From our friends at ThinkFoodGroup...
Chef José Andrés Opens Contemporary Peruvian Restaurant in the Heart of Downtown DC
José Andrés, the award-winning chef who introduced America to traditional Spanish tapas and championed the path of avant-garde cuisine in the U.S., opens China Chilcano, a contemporary Peruvian restaurant, in the heart of Penn Quarter in downtown Washington, DC (418 7th St, NW; 202-783-0941.) The restaurant celebrates Peru’s deeply rooted and diverse culinary heritage, including its native Criollo, Chinese Chifa and Japanese Nikkei cuisines. The name pays homage to Peru’s celebrated fish stew and one of its established national drinks, the Chilcano.
Drawing from time-honored techniques and traditional dishes, the menu at China Chilcano explores the crossover of indigenous ingredients between these three distinct culinary cultures and is divided into sections including Dim Sum, Soups, Ceviches, Chaufas, Sanguches and much more. José’s creative interpretations of Criollo classics, such as Papa a la Huancaina y Ocopa, an appetizer of native yellow potatoes served with two spicy, creamy sauces; Chinese-Peruvian favorites like Siu Mai de Concha, pork shumai dumplings; and Japanese-Peruvian items like the spicy, refreshing Ceviche Nikkei with Erizos de Mar are showcased to both celebrate and reinvent contemporary Peruvian cooking.
“Peru is an astounding place. You have incredible native foods, Chinese classics done the Peruvian way, raw seafood like you may find in Japan, all in one beautiful country,” shared chef Andrés. “My team and I spent a great deal of time there as well as in Asia these past few years and are very excited to share this world of flavors.”
Other highlights include Chinese-inspired Wantán Especial with noodles, chicken, shrimp, pork and bok choy; and the classic Aeropuerto - fried rice with noodles and 20 vegetables; offered alongside items like Chaufa a la Cubana with huevo frito, fried bananas and fresh tomatoes. Additionally, the menu features items inspired by Peru’s early Japanese immigrants, such as the Causaki California Roll; and the Tiradito de Concha Abanico con Maracuya, bay scallop, aji limón, passion fruit and salsa criolla. Desserts like Suspiro de Limeña, the iconic sweet of custard and meringue, a favorite in Lima; Raspadillas, a classic street food of shaved ice and fresh fruit syrups; and Ponderaciones de Kiwicha (also known as Amaranth) with algarrobina ice cream, chocolate and a crispy spiral fried cookie, round out the menu.
The beverage program, inspired by the history and multitude of native products and flavors of Peru, will feature a full bar with one of the largest libraries of Pisco in the U.S., and a curated wine list with nearly 50 labels highlighting the South American region, rounded out with some European options. The beer selection includes classics such as Nuevo Mundo, Cumbres, and Cuzqueña. The cocktail menu focuses on unique ingredients and Peruvian spirits with global inspiration; ranging from the traditional Pisco Sour and Chilcano; to more adventurous sips such as the Déjame Querete, pisco, persimmon, cinnamon, lemon, Cholotini, Macchu Pisco, prickly pear, passion fruit, lemon or the Pisco Alejandro, Cinnamon-Star Anise macerado, soy milk, honey, and vanilla.
The 158-seat restaurant - located at 418 7th St NW - was designed by renowned Spanish architect and designer Juli Capella, a long-time Andrés collaborator, to reflect the ebullient spirit of modern Peru. Highlights include a striking wall mural of a floral-tattooed femme fatale by Cecilia Paredes called ‘Both Worlds,” distressed wood floors and a traditional sunken Japanese dining table inspired by the menu’s Nikkei influences. Red neon lights evoking the ancient designs found in Peru’s Nazca desert hang from the ceiling, and a prominent 300-gallon fish tank celebrates the menu’s extensive seafood offerings.
China Chilcano is open seven days a week, starting with dinner only Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday (4-11:00 PM), Friday & Saturday (4:00 PM - Midnight) and Sunday & Monday (4-10:00 PM). Beginning in early February, the restaurant will also open for lunch daily and weekend brunch.
For more information or reservations, call 202-783-0941, visit chinachilcano.com, or follow Facebook or Twitter @ChinaChilcano
About José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup:
ThinkFoodGroup, founded by award-winning chef José Andrés and his partner Rob Wilder, is the creative team responsible for renowned dining concepts in Washington, DC, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and Puerto Rico, including minibar by José Andrés, Jaleo at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and The Bazaar by José Andrés at SLS Hotel Beverly Hills and South Beach. The company also oversees all of the creative and educational efforts for José Andrés, an internationally recognized culinary innovator, passionate advocate for food and hunger issues, author, educator, and television personality. Named to Time’s “100 Most Influential” list and awarded Outstanding Chef by the James Beard Foundation, Andrés is credited with creating the “Spanish food boom” in America. He is the Dean of the Spanish Studies program at the International Culinary Center, and was host and executive producer of Made in Spain on PBS. His cookbooks include Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America. Andrés has taught at Harvard and George Washington University. In late 2010, José Andrés and ThinkFoodGroup launched World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit, which aims to feed and empower vulnerable people in humanitarian crises around the world. For more information, visit www.thinkfoodgroup.com
