Qusqo-Peruvian Restaurant

This is by far one of my new favorite restaurants in LA! Although i'm not really a fan of going out to eat because as a chef the notion of eating someone else's food that I feel I can make better and then having to pay for it as well makes me cringe.  But after a day of feeding people Mother's Day Brunch at the LA Mission me and a buddy of mine figured we'll have a bite to eat somewhere eclectic and off the beaten path. Well so much for off the beaten path since the spot we stumbled upon happened to be right on Santa Monica Bl. and Barry Ave. in West L.A. Since I haven't had Peruvian food in awhile I thought this would be a nice place to try.  It was the middle of the afternoon and the place was completely empty which I loved because that way I could take in the ambiance of the place without all the human clutter that seem to be the case at most restaurants.  The art on the wall was a mixture of all styles from abstract to art deco and even some anime was represented on there wall.  The waiter was very pleasant and encouraging on all levels by telling us some of the faves from other customers.  We started off by splitting a Quinoa salad with fresh cucumbers, celery, and tomatoes which was very refreshing and light just like an app should be while getting your palette ready for the main dish.  After that the waiter brought out these shot glasses of Chicha Morada aka Purple Corn Beverage that was life changing!  I've never tasted something that was so good and so good for you. Finally our food arrived: Grilled Salmon with White Beans and Rice and Cilantro Chicken and Rice with Peas.  The food was really good and not to heavy and complicated which I hate to eat complicated food with an plethora of garnishes and accessories . All in all it was a great lunch on a beautiful day with great company.
Now some people confuse Peruvian food with other Latin faves forgetting that Peru is in S. America which was one of the routes during the "Golden Triangle" days when Alcohol, Sugar, and Slaves were some of the main cargo which means S. American food and culture have alot of African, Chinese, and Englsh influences so don't be thrown off by some similarities in the menu especially when you see Chicken, Fish, and Rice dishes.