An Improbable Fusion

Peruvian food is an astonishing improbably fusion of cuisines with influences from the Incans, Moors, Spaniards, French, Chinese, and Japanese. In my book, it ties with Cantonese food as my favorite all time cusine!

In case you were wondering... I LOOOOOVE potatoes. They are of course a matter of national pride! According to wikipedia, over 3,000 potato varieties are grown in Peru!!!! Some Peruvian varieties that come to mind include papa amarilla, huayro, huamantanga, and perricholi. Some of these potatoes have found their ways into some of my favorite dishes including carapulcra, causa, cau cau, papa a la huancaina, lomo saltado, ocopa, and the papa rellena.

Potatoes!

Potatoes aside, what I love about Peruvian cuisine is its uniqueness. This is mainly attributed to the different kinds of aji and rocoto (chillies) and herbs such as huacatay that are used and have been used since the Incas.

Huacatay!

Aji Rocoto!

Potatoes often make me think of stews, soups, and pachamanca. Although Peruvian cuisine has its fair share of those types of dishes, not all Peruvian food is heavy and or laden with starch. Take ceviches and tiraditos for example. With the introduction of limes and onions by the Spaniards, and a new approach to fish by the Japanese, ceviche as it is known today is light AND healthy. It is a sort of "sushi meets lime."

As some of you may have heard, I am on a mission to find the best Peruvian Restaurant in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. This has proved a bit challenging considering the deluge of new Peruvian restaurants that open every few months. Here is one that sits near the top of my list!

Opened when its sister restaurant Limon, @ 16th and Valencia, closed for renovations, Limon Rotisserie, at 21st and S. Van Ness, offers all of the Peruvian basics necessary for FABULOUS lunch or dinner. If you are by yourself, this is what I recommend that you eat...

Ceviche de Pescado y Camarones ($9.25)
Tacu Tacu ($2.50)
Trio of Sauces
Pollo a la Brasa with Fried Yucca ($7.25)
Tiramisu de Lucuma ($6.75)

Moderately priced, their menu is organized as a collection of cold and hot plates. Perfect for sampling. I would recommend getting no more than three or four plates per person. If you get chicken (you HAVE to get the chicken!), I suggest getting just one or two additional plates! More rants on what makes Peruvian Rotisserie chicken the BEST EVER later...

Limon Rotisserie 4.5/5