As you may know, in my second year of blogging I began to flirt with social media. That led me to twitter and facebook which, in turn, led to Tastecasting — and all that led me to a new circle of friends (real live people 
) which we affectionately call “So FL Foodies” on facebook.
In less than a year, the group has gotten together multiple times for upscale dinners at places like Scarpetta and Hakkasan in The Fountainbleu Hotel, for a Indonesian tasting dinner at IndoMania, for burgers (the kind with foie gras) at Charm City Burger and also the kind from a truck (Latin Burger), etc. Yes, we really mix it up. We even had a ‘Chefs’ Pot Luck’ poolside at “Diva’s” house that was a whole lot of fun…and good food!
This time our Coordinators Extraordinaire, Diva/Chef Maude Eaton (@fortheloveoffood) and the “Mayor” Everett (@ergagit), performed yet another feat with a fabulous tasting menu at Miami’s hot (I mean, mucho caliente) Peruvian restaurant. 
CVI.CHI 105 is a modern Peruvian restaurant. No, it’s not on South Beach nor Brickell, but it could not be more trendy! You can tell by the name/logo. It’s situated in the heart of old downtown Miami, close to Bayside Park — but based on its popularity, diners don’t care where it is. At 4:00 on a Sunday afternoon this very large space was packed! And Chef Juan Chipoco could not be more of a charmer. Despite hundreds of people in the restaurant, he was totally accessible. In fact, he hand-carried every course to our table and explained each one. 
So, here is a feast for your eyes (it was for our bellies). After a pisco sour and a few wines, the photos while not great are at least representative of the wonderful things Chef Juan serves in his beautiful space. Oh, and here’s Chef Juan.
Aphrodisiac Pisco Sour and Corn Nuts bar snack.
“Ceviche Orgy” with variety of Peruvian pepper sauces; upper left-rear toasted corn nuts, the sweetest Peruvian corn boiled in anise, and sweet potato.
Causa Makki: Crab, avocado, octopus, shrimp bound by potato and served cold with yellow pepper sauce (my favorite, I think).
Chitta Roll: Breaded fish stuffed with avocado, shrimp with a reduction of Asian glaze and tiger milk.
Corvina Mamaelle: poached fish with Peruvian smokey red pepper sauce and potato gratin. 
Chaufa Mixto: Mixed seafood, beef, chicken and rice (Peruvian Chinese Cantonese style) 
Tacu Tacu de Corvina A la Huancaina (Pan seared corvina with rice, Peruvian beans, and yellow pepper sauce.)
Suspiro Limeño, Merengado de Chirmoya, Mousse de Lúcuma
So how did you like this introduction to Peruvian food? Are you booking a flight to Miami (or Lima) yet?
17 Comments
Subscribe to the Comments
Great pictures, great food, great site! Who knew Peruvian food could be so yummy AND so photogenic?! Mayor Everett, of course, and Diva Maude! Can’t wait to return…
I’d have to fly to Vancouver first and then on to Miami. I know it would be worth the trip Joan!
When’s the next plane out! What a feast.
Did we feast or what? …. Great time, delicious food and your pictures show it…. thank you for sharing.
What a wonderful foodie meeting with great people and offline with food that aren’t pictures
Ceviche, Pisco, suspiro limeño…mmm incredible feast!
Have a great week!
Gera
Congrats on your coming third year of blogging! This group seems to be having a great time and the food looks incredible. Maybe I should head down your way and join all of you!
I am sorry I missed this. What great food and so much fun…..
Wow, looked like an AMAZINGLY delicious ceviche feast.
Everything looks fantastic. What a great group of people to meet with and visit all these delicious places!
I would love to try all these delicious looking Peruvian specialties!
Sometimes I miss Florida. LA has great food, but this feels like the real deal. GREG
I’ve never ever heard of tastecasting. I want in big time. You’re so lucky. This dinner looks awesome.
I have never heard of or seen many kinds of this food. Love the story about how you all met!
valerie
Peruvian food has so much so much variety and is very regional I love it.
Never tried most of those dishes, except for the fried rice lol. but I’ve had the more typical Peruvian dishes my mom’s Peruvian friend makes some awesome meals.
Like “Lomo Saltado” (beef, tomato, and fried potato stir fry),
or “Papas a la Huacaina” (potatoes with a type of cheese sauce), or
“Aji de Pollo” (a type of shredded chicken dish with the chicken in a creamy yellow pepper sauce),
mmmm also the boiled corn with an assortment of sauces and assortment of grilled meats (very simple seasoning salt, pepper, msg)
What else. Oh this type of “Arroz Verde” and “Aguado de Arroz”
Just to name a few
you gotta try “Picarones” (fried pumpkin fritters in syrup)
just to name a few, of course the ceviches are famous.
OMG FORGOT TO MENTION you have to try the “Chicha Morada” it’s a type of purple corn drink I think.
Thanks for all the tips, Nathan. I hope to visit Peru one day soon.
Trackbacks / Pingbacks
show trackbacks[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Joan Nova, Liza Walton. Liza Walton said: Great review! And so fun! RT @foodalogue: So FL Foodies, A Primer to Peruvian Food + CVI.CHE 105 • Miami http://goo.gl/fb/HLWfD [...]