On our second Valentine's Day as a couple, Carlos and I ventured out to one of our top favorite restaurants: Machu Picchu in Somerville, MA (Union Sqaure). We did this last Valentine's Day so we thought it would be a nice treat to go back again for the same celebration. Machu Picchu serves wonderful authentic Peruvian food. I've been here numerous times and it never disappoints.
When you sit down, you are greeted with a plate of Peruvian Cancha and dipping sauce. Cancha is toasted kernels from Choclo corn (a type of corn with super big kernels which is also used in soups and appetizers served at the restaurant). I forget what's in the sauce but it's a wonderful blend of spicy and cool. You take a spoon, scoop up a few canchas and dip into the sauce. Much better than any buttered popcorn!
For beverages, Carlos got an authentic Peruvian beer called Cusquena and I got a mixed drink called Pina Borracha (translated into Drunk Pineapple) which was a wonderful mixture of coconut, pineapple, cherry and rum. Mmm...
For an appetizer, we shared a plate of Chicharrones de Cerdo. These are large cubes of pork, salted and deep fried and served with thinly sliced and grilled sweet potatoes and pickled red onions. Oh. My. Goodness. This is so amazing. I fell in love with this dish the first time I had it with my friend H. It's something I always look forward to when I come to visit this restaurant.
But the piece de resistance is the Lomo Saltado. This is by far Carlos' favorite dish and it's my favorite too. Strips of beef cooked with tomato, red onion and fried potatoes served with a big scoop of rice and topped off with cilantro. Wow! It's salty and greasy and delicious. We split our plates in half so we could enjoy the goodness the next day for lunch.
See how excited Carlos is to dive into his plate of Lomo Saltado?
The waiter, who is super nice and has waited on us several times before, offered to take our picture at the bar. Aren't we a cute couple?
If you live in the area, please make a special trip to Machu Picchu. It won't even cost you a plane ticket! And on certain nights they play live music, so make sure you call ahead to reserve a spot.
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