Although I haven’t been to Peru, I am obsessed with Peruvian cuisine. One my best friends, Jimmy is from Lima. When first he cooked Peruvian food for me eight years ago, it was love at first sight. He made a causa: a mashed potato with a spicy finish topped with tuna. I was hooked. Since then, I search for Peruvian restaurants everywhere I go. From Rotterdam to Okinawa, I’ve dined at Peruvian restaurants around the world. When I found out there was a Peruvian restaurant near Dupont Circle called Nazca Mochica, I had to go and check it out. About my experience.
Photo Credit: Deb Lindsey
The Scene
I went to Nazca Mochica for lunch. It was pretty quiet given that it was a weekday and the neighborhood is mostly a residential area. Better for me, since I only had to share the restaurant with a few other guests. The restaurant has a small patio area, where I sat taking in the early warmth of a DC spring. I started my lunch with a passion fruit pisco which paired perfectly with the sunshine.
The Menu
The owner Walter Lopez, a native of Peru says he wanted to create an authentic Peruvian experience at Nazca Mochica. The authenticity begins with the menu. Many people relate Peruvian food to ceviche, but diners are selling themselves short if they don’t see beyond that. Thankfully the restaurant offers an array of Peruvian classics such as Lomo Saltado, Aji de Gallina, Anticuchos, among others.
The Food
My lunch at Nazca Mochica began with ceviche of course. It was a ceviche mixto, made with white fish, octopus, and shrimp. It had the creamy leche de tigre that ceviche is known for with rocoto (roasted corn). Then I had the causitas (small balls of mashed potato topped with peppers and onions). The causitas were the perfect size for lunch and packed full of flavor. For the main course, I had the lomo saltado. To me, lomo saltado is a great intro to Peruvian food, especially those who do not have a complex palate. Although the flavors were good, I was disappointed that the dish has a lot of fries but very little meat. Perhaps the lunch dish is served in smaller quantities…
Nazca Mochica: The Verdict
I concluded my lunch at Nazca Mochica with Alfajores, a traditional Peruvian cookie filled with dulce de leche. The cookies melted in my mouth and the sweetness of the dulce de leche was not overwhelming. It was served with a mango sorbet with a touch of aji amarillo. Delicious! If you need to get your Peruvian food fix, I recommend making a stop at Nazca Mochica.
Nazca Mochica, 1633 P Street, NW.Washington DC 20036, Website
