In a city that has seemingly a new brunch every week, it takes a lot to stand out from the crowd. But La Mar by Gaston Acurio, inside the Mandarin Oriental, did just that with its new Peruvian-style brunch that kicked off last weekend.
The brunch begins with an extensive hot and cold buffet featuring some of the almost year-old restaurant’s classic dishes prepared by Executive Chef Diego Oka. The cold station contains items like seafood ceviches, causas, tiraditos, and Peruvian-style sushi rolls. Directly adjacent to it is the hot offerings with items like anticucho grilled chicken, octopus, veal heart, and yellow corn along with an assortment of empanadas, sliders and whole fish.
Then it’s time to start your main meal beginning with the Chaufa Aeropuerto, La Mar’s signature Chinese fried Rice with pork and shrimp omelet drizzled with sweet chili Nikei sauce, that is finished at the table and served family style. Everyone could instantly see why this dish is such a favorite at the restaurant.
Each diner then gets an option to choose one of four main courses like the Grouper Chorillana, with grouper, tamarind chorrillana sauce and mashed yuca with smoked bacon or Plancha Anticuchero, grilled octopus and calamari with crushed potatoes, ají panca pepper sauce, chimichurri and choclo corn. For an additional fee there is an option for “premium entrees” like the King Crab Plancha Anticuchera with crushed potatoes, ají panca pepper sauce, chimichurri and choclo corn or a 16 oz Churrasco a lo Pobre with ribeye angus beef, chimichurri, beans and rice tacu-tacu, egg, and fried banana.
Just when you hit the point where you don’t think you can eat anymore, one of La Mar’s elaborate dessert displays hits the table and your mindset complete changes. Housed in a rainbow colored wooden box almost a foot in height, each compartment contains an assortment of desserts like alfajores, seasonal macaroons and tarts, Peruvian chocolate mousse, pie de limon, homemade candies, and truffles.
Of course it wouldn’t be a proper brunch without a drink (or six) and unlimited Piper-Heidsieck champagne, several of the restaurant’s classic cocktails including three types of Pisco Sours, traditional Mimosas and Bloody Marys, are all included in your brunch.
La Mar’s brunch is served every Sunday from 11:30am to 3:30pm for $85 per person. For an additional $20 per person, you can upgrade your meal with a premium entree and unlimited Charles Heidsieck champagne.
Until you get a chance to make it over there yourself, check out the pictures below of the meal.
