Fiesta Restaurant Gourmet
2017 Sauvignon Blanc (Chile)
Pisco Sour
Marraqueta – Local Goat Cheese
Mero Murike Ceviche – Red Onion, Lemon, Salt from Cusco, Cerezo Chiles, Limo Chiles, Toast, Salsa
Sauteed Day boat Sea Bass – Red Onions, Fried Plantains, Tomatoes, Squash, Cocona Sauce, Crispy Rice, Green Peas
Chirimpico of Baby Goat and Loche Squash Stew – Goat Tripe Chiclayo Style
Organic Rancho del Conde Duck Chiclayo Style – Cast Iron Rice, Squash, Peas
Salad of Onions, Radishes, Limo Chile Cream
Picarones – Honey-Fig Sauce, Membrillo
The Earth Cycle – Loche Squash Ice Cream, Brownie “Soil,” Herbs and Flowers
Having spent the afternoon exploring Amazonian cuisine at ÁmaZ it was to another region of Peru that eyes turned for Dinner on Saturday, Chef Hector Solís’ Fiesta focusing on Moche cuisine from the North and reinventing traditional peasant plates into fine dining amidst modern environs in Miraflores.
Another restaurant focused on regionality of cooking as well as product, Hector’s roots in Chiclayo giving him a deep appreciation of the Food of his childhood where the Solis family first opened a place called Fiesta some three decades prior, 2018 now sees Fiesta Lima entering its 22nd year at Av Reducto 1278, the building basically hidden save for a small sign amidst a mostly residential neighborhood.
Largely empty at the start of business but soon to pick-up, the overhead soundtrack humorously flipping twice to Christmas songs throughout the course of a 140-minute meal, it was with a Glass of Chilean White plus tableside Pisco Sour and Bottled Water that the evening got underway quickly, an amuse described as Marraqueta not dissimilar to a Gougere in terms of flavor though more like a Dinner Roll in terms of texture.
Decorated in traditional artwork plus a statue of Jesus in contrast to the space’s contemporary Bar, though all four of the family’s Restaurants are reportedly quite different, it was after some discussion with pleasant bilingual servers that the decision was made to dine plate-by-plate, an opening volley of meaty Grouper served raw and ready to be bathed in Acid amongst the best Ceviche tasted during eight days in Peru thanks to an ability to customize one’s own Tiger Milk while the follow-up of Line-caught Sea Bass got a little lost in the rich Cocona Sauce, though a side of crispy Rice was great both on its own and with the accompanying Vegetables.
Clearly showing a passion for tradition by placing several Chiclayo home-style dishes at the menu’s center, the Goat Ribs said to be “very special” even as eyes wandered elsewhere, suffice it to say that those unafraid of something a little funky would be well-advised to order a portion of the dish titled “Chirimpico” featuring braised Goat and its Offal plus Loche Pumpkin in fragrant yellow Sauce while no one should consider leaving Fiesta without a cast iron pot of local Duck atop Vegetables and Coriander Rice that cooks crunchy like a Paella around the edges.
Turning the party over to Fiorella Vidal for Dessert, this menu too a mix of heritage and modernity, it was alongside feather-light Squash Doughnuts ready to be bathed in Honey that an elegant dish called “The Earth Cycle” was offered, subtle Loche Squash Ice Cream covered in painted White Chocolate offering a striking contrast to crumbled Dark Chocolate Cake and thin Candy squiggles.
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