Waterfront Peruvian hotspot La Mar by Gastón Acurio at Mandarin Oriental, Miami announces a new menu, which takes the restaurant’s acclaimed cuisine to new heights with innovative ingredients and unexpected flavor combinations by Executive Chef Diego Oka.
Fresh from a culinary tour of Italy and Asia, Chef Oka unveils more than 20 new dishes inspired by his travels. Cebiches, Tiraditos and Causas ($16-$29) present an intriguing selection of the iconic Peruvian dishes including the Lujoso cebiche with lobster, sunchoke leche de tigre, aji Amarillo, avocado and green olive oil, and Bachiche tiradito with fresh catch, 22-month aged parmesan cheese leche de tigre, colatura, garlic chips and basil. The new Flor causa encases Maine Lobster tartare in squid ink-infused potatoes delicately piped over it to resemble a flower topped with caviar, gold and avocado.
Popular Peruvian grilled skewers Anticuchos ($11-$39) are elevated with a range of dishes beautifully layering flavors and textures. New menu items include a delicious Swordfish with miso anticuchera, grilled broccolini and sesame, and Plancha Carretillera with sweet breads, chicken liver, and chicken heart. Vegetarians can delight in the Plancha Veggie with crimini mushrooms, smoky anticuchera sauce, broccolini, choclo, potato and rocoto garlic butter.
Oka’s passion for transforming the traditional is evident in his Peruvian Specialties and Arroces y Pastas ($25-$59). With the Tallarin Taypa, pan-fried egg noodles are served with scallops, char siu, quail egg and XO sauce, celebrating the influence of Chinese immigrants on Peruvian cuisine.Cachetes de Ternera present tender veal cheeks braised in Peruvian purple corn juice chicha morada, which are served with pepian de choclo herb-corn puree. The Rocoto Relleno fills a rocoto pepper with velvety seafood stew and cheese before it is torched tableside to add a light char to the ingredients. Oka’s Tamal is created with pork jaw and quinoa, grilled fish, seco stew sauce and mint chalaca salsa – a dish inspired by the chef’s recent winning menu at culinary competition Cochon555.
Lighter bites are also available in the Chirashi and Piqueos sections ($12-$18) to include chirashi sushi bowls of Lobster, Acebichado mixed seafood, and Anticuchero tuna. Conchitas a la Parmesanaare scallops topped with cheese foam, lime and crunchy garlic crumbs whimsically served on a shell.
La Mar by Gastón Acurio is located at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, 500 Brickell Key Drive. Lunch is served from 11:30am to 3:30pm and Dinner is served from 6:00pm to 11:00pm daily. Sunday Brunch is offered weekly from 12:00pm to 3:30pm. Reservations are suggested at +1 (305) 913 8358. Valet parking; all major credit cards accepted.