My leaving party at work was a perfectly on-theme visit to Peruvian inspired Pachamama Bar & Kitchen in Marylebone. As a larger group we were seated in the back of the restaurant in a cozy vault-like room. We selected to have the sharing menu but it was by no means limiting; were able to try a mighty selection of small plates divided into the following categories; SNACKS, SEA, LAND, SOIL & SWEETS.

At times the food was decidedly Spanish, for example the crispy, salty pardon pepper snacks. You could also see that the restaurant is doing seasonal British produce proud in many of its dishes. For example, the Cornish sea bass ceviche with samphire. Of course, there is also no shortage of delightful Peruvian ingredients such as yuca, aji chilli and quinoa, along with a glimpse of Peruvian-Japanese fusion in the tangy, soy saucy Yellowtail tuna ceviche.

From the playful brown crab and yuca chrurros to the veritable garden of sweet chocolatey crumbs, micro leaves and flowers that the fig alfajores arrived upon, every dish was beautifully presented.

The restaurant is in a basement and of course we went on what was the hottest day of the year so far; however the surroundings feel like a cool colonial courtyard with dangling greenery and faux crumbly walls. The ceiling however is stripped back and industrial, but it works. The bar was a veritable alchemist’s store of pisco infusions; I think we would have needed a month to try them all.

Pachamama had been on my hit- list since it opened, I am very lucky that my now ex-work indulged my appetite for all things Peruvian. That said, I think that Pachamama lacks a little of the rougher, simpler authentic style of pure Peruvian food, but I cannot complain at all as every single dish was beautifully executed and genuinely delicious. It is so exciting to watch the rise of this South American cuisine in London, and even better to do it in the wonderful company of my former colleagues. Thank you for the send off and viva la cocina peruana!