Fabulous Peruvian Cuisine in the
Coming home
from the Monet in Normandy exhibit at
the Legion of Honor (magnificent! amazing!) on Saturday, my friend and I were
hungry for a lunch or brunch and we found an absolute treasure, Karamanduka,
Peruvian cuisine, at 18th and Clement, one block from Geary. A free glass of sangria (two maximum per
table) is available with brunch or dinner, if you ask.
Between us,
we had a heavenly Peruvian lunch of Cerviche de Lenguado (fresh halibut in a
rocoto chili cream, lime juice, ginger, Cuzco corn, yams and cancha), Causa Tres Estilos (aji amarillo, Botija
olives, and roasted pimientos infused mini Yukon gold potato with crab meat,
shrimp and roasted chicken), Tamal Criollo (handmade Peruvian dried corn
tamale, stuffed with roast pork), and Tiradito de Camarones y Pesacado
(butterflied prawns and halibut, marinated in lime juice, ginger, rocoto paste
and a touch of Pisco, camote). The amuse
bouche was a tapinade of Botija olives (very purple!), herb mayo, and crispy,
salted fava beans (prepared like corn nuts).
The weekend
brunch menu looks very interesting and everything $8-$9.50: Crab Benedict, classic Eggs Benedict,
Tortilla Maritima (open-faced omelet with shrimp, bay scallops, tomatoes,
cilantro, roasted peppers, topped with Jack cheese and salsa criolla), Tortilla
Vegetariana (open-faced vegetable omelet with mushrooms, squash, spinach,
tomatoes and cheese, topped with sour cream), Salchicha con Huevos (smoked
Longaniza sausage with mushrooms, tomatoes, eggs and cheese), Torrejas aka French
Toast (traditional French toast with Algarrobina scented marscapone cheese with
crushed macadamia nutes, drizzled with warm ginger maple syrup), Crab and
Avocado Sandwich (Dungeness and Blue crab meat, fresh avocado, spinach,
cilantro, aioli and cheese on a warm French bread, with garlic fries), Pan con
Lomito a la Caserola (Peruvian steak sandwich with tomatoes, onions and
cilantro on a warm French bread and garlic fries), Butifarra (classic Peruvian
pork sandwich, thin sliced marinated leg of pork with mustard and salsa criolla
on a warm French bread), and Pan con Chicharron (Peruvian deep fried pork and
sweet potato sandwich, topped with crisp red onions on a warm French
bread). Salads, soups, and more small
plates round out the brunch menu.
The dinner
menu has many of the small plates, soups, salads, and cerviches which are
available at weekend brunch, as well as some very interesting main entrees
priced $14-$17, such as Pescado al Toque de Camilo (grilled fresh swordfish
marinated in fresh herbs in a seafood sherry, peppers, cream sauce, served with
rice), Chuletas al Estilo Papa y Mama (smoked pork chops with sautéed asparagus
and wild mushrooms), Arroz con Mariscos (classic Peruvian rice dish with clams,
mussels, scallops, prawns, octopus in a cilantro rice, shrimp broth and dark
beer), Bistec a lo Pobre (flame grilled New York, Tacu Tacu, grilled potatoes,
eggs, fried plantain, topped with salsa criolla). Too many more choices to list here.
Desserts also looked very interesting. Chocolate Turron (a decadent chocolate treat with raisins and walnuts), Peruvian Bread Pudding (fresh baked bread with honey and sugar cane served a la mode), Platano al Roberto (carmelized bananas served with Lucuma ice cream rolled in pecan pieces topped off with a brown sugar brandy/picso glaze), Arroz con Leche (rice pudding with toasted coconut and cinnamon), Flan de Naranja (crème caramel with a touch of orange liqueur), and Alfajores (Peruvian cookies with dulce de leche filling).
Parking was
“no problem”, to be distinguished from the busier portions of
Karamanduka,
1801 Clement