Our Food Adventures

Our Guest Ricardo Zarate, the “Godfather” of Peruvian cuisine, was born in Lima Peru and is the second youngest of thirteen siblings. A large family requires a lot of cooking, so he assisted his mother and grandmother in the kitchen which influenced his culinary career. With no culinary school in Lima, he moved to London and began his journey. After twelve years of hard work in notable restaurants, he decided to share his creativity and Peruvian flavors with Los Angeles. Mo-chica opened in 2009 with success. He expanded his culinary influence by opening multiple restaurants in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and London. In this episode, Ricardo describes his journey from being an at-home cook to help out his parents to a successful restauranteur and chef. Ricardo’s Dishes to Try at Los Balcones -Ceviche Frito (Striped bass Rocoto Leche de tigre, Roasted sweet potato, cancha Corn chulpe) -Oysters (Uni Ponzu, pop quinoa, charred aji oil) -Pulpo A La Parrilla (grilled octopus, anticucho BBQ, Cauliflower puree, pickled