I stopped by Peru Cafe Express on 59 today for a late lunch. No indications of changes afoot except for posters in the windows announcing the restaurant is moving, just a few doors down, to a larger space. I guess the Empanada Factory will take over this space then.
The place is small, maybe 10 2 tops and it would be difficult to find room to move more than two of them together.
I picked up Pan con Lomo Saltado (“sauteed beef sandwich”) and a Peruvian pork tamal with salsa criolla. I don’t remember even seeing tamales on the menus of other Peruvian places I’ve been too but this was the real winner. It was boxed up sans wrapper so I don’t know if corn husks or banana leaf was used (recipes online use both). The color comes from Peruvian red chile (aji panca?) and it was delish, a little drier than I like tamales but still very good with just a hint of heat and lots of tender pork.
The salsa criolla - red onions a la fluta (sliced like a feather) dressed with lime juice, a little salt and maybe a hint of chile - was a great accompaniment. I understand it’s very widely used in Peruvian cuisine. The bag also included a green sauce, salsa verde, with a little more heat. Not sure which Peruvian pepper is green.
The sandwich unfortunately proved what I suggested above - this place is a little far for take-out for me. The bread was too soft and lacking in crust for my taste, a result of being closed up in the box for the trip home, I think, as was the handful of limp potato chips included. I just ate half the sandwich and will toast the bun for the second half. A very simple sandwich. Wish I’d saved some of the salsa criolla for it.
