 5:30pm … Read more
Quinoa Salad Tabbouleh-Style
My quinoa addiction started during my holiday in South America, where I ordered this refreshing quinoa at almost every meal. I find the taste of quinoa itself to be quite mild, maybe slightly nutty, but I absolutely love the crunchy texture and fluffy consistency. Sometimes I feel like I am betraying my natural affinity for white … Read more
Chilean Cuisine Cooking Class
In December 2011, Natalya and I were fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to South America for a holiday. In Argentina, we were able to fulfill all our foodie dreams of Argentine steak, chimichurri, and bold red wines. By the time we had crossed the Andean Lakes into Chile, we were completely beef-ed out and the cow population had probably … Read more
Chirimoya Alegre (Happy Custard Apple)
Mark Twain once called the chirimoya “the most delicious fruit known to men” and I wholeheartedly agree. On my most recent trip to Chile, I was able to taste the rich, velvety sweetness of a chirimoya for the first time. Chirimoya, also spelled cherimoya, is a fruit native to the Andes and is grown throughout … Read more
