Peruvian Sex With Your Tongue

Latin men and women are the sexiest people in my book. The way their hips sway when they dance, the caramel color of their skin in the sun, and the amazing flavors of their cuisine in every region. When you think of having Latin food in Los Angeles good enough to give you food woody, you probably can only come up with Cuban.  But one region on my top 5 list that you need to try is further south of the border in South America: Peru. 

Peruvian cuisine has evolved from the combination of native ingredients like corn, potatoes and beans, combined with ingredients from Spanish settlers such as rice, wheat, beef, pork and chicken. Later, more influences from China, Italy, West Africa and Japan came into the culture with immigrants. Ground annatto is the common seasoning giving foods a red or pinkish hue.

Coastal cuisine varies from inland regions by including much more seafood.  The specialty is ceviche, chopped fish marinated in citrus juice and herbs. The acid cooks the fish, not heat. Centuries of cooking perfected their preparation of ceviche to an art form. The flavors from the meat and potatoes from this country leave one speechless while the food woody grows.

I tasted Peruvian food at different LA farmers’ markets and restaurants outside LA which left me unimpressed. Luckily, I found some great places around town to sample delicious and original Peruvian.

Natalie's Chicken Tamale

Hidden in a corner of Hollywood right off the 101 Freeway is Natalie Peruvian Seafood Restaurant. The outside is dingy, but once inside, you will be charmed by the giant murals of Machu Pichu.

Natalie's Special Fried Rice

Known for their ceviche, Natalie also has many other delicious dishes on the menu. For starters, try the Chicken Tamale. Similar to the Central American style - with white corn wrapped in banana leaves instead of cornhusks – with the inside all red and spicy from annatto.  Also amazing is the Special Fried Rice, with beef, chicken, shrimp, squid, and egg and is a huge mound enough for four.  But the raging food woody here goes to the Shrimp with Lobster sauce.  It’s so good you won’t want to share it.

Natalie's Shrimp with Lobster Sauce

Los Balcones' Ceviche

A Peruvian condiment of thinly sliced marinated red onions are out of this world and most plates are garnished with them.  Also, every table comes with a jar of homemade spicy green salsa, and a few dabs on your food really bring out the flavor.

Not too far away in Hollywood is Los Balcones del Peru.  Yeah, the decor is outdated and tablecloths would be a nice touch at dinner to hide the worn out tables, but after a glass of wine and the food arrives, who really cares what the place looks like?  So what if the face isn’t great if they got a great ass, right? The food here is Zagat rated and totally amazing!

What to get:

- The fish ceviche is perfect and spicy.

Los Balcones' Fried Calamari

- Fried calamari is crispy outside and tender inside.

Los Balcones' Beef Lomo Saltado

- Lomo Saltado is a National Peruvian specialty of roasted marinated beef, chicken or shrimp stir-fried with French fried potatoes and grilled onions, served with rice. Here it’s the best in town.

- Picante Meriscos is seafood that's not spicy as might be expected by the name, but comes in a heavenly cream sauce with sliced yucca and hard-boiled eggs.

- Pescado Especiale is basically paella and it’s so damn good!

- The fish stew is perfectly cooked everything.

Way downtown near the USC campus is Mo-Chica.  Their claim to fame is Peruvian fusion served with a creative flair yet very reasonably priced.  It’s inside Mercado La Paloma, which is a sort of flea market with food stands, so it’s a ‘rustic’ environment.

Mo-Chica Lamb Shank

I planned to start with ceviche but they were out. The must-have here is the Stewed Lamb shank; It’s big, meaty and flavorful served over beans with roasted hominy kernels.  They have daily specials and many tasty menu dishes all can be washed down with a variety of fruity teas including passion fruit, purple corn, and barley/ginger. 

All three restaurants are very reasonably priced with appetizer in the $5-$10 range and entrees $9 -$18 but always plenty of food to split two – or three- ways. Los Balcones is my favorite Peruvian restaurant so far, but Don Felix Restaurant on Alvarado and Mario’s Peruvian and Seafood on Melrose are also well-rated Peruvian restaurants in LA that I plan to try.

Natalie Peruvian Seafood Restaurant

5759 Hollywood Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90028

(323) 463-8340

Los Balcones del Peru  CLOSED

1360 Vine St

Hollywood, CA 90028

(323) 871-9600

Mo-Chica

3655 S Grand Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90007

(213) 747-2141