Ceviche founder Martin Morales to open Casita Andina
Timed to open on Peruvian Independence Day, the 58-cover site will be inspired by the family-run, traditional restaurants of the Andes – the picanteria, many of which are attached to farms, orchards or allotments ‒ and the recipes created by the “Andinas” – women from the Andes.
Set across two floors, the site will also include a basement kitchen, a ceviche counter, a takeaway area, and an eight-seater open air patio. It will be open from 11am to midnight every day.
The kitchen will be overseen by executive chef Vitelio Reyes, former senior sous chef at Lima Floral.
Dishes will feature ingredients such as quinoa, maca, and amaranth – often dubbed Peruvian ‘superfoods’ ‒ with options such as Maca Lamb (huacatay marinated lamb loin with garlic maca uchucuta, and heritage Peruvian potatoes); La Soltera (black quinoa with green peas, oca, lamb’s lettuce, queso fresco sauce); Cobia Tiradito (black king fish, rocoto tiger's milk and pickled pineapple); and Chupe (king prawns, coriander quinoa chicharrones, and chupe liquor).
Desserts will be along the lines of Choc con Sauco (Peruvian chocolate with queso fresco mousse and pisco-infused elderberries).
Décor will be created by Cantor Masters Interior Designers, incorporating traditional textiles using old Andean weaving techniques and works by Peruvian artists focusing on Peruvian history.
Martin Morales said: “With Casita Andina we want to do something different to anything we’ve done before. We want to…turn it into a cute picanteria, and bring the charm back into Soho. Our focus is on incredible flavours; honest dishes full of tradition, and organic, sustainable ingredients. And my love for the Andes will come through its celebration of dishes and drinks, textiles and textures.”
Peruvian-born Morales has lived in Britain for the past 30 years, and is also the founder of Ceviche – which has two sites, one in London’s Old Street and one in Soho ‒ and Andina in Shoreditch. He is also involved in operating the Ceviche Old Street Gallery featuring 50 Peruvian artists, and runs his own music label, Tiger’s Milk Records.
