Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

A13
Tuesday 24 april 2018

Asi Es Mi Peru restaurant:
“It feels like having dinner at home in Peru”

EAGLE BEACH - Peruvian-born Roxanna Salinas is the proud owner of a restaurant
that without doubt serves the purest Peruvian specialties in Aruba: Asi Es Mi Peru at
Paradise Beach Villas. She herself welcomes you in ‘her home’ as that is how the
restaurant is described by Peruvian foodies: Food like home, for sure the best com-
pliment a restaurant can get. “Everything here is 100 % Peruvian, we are authentic
and ethnic.” Peru by the way is considered to be the single most important cuisine
in Latin America with a repertoire of dishes that might even beat France. Many big-
name chefs travel to the country to get inspired.

How It All Started a screening that my broth- have standardized our typi-
“Many years ago during a er and I did, we were left cal Peruvian cuisine, we
Christmas gathering with with 190 and out of them are ready to take it to the
family my mom told me 10 cooked for me. I gave next level. Our Chef is very
why I did not open a Pe- them a basket with ingre- knowledgeable and we
ruvian restaurant in Aruba. dients and a certain plate bring higher cuisine to the
She said: who does not they had to cook. Based table.” She is visibly proud
love Peruvian food?” That on that I chose the Chef of her kitchen staff, all Pe-
was the trigger for the start and Sous Chef.” ruvians, and the ambitious
because Roxanne loves drive of ‘the woman be-
cooking, it is in her genes. Journey through Peru hind the wheel’ shows its
Her mom and grandmoth- Peruvian food is remark- success.
er were great cooks. “My able for the diversity of its “We have increased our
base principle was to do ingredients. It might be menu choices as we get
everything original and au- best known for its ceviche, many repeaters. Luckily with mushrooms, but actu- sushi for example is totally
thentic. When guests come the marinated seafood Peru has many plates with ally any variation our Chef different than the standard
to this restaurant I want to dish, but bestsellers are also each their own texture can prepare.” sushi and we have so many
serve them the food as if Lomo Saltado (stir fry strips and taste. For our guests pastas that are outside of
you were dining the best sirloin), seafood rice and we included a lot of pho- Roxanne explains that the Italian pastas. The variety
dishes in a house in Peru. Pescado a lo Macho (fish tos in the menu so they un- Peruvian food is influenced of corn, more than 500 va-
The taste is equal, nothing of the day). “For tourists I derstand what the food is by different cultures. “A riety of potatoes... I can go
is fused or changed. Many would highly recommend about and our waiters will lot of people came from on and on.” I guess you will
Peruvians that come here the Hot & Cold Tapas. It obviously explain too.” Im- China to work in the sug- need to try it for yourself as
say: I feel like I am having gives you a delicious va- portant to mention is that ar plantations, Japanese Roxanne’s place is unique.
dinner at home. It is very riety of dishes of Peru, you Asi Es Mi Peru offers veg- came to work in the rice Asi Es Mi Peru is open every
difficult to please Peruvians can really taste the dif- etarian and vegan choic- fields and African immi- day from 12 noon - 10:30
as naturally they know best ferent flavors. A journey es too and of course they grants brought their influ- pm.
what is authentic.” To find through Peru indeed.” Rox- have great ceviche on the ences as well... that’s why They are closed on Mon-
her Chef and Sous Chef anne explains that there menu. “We serve Fish Cevi- you see a fusion in the dish- day evening. Have a peak
she went to Peru where she is much more to come as che, Shrimp ceviche and es. The typical food and on their website https://
interviewed 190 applicants. the Chef is working on a Mixed Seafood Ceviche, plates from Peru mixed with www.asiesmiperuenaruba.
“We had more than 400 3-course and 5-course sur- but we custom made vary. these influences make up com/ or Facebook así es
people that applied, after prise menu. “Now that we The vegetarian is made for an excellent cuisine. Our mi perú.q