Peru comes to London with LIMA, a new restaurant concept presenting Peruvian cuisine in a contemporary style. LIMA is the creation of world-renowned Peruvian chef, Virgilio Martinez, and his partners, Gabriel and José-Luis Gonzalez. Robert Ortiz, Virgilio’s longtime friend, runs the kitchen. We can see how great this partnership works by the success Lima has achieved in a short period of time.
From Lima to London
LIMA is a representation of the gastronomic expansion that has taken place in Peru during the last few years. So Martinez (ranked #4 in the World 50 Best List and #1 in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list) and Ortiz came up with the idea of showcasing Lima to London, as the gastronomic capital of the Americas. Since its opening, the restaurant has won over many happy customers. Plus, in 2013, Lima Fitzrovia was awarded a Michelin star – the first and only Peruvian restaurant to achieve this.
Peruvian Food
Peruvian cuisine is a melting pot of different cultures which have come together to form a unique blend of flavours and techniques. With the arrival of European and Asian immigrants centuries ago, their ingredients and customs intertwined over the decades with those of the locals, creating what is known as Peruvian cuisine.
Traditional Peruvian Starters
We were invited to experience the flavours of Peru for ourselves and of course we said yes. The dinner began with a traditional starter called Tiradito, which is a Peruvian dish of raw fish, cut in the shape of sashimi in a spicy sauce. It reflects the influence of Japanese immigrants on Peruvian cookery. We went for the Cobia Fish Tiradito with Black Tiger’s Milk, Jerusalem Artichoke. Chia Seeds – it was delicious. The next starter was a ceviche, a raw fish and seafood marinated in citrus juice, mainly lime and lemon juice. Our Black Bream Ceviche was served with avocado, sweet potato and Aji Limo and was not only colourful in presentation, but also flavoursome.
On to the Main One
When it came to choosing main dishes, we were spoilt for choice. Think Suckling Pig or Braised Corazon (beef hearts). But we felt like continuing with the seafood, since our starters were so yummy! Therefore, we opted for Halibut Cactus with Seaweed and Pink Molle Pepper, and Seared Black Cod with Cusco Yellow Corn and Palm Heart. Both dishes were full of flavour and colour, just check the pictures! The dishes went perfectly with the wine recommended by restaurant’s sommelier, Intripalka Chardonnay 2016, Peru.
Peruvian desserts
The highlight of the dinner was the dessert, Avocado Mousse with 75% Chocolate and Red Pepper. It not only looked cool, but also tasted yummy. We also ordered some fresh mint tea to help with our digestion, after such a hearty meal.
For more information, check out Lima’s website www.limalondongroup.com or visit Lima Fitzrovia at 31 Rathbone Place, London W1T 1JH.
