Anyway, on to the review du jour...
This evening's gastronomic adventure took us south of the equator to Taste of Peru. Located in a tiny strip mall in Rogers Park at 6545 N Clark St (just north of Devon), don't let the exterior of this little culinary gem fool you. Simply and sparsely decorated with Peruvian handicrafts and pictures of the Peruvian countryside, this family-owned BYOB restaurant serves up delicious and hearty authentic Peruvian fare at a very reasonable price. The owner proudly displays the many accolades the restaurant has earned (ranging from Chicago's very own Check, Please! to the Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and even the Michelin Guide) and for good reason - our group was in total agreement that the food was superb!
The waitress we had (I believe she was one of the owner's daughters) was friendly, knowledgeable and willing to share her favorites. While the restaurant is BYOB, no one brought alcohol this evening so some of us decided to try some of the Peruvian non-alcoholic beverages they have on the menu (based on our waitress's recommendations). We tried the Inca Cola and the Purple Corn & Pineapple (?) drink, the name of which escapes me - both were excellent. For those familiar with Faygo (a Michigan soda/pop), the Inca Cola was reminiscent of that brand. We were brought some complimentary bread and a dipping sauce to tide us over until we were ready to order. Our waitress told us they called the sauce "pepper" - it was a mixture of chicken broth, chillies and a few other ingredients - expect a spicy jolt to your taste buds (a little bit goes a long way).
We decided to order some appetizers to start: Empanada de Carne, Empanada de Pollo and the Papa A La Huancaina. Unfortunately, our appetizers got lost in the kitchen so they came out after we got our entrées but that didn't hinder us. The empanadas were delightful; they had a nice fluffy, slightly sweet pastry that encased a flavorful and suitably spiced filling. Our one disappointment was the Papa A La Huancaina; perhaps the picture featured on the menu should have been a visual warning to us. We were hoping that in might look a little different in "real life" but no, it looked exactly like it did in the menu. For most of us, it was the sauce that threw us for a loop - it was the color of egg yolk/mustard and thicker than a hollandaise. Just not anyone's cup of tea.
Other than that, everything else about the meal was fantastic - our entrées and desserts more than made up for the Papa A La Huancaina. There was a lot of repetition in what we ordered, but it was SO GOOD: Lomo Saltado (2) - the #1 best seller & highly recommended, Bistec A Lo Pobre-Estilo Llita (2), and Chaufa De Vegetales (1). There were no surprises or twists - just simple, hearty and savory Peruvian cuisine. It felt as if we had stepped into someone's home and they were merely serving us a home-cooked meal. And no one left hungry, that's for sure - many of the plates were practically spotless at the end of the meal. Of course we had to end the meal with some traditional Peruvian desserts and we decided to sample a little of everything: Alfajores, Budin and Arroz Con Leche. All very good, though I was a little disappointed as I wanted to try the Flan.
This was a great treat (and inexpensive to boot!). Friendly/welcoming atmosphere (I appreciate that the owner came over and chatted with us & we weren't rushed to leave even though the restaurant was starting to close). Would suggest visiting on a Tuesday or Wednesday night when they feature live Peruvian folk music. Definitely 5 stars!
STAY TUNED FOR NEXT MONTH'S GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE...
We are back to the start of the rotation, so Herb will be picking our next spot. Keep a look out for updates & check back in a month for a new review!
