Tierra Unica is a destination blogsite focusing on world travel, entertainment, cuisine, news, popular culture, sports, business, technology, humor, and events from around the world with an emphasis on the USA and South America (Peru, Argentina, Brazil, etc).
Last year the Travel Channel's Anthony Bourdain returned back to Peru and dined with Gaston at Toshiro's Sushi in Lima. Bourdain gets blown away by Peruvian Nikkei Cuisine! As you can see, Gaston speaks a little English and explains the influence that Peruvian Cuisine has on Japanese Cuisine, and visa versa. Especially the culture and cuisine of Peruvian Cebiche. In Peru Cebiche is not just food, they take it very serious - it is culture!
Pictures of Peruvian Nikkei Cuisine in Lima, Peru:
Picture of Diego Oka, La Mar's Master Peruvian Cebiche Chef, in Lima, Peru. I met Diego last week at Gaston's San Francisco La Mar "Soft Opening". He will be the head Cebiche chef at La Mar here in San Francisco. He is young, but looks a lot younger than he really is.
In Peru, there is an enormous population of Peruvians with Japanese heritage. Former Peruvian President Fujimori comes to mind. In addition, there is a bigger population of Peruvians with Chinese heritage.
Both cultures and culinary styles have influenced modern day Peruvian Cuisine for centuries! In the early 1970s, both Toshiro and the legendary Nobu, #1 celebrity Sushi chef in th world, came from Japan and lived in Peru for several years. They both had success restaurants specializing in "Peruvian Nikkei Cuisine". As you can see, Toshiro stayed in Peru while Nobu exported Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei Cuisine to A-List Hollywood celebrities in Beverly Hills, New York, London, etc.
If you ever dine at one of Nobu's very upscale restaurants, you are eating Peruvian influenced Japanese Cuisine. With a touch of Nobu's genius...
San Francisco's La Mar Nears Post-Ply Status, Sets A Tentative Date
Originally written on Thursday, August 21, 2008, by Paolo from ESF. Here it is again with updated info. La Mar is putting in the final touches and preparing it's staff for the grand pubic opening soon.
Embarcadero:Coming off Friday's announcement of the final tenant for Bloomberg's pier project, our bayside correspondent sends along some photo updates from the heavyweight of the bunch: La Mar. And since we last checked in with Gaston's first American endeavor, the thing is quickly reaching behemoth status. There's literally a different bar around every corner, they're working 'round the clock, banquettes have been installed, the layout is evident, flags hang from the ceiling and the patio is ready for heat lamps. Oh, and they have a tentative date : Late September.
Stay tune people. This grand opening will be like no other in San Francisco. La Mar mania is currently hitting the cuisine, food, and restaurant press all over the U.S. and aboard.
Here is Rachel Ray, United States #1 celebrity chef and the Food Network's premier star, when she vacationed in Peru with her husband recently. Rachel experienced the food and the culinary scene first hand of Latin America's #1 culinary capital, Lima. Rachel met Gaston at his La Mar restaurant in Lima briefly (the clip was cut in this video). Then they dine at "Scena" in Miraflores-Lima and both experienced Culinary Nirvana with just a taste of the fabulicious "Fideo Peruano Con Lucuma"!
Rachel Ray - America's #1 Celebrity Chef Vacations In Peru - Gets Blown Away By The Fabulous Peruvian Cuisine!!!
Rachel is correct about what she said above about Peruvian food and ingredients in the United State:
Quote by Rachel - "....You can't buy Peruvian ingredients in New York. I can't make these at home. Bummer!"
Quote by her husband - "...You can't bring it to the U.S. either"
Quote by both - "...We better eat more here in Lima, Peru. Quick!"
That is 100% true my fellow Gringos, Asians, Europeans, Africans, and non-Peruvian Latinos; you heard it from the cuisine god herself, Rachel Ray. No matter how good the Cebiche, Tiradito, Lomo Saltado, Tacu Tacu, Sopa la Criolla, Pollo a la Brasa, etc. is at the best Peruvian restaurant in the United States, Europe, or Asia; it is incomparable to the flavor, taste, and texture to the food and cuisine in Peru.
Dining in Peru will blow you away amigos!!! According to European and international food experts, Peruvian cuisine, in Peru, is right up there with French and Chinese as the best cuisine in the world - bar none! Here in the U.S. the trend is just starting to hit mainstream with many cuisine experts declaring Peruvian Cuisine as "Next Big Thing".
A screen shot of the cut clip from Rachel Ray's vacation in Lima, Peru when she visited Gaston's La Mar in Miraflores. Here is Gaston himself talking with two girl about the fine art of Peruvian Cuisine and Peruvian Pisco Sour (Pisco brandy mixed drink). Pisco is the national drink of Peru.
Travel & Living TV show in Castellano (South American Spanish) about Lima, and the trendy & hip "Scena" Restaurant in Miraflores-Lima, Peru.
Food Networks' Rachel Ray with her husband dining at Scena in Miraflores-Lima, Peru.
Look at Rachel Ray and her husband. Because of their European Latin backgrounds (Italian), they can actually pass and fit in with the original definition of Peruvian Lima society, "Criollos Limeños". I am not going to translate the meaning of that phrase because it is off topic, but you get what I mean.
Here is picture of the fabulicious Peruvian dish "Tiradito" at Gaston's La Mar in Miraflores-Lima, Peru. It is the younger brother of the Peruvian Cebiche. The dish below is similar to what Rachel Ray ate at Scena:
Quote about the above picture:
"We had the tiradito for entree, the small king fish fillets are cut into thin slivers then mixed with the lime juice, the cilantro, the aji limo, salt and most importantly with the aji amarillo, or yellow peppers.
Great taste. With the acidity of the lime, the spice of the yellow peppers, and the tender and raw kingfish.
If you are in Lima and want to go to La Mar make sure you get there early (it only opens for lunch) so you can get a seat, otherwise you will have about one hour waiting at the bar."
PS. Gaston's San Francisco La Mar will open within 30-35 days. Stay tune for updates international cuisine lovers.....
