#centrallima

I have never been a picky eater and would eat anything! Lol

But from time to time, I do get the chance to dine at Three or Two Michelin star, celebrity restaurants... So I can say that I have eaten some of the best, most complex and exquisite food creations around! 

But none of those restaurants come close to the incredible dining experience I have had at Central - named by the World's 50 Best Restaurants list - as the Fifth Best Restaurant in the World and the Best Restaurant in Latin America.

http://m.theworlds50best.com/index.html

https://www.forbes.com/sites/cheryltiu/2016/09/27/central-in-peru-is-once-again-the-best-restaurant-in-latin-america-for-2016/#1c8c0b24bbda

And it was only until I started the experience did I realize why it is more than deserving of that accolade. 

For Marketers, Central's USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is it gives you a gastronomic journey throughout Peru across the country's wide range of elevations where they harvest and use ingredients and inspirations from the various edible elements found across these different altitudes. From sea urchins found at sea, to native fruits and plants found on top of the mountain, Central's 11 and 17 course meals are meticulously curated to present the best Peruvian gastronomic experience to anyone willing and who dare (and afford) to experience.

Look at this 11-course Mater Ecosystems menu at Central in Lima!

1 - Rock Molluscs - so the only edible parts are the green crispy seaweed crackers on the left-hand side as well as the sea snail, mussel dish in the white circular marble container. I really liked the strong seafood flavors of this black paste of sea snail and mussels got me excited and this is when I told myself... No amount of money can equal the value of living life to the fullest! Lol

2 - Thick Stems - From below sea level, Central took me to 3,500 meters elevation to taste the Peruvian olluco extract, which are basically Andean potatoes mashed to extract its juice that is pure and evokes a sharp tangy sting. And the other edible part of this creation is olluco with different Peruvian herbs and spices wrapped in dried onion strips. 

3 - River Scales - the edible part and the highlight of this course is the chunk of shrimp blended with a thick tasty sauce with fish, herbs and an extract of a plant native to Peru. This is another favorite course of my meal! I love seafood and prawns! I have to write an article next about my favorite shrimp restaurants in New York and Manila!

4 - Forest Cotton - the white bean/nut you can see is the Pacae fruit also found and grown in Peru. I am gonna say that I find the fruity taste to be very interesting and a great addition to trying more types of food in Peru!

5 - High Jungle - Macambo, Cassava, Sachaculantro, Air Potato - this course rich in carbs has been created with ingredients from a 2,800 meter elevation!

6 - Marine Soil - Uni!!! Love the sea urchin meats, clams and cucumber melon mix! Taste is light, flavorful and refreshing.

7 - Land of Corn - Peru being pretty much a rich agricultural country plants and harvest corn year round. Corn has been the staple food eaten by the Andrean people for centuries! 

8 - Sea Coral - Love this combination of squid, octopus, and crab in a bit of squid ink. By this 8th course, I am already full! Haha 

9 - Low Andes Mountains - the 9th course meal is pork! Just cannot wait to have the desserts!

10 - Amazonian White - Love the chocolate flavors of an authentic Peruvian cacao with Bahajua nut! 

11 - Medicinals and Plant Dyes - to finish off the experience and to cleanse my mouth was this herbal juice and paired with a nutty-flavored cake. What a great and light way to conclude my gastronomic journey around one of my favorite countries in the world!

And as if my experience is not crazy enough yet...

The entire kitchen crew of the Fifth Best Restaurant in the World and celebrity chef Virgilio Martínez Véliz joined me in documenting my incredible dining experience with the best restaurant I have been to... ever!!!

Meet one of the best celebrity chefs in the world -  Virgilio Martínez Véliz 

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/09/foodanddrink/profile-chef-virgilio-martinez-central-peru-lima/

Thank you to the super awesome culinary team at Central Lima for the amazing gastronomic experience!

P.S. Make sure you make your reservations 3-4 months prior to your visit in Lima. If you are reading this and you are few days or weeks away from your visit, your only chance would be to try to snag a bar seat and hope a spot at the dining hall opens up for you on the day of your visit. 

Tasting Menu Prices:

Mater Ecosystems (11 courses): 368 Soles (approx. US$ 113, taxes included, FX rate as of June 1, 2017) >>> For an 11-course meal for this level of experience, I am going to have to say that this is excellent value!

Mater Elevations (17 courses): 447 Soles (approx. US$ 137, taxes included, FX rate as of June 1, 2017)

For reservations, visit the offical website of Central:

http://centralrestaurante.com.pe/en/

Enjoy!

- Nhesthy Ong

Here at wherewegoingman we don't really do food photos.  You've all seen enough pics of burger and chips, right?

Andy's birthday in Lima. And boy, did we celebrate - in none other than Central, the 4th best restaurant IN THE WORLD! Yes folks, you heard that correctly. WE GOT IN!!!

Post prandial we retired to a bar where we chewed the fat til the wee hours. Marvellous.