Tanta - A Restaurant by Gaston Acurio

Tanta is one of the famous restaurants from Gaston Acurio. I mentioned him in my post of La Calesa. Well, he is a peruvian chef who became popular in Peru because of his many succesful restaurants here and abroad. Eating in a restaurant by Gaston Acurio is a synonymus of quality and finest food. He has many chains of restaurants in Peru and I read in the newspaper he's founding a Chinesse Food Restaurant at the peruvian style. This man is awsome, he always innovates food. I think that is why he's been recognized around the world. The last saturday I was supposed to meet my "best friend" Guillermo but as he ussually does he didn't care about it and got slept at the lunch time, not even a call. Fortunately, along the time you learn to know people, so I just waited for him until 12:30 pm then I made my plan for the day. First, I wanted to look for appartments that feed into my budget- a difficult task believe me!. Then, I took a bus to San Isidro, exactely to an area close to my job, and walking over there I found Tanta and I decided to have lunch there. It wasn't my first time eating there, some time ago I tasted a delicious and unforgetable dish in the same location so I decided to come in. This time I was curious about seafood at the Gaston Acurio's style so I ordered:

Tiradito two-colors
Causa filled with crayfish pulp
Chocolate dessert
Frozen Chicha

It was a complete meal and a very expensive one (60 soles) . Prices here are so relatives. The next day I went to a good seafood called El Señor Limón and spent the same money but for 2 persons! However, nobody in Peru is so popular as Gaston Acurio. Anyway, he worths to its price. I was kind of embarrased because I wanted to take photos but I was alone, however I found courage because my purpose is to give valuable information in my blog and that includes pictures taken by me some times. So I ask the waiter that please take a panoramic photo for me, but he told me he was going to ask to the "man in charge", another man came to my seat and asked what I wanted, I repeated the same and he told he was going to asked to his supervisor. It was kind of disturbing because I just wanted a photo of an empty area! I didn't want to bother anybody. Then the supervisor came to my seat, at his favor I can say he was hot,hehe. He asked my why I wanted to take photos and the url of my website. And he finally allowed me to take photos "but only a couple please".  It was kind of embarrasing for me because was the first time I asked for permission. Talking about my food, the Tiradito was made of perico, which is not really a fine fish but it tasted as the finest fish in that preparation, however it was too few for me then I asked the Causa, it was better in quantity and one of the best Causas I've ever tried. Then I wanted a dessert, I'm on diet but I coudn't resist to the appealing desserts, so I ordered one that lunched me to heaven. In my opinion, eating in Tanta makes me feel as eating fine food made with common ingredients. By the way, I wouldn't recommend the Tiradito but the Causa and the dish I ate before Arroz a la norteña were excelent.

Here the photos I took for you:



Helpful personnel

 

Tiradito two-colors and frozen chicha

Causa filled with crayfish pulp



 Mouse of chocolate filled with almonds and crunchy coconut



The problematic photo I was finally allowed to take



Address: Av. Pancho Fierro 117, San Isidro

Webpage: http://www.tanta.com.pe/

Cycling in Lima

This summer I'm turning back to sports. Despite of many bad experiences I left them a long time. Now I restart my summer cycling, running, swimming and playing basketball (my first game of the year is this wednesday). I'm also looking for boxing academies so I promise to take photos when I find one. But this post is about cycling . From my experience I think the safe route and the more panoramic view is going over the sea by the Costa Verde or by the waterfront until chorrillos, exactely stopping in Agua Dulce and turning back because the place is kind of dangerous (too much traffic and bad-faces people). Although is ok if you are in group. In this route you will see the amazing sundown, the beach, the Maria Reiche park wich is like a hidden treassure and many people making sports so you won't feel alone. I took some photos of the skate park in San Isidro but I just could rescue one =( . There's also a circuit for bikes. Next time I'll take photos of the park and the sunset. I'll show you in my next post.

Skate Park

Parque Maria Reiche

La Calesa

A famous bar located at San Isidro named La Calesa called my attention some time ago. However I went for the first time (and maybe the last time) yesterday night. The place looks warm, plainly decorated and andean-house style inside, the music is in very very low volume and the barman doesn't look happy (they are very serious men). Maybe the place can fit good for people in their 40´s but I expected something different. Then I remember the article I read about thei pisco sour, they said La Calesa makes the best pisco sour but as a pisco drinker, specially pisco sour drinker, their pisco sour sucks. I can prepare it much better and I'm not a bartender. Then I asked for a wine glass and guess what they only sell wine in bottles, then I had to order this time a maracuya sour (passion fruit sour) and bingo!!  it could be the best I've ever tasted. I have to admit something I was irresponsible with my health, I can't drink because of my liver ache but I did and then I had to vomit everything. That's how I met the bathroom and was ok but it's just for one person. I'm glad I didn't have any witness but I really hate to make a line to use the bathroom.I forgot some details: when we arrived nobody open us the door, happily my friend knew the bar and open the door hisself. It must be very elitist, but for me is bullshit. Even when I saw Gaston Acurio drinking there. Don't you know Gastón Acurio? He's a famous international chef who has many sucessfull restaurants in Peru and abroad.

Wanna see?



photo taken by me



Me tasting the pisco sour



Maracuya (passion fruit) sour

The address? - Manuel Bañon 255, San Isidro, Lima, Peru

El Escondite del Gordo -Seafood

Today I tried to make it an special day so after work I wen to eat a "tiradito" a very tasty peruvian meal based on raw fish and after that I went to Gloria Jean's Coffees (i talk about this in the previous post). The point now is El Escondite del Gordo (the hideout of the fat man), a place more or less famous becaouse of their food. Then I had to see if what they said is true, specially to comment on this blog. I came in for the first time to their establishment in San Isidro and I didn't think it was a good restaurant according how it looked like. The place is careless, the walls seem dirty, there's not good  lighting, the attention is not good and the place was almost empty (I supossed because very few people near there work on saturdays) however I still remember the good comments about the restaurant and they're not wrong!!.I order my favorite dishes: 

- Causa filled with crayfish pulp

- Tiradito two-colored (rocoto and aji amarillo cream)

The waiter delivered my orders very fast and I by the time they last I was expecting something regular but they surprised me. The tiradito was really good, the 3rd best tiradito I've tried and the causa very well done. Nevertheless, I didn't enjoy eating there because of the atmosphere I've told you above beside the dish presentation that was sad.

I couldn't take photos, so I share some form their website:

I clear up some points:

El Escondite del Gordo has 3 establishments, I went to the Juan de Arona's.

Av. Juan de Arona 672, San Isidro, Lima, Peru.

They have another one in Armando Blondet, San Isidro too who looks better in photos.

They also sell franchises, maybe I went to a disorganized franchise.

Look for more info here: http://elesconditedelgordo.com/

Gloria Jean's Coffees

I don't usually work on saturdays but today I had to go to my office which is conveniently situated at San Isidro so after work I just have to go some block to get to Gloria Jean's Coffees which became quiclkly my favorite point.In fact I'm right here righ now tasting their new recipe for Christmas. The coffee is excelent not like the bulshit of Starbucks, the music is cool, the atmosphere is warm and very comfortable, the conexion is fast, this is heaven? - Not, is Gloria Jean's, an Australian franchise in Peru who came to compete with the monster (also for ugly) Starbucks. I'd take the opportunity to make photos with the cam of my laptop.

This photo I title "crazy to exit the office" (was taken before going to Gloria Jean's)

Office

Me enjoying my Gloria Jean's coffee



At the door

More information and photos in their website http://www.gloriajeanscoffees.com.pe/

My Gloria Jean's Coffees: (they have other establishments)
 Av. Rivera Navarrete 841, San Isidro