Chicago, IL Resident Among 2,600 Foreigners Warmly Welcomed Today in Lima, Peru in South American Cruise

In their South American stop on Lima, Peru, a group of 2,600 foreigners arrived today in Lima, Peru via “Star Princess”, the largest fleet of Princess Cruises as they begin their South American 32-day tour coming from San Francisco, CA, as the local newspaper El Comercio reports — including an interview to an American from Chicago, IL.

Foreigners were warmly welcomed by traditional music and dancers and the Peruvian pisco sour at the Main Square in the capital city. A video of their welcoming is available here.

Their next stops in South America will be Chile, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

It’s Been Named the “Acurio Mania”: La Mar Photo, Reviews and Acurio’s Profile in Food & Wine Magazine

Following up from my post on Gaston Acurio’s new La Mar restaurant in San Francisco, CA, Acurio has been profiled in the November 2008 issue of Food & Wine magazine under the title “Peru’s World-Class Cuisine.”

Reviews

“Once in a blue moon, an ambitious new restaurant lives up to its buzz. The principles behind La Mar Cebicheria Peruana, an outpost of a sleek, modern cebiche place in Lima, Peru (where the dish was invented), chose a dream location by the water next to the Ferry Building to open a breezy, resonant and amazingly self-assured operation. Everything about it feels right. “

— By The San Francisco Examiner, and “San Francisco Food Lovers’ Pocket Guide”

“The first U.S. branch of a Lima-based seafooder from Peruvian celebrity chef Gastón Acurio, La Mar Cebicheria Peruana is the latest arrival on the Embarcadero’s up-and-coming Restaurant Row, where it’s serving ceviche and other midpriced Peruvian fare in a setting that includes a large patio overlooking the Bay; the separate Pisco Bar and Lounge, specializing in cocktails made with the titular alcohol, faces the Downtown skyline.”

— By ZAGAT Buzz

“I was pleasantly surprised {…] All my dishes were flavorful and satisfying and yet seemed very light […] I loved the food and the atmosphere. Freshest catch in town. It’s not cheap (I would say our tab was Bar Tartine-like, maybe because of all the small courses adding up), but all in all I think I will go back. Soon.”

— By Chowhound

Lucky You, San Francisco: The Acurio Empire Has Arrived!

One of Peru’s greatest cuisine treasures is Gaston Acurio. A native Peruvian chef, his unmatched vision and superior quality while preparing the food has just arrived this fall in San Francisco, CA (and now I am feeling SO envious to be in the East Coast!). This is his first restaurant in the U.S.

Acurio just opened this fall La Mar Cebicheria Peruana (means The Sea Peruvian Cebiche Restaurant) in the newly renovated Pier 1 1/2 – just north of the Ferry Building. It’s been said that the rear of the restaurant will open onto the marina. Similar to his La Mar restaurant in Lima, Peru, the menu includes “classic Peruvian dishes and ingredients, such as potatoes, tomatoes and chiles, as well as pastas combined with seafood and chile-infused sauces, all adapted to Northern California’s sensibility and ingredients”, as the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Other La Mar restaurants around the world are in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Chile.

This week, the Chronicle also reported chef Jose Luis de Cossío left to return to Andina, the Peruvian restaurant in Portland where he was executive chef before coming to La Mar. Taking his position will be chef Victoriano Lopez, the head chef for all of Acurio’s operations, who helped design the menu and has been at La Mar since it opened in Peru.

And if you want to get to learn more about this “next super chef “, check out his Conde Nast profile story, which states:

Acurio is the most famous chef you’ve never heard of. In the last five years, the 41-year-old has emerged as a celebrity south of the equator: He has more than a dozen high-end restaurants in Peru, with outposts in Mexico, Panama, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, Colombia, and even Spain, plus a comfort-food chain, two fast-food franchises, a culinary school in Lima, a luxury eco-hotel opening next year, and a hit cooking show that plays constantly on Peruvian TV. Acurio’s businesses reportedly made $65 million in 2007, and revenues are expected to nearly double to $120 million in 2008.

So I guess I will either better start planning that trip to San Fran pretty soon…or start working on pitching him the idea to get a La Mar in the Nation’s Capital. Uhhhh…can’t wait!

And thanks to Marcelo Pimentel, my dear friend and correspondent for sending us the scoop from Lima, Peru.