Positively Peruvian

Positively Peruvian
By Bonnie Small

If your bucket list includes exploring the cuisines of the world, you’ll want to head over to the new Inka Mama’s restaurant in San Clemente’s Talega Village Center to peruse some delicious and authentic Peruvian classics!

I definitely recommend starting off with a glass of Inka Mama’s house-made sangria. They offer both red and white versions, made either with merlot or pinot grigio, splashed with fruit juices and garnished with frozen diced green and red apples, nectarines, pears and oranges.

As your Sangria arrives, so will a basket of sliced French baguette and a small jar of jade green Aji – Inka Mama’s house-made, super-addictive sauce made from pureed Serrano chilies and lettuce! This spread has both deep flavor and a kick (butter is provided for less adventurous diners). Long after our bread was gone, we splashed the Aji on our plates with reckless abandon!

With a vast Pacific coastline, Peruvian cuisine incorporates seafood into many of their traditional dishes. The Ceviche – available with either mixed seafood or sashimi-style slices of Alaskan cod – is marinated in lime juice, yellow pepper puree and ginger and then tossed with sliced red onion, cilantro and Peruvian corn nuts called “cancha.”

Topping our list was Inka Mama’s house specialty – Estofado – where thinly sliced medallions of beef are quickly sautéed and then simmered in a sauce made from slowly braised red onions, garlic and cilantro. Another favorite, Arroz con Mariscos, (similar to Spanish Paella, minus the saffron) is rice steeped in a mild brew of water, beer and cilantro and then tossed together with shellfish and spices.

Lomo Saltado is the national dish of Peru and Inka Mama’s turns out a great version of this classic! Strips of top sirloin steak are browned and then sautéed with tomato wedges, sliced onion and French fries and then served with a delicious “au jus” made right in the pan.

For dessert, we selected Sweet Francesca – a crepe filled with fried plantains and caramel sauce and served with Lucuma ice cream (Lucuma is a mild tasting “egg fruit” grown in the Andes.) Que Rico!

INKA MAMA’S in Talega Village Center
821 Via Suerte, #4 • San Clemente • 949. 369 .6262 • InkaMamas.com