LIMA DAY 13: I am A Super VIP, Apparently

Monday, May 21, 2018

Last full day in town. Seems like I got here yesterday.

After being busy in the morning, I really, really wanted someone to put a whole Octopus on a plate and bring it to me. So I got in a taxi and went to a place that does that, Jose Antonio. Well, not today.

The waiter explained that yes, they do have Octopus, and I could buy it in a variety of ways, but no Senor, you can't have a whole Octopus on a plate this afternoon. I thanked him, grabbed my Kindle, and grabbed another taxi, this time to Puerto Norte (Facebook page). They are a little far from my place, but they were the first people to bring me a whole Octopus, so I felt good about it.

Well, it wasn't my day for that.

So I wave away the menu, tell the waiter what I wanted, and he, too, had a story about why I couldn't have what I wanted. It was 2 pm already, and I had Dinner reservations for later, so I decided to go with the (lack of Octopus) flow.

They had a few new things on the Menu, and something really pretty on the place mat, so I ordered away.

The thing on the place mat was a combination of Ceviche of Black Clams (bottom) and a Tiradito (slivers of raw Fish in a yellow Pepper Sauce on top, accompanied with some chunks of Fried Fish.

In real life, it looked almost as nice.

For my second Course, I had the Causa Puerto Norte.

This Causa - also super pretty - was both filled AND topped with Crab Salad, with four Fried Shrimp on top of that. And if that wasn't enough, it was sitting on top of some Tiradito - the raw Fish slices - but this time, in a more classic, Lime-based Sauce.

Puerto Norte never had *pretty* food before - Just really good food. I was confused for a moment, but then I remembered that the original owner of the restaurant died about a year ago, and his family took over. I guess that the children heard about making Peruvian Food pretty. At least they didn't screw with the taste and quality.

For my Main Course, I had their Tacu Norte.

This was on the 'old' menu, and hasn't changed. There's a Tacu Tacu (Rice and Bean Patty) with a Fish Filet, all topped with a Sauce with Scallops and a few Vegetables. Pretty wonderful.

I had an 8:30 pm reservation for two people at Panchita, my favorite restaurant. With my favorite waiter, Carlos. If I have to leave town, I figured, I might as well leave on an up note. I didn't ask anyone to join me tonight.

I left early and walked over from my apartment, stopping to shop and enjoy the walk and just mosey about, arriving at the restaurant a half hour early. The place was packed. It's always busy, but this was busier than usual. You couldn't even see the hostesses, what for the crowds of people trying to get a table. Not wanting to be a pest (yeah -- me!), I just grabbed a seat, broke out the Kindle app on my phone, and decided to wait until the crowd got straightened out.

Not three minutes later, the crowd parts and one of the hostesses comes to me and says (in Spanish), "Senor Richard, if you want to sit now, your table is ready." I follow her.

We parade to the center of the dining room, where there is a table for four set.

She points.

ME: A table for four? 
HOSTESS: Yes, this is for you.
ME: But all these people are waiting...
HOSTESS: Sr. Friedman, you have a reservation. This is your table.

Carlos and a Manager in a suit come rushing over. I've never seen *this* Manager before. I am still standing, staring at the table.

MANAGER: Mr. Richard, I have been wanting to meet you. 
ME: Glad to meet you too.
MANAGER: Is there a problem?
ME: No, I just feel bad about all the people waiting to eat.
MANAGER: Sr. Friedman, you are a Super VIP in this restaurant. This table has been reserved especially for you. Enjoy your Dinner, and let me know if you need anything - anything.

I sit. I don't embarrass easily, but today... yeah.

Carlos gets me situated with my Club Soda and Ice. We confer on the Menu, and I decide to start with a 'classic' Anticucho - Beef Hearts on a Stick.

It took me years of going to Peru before I broke down and tried Beef Hearts. I like them - go figure. I like them more in the better Restaurants where they are big and meaty. In some of the, uh, neighborhood joints they are smaller and get overcooked, at least for me.

For my Main Course, I again had the Adobo de Cerdo.

This was the Dish that I had at the other Panchita last week. Today's plate had the Pork still on various bones, so I had to work a little more to get to my food. It reminded me of when I cook Turkey Necks at home, so that was fun. I think I am going to figure out what the Adobo Seasoning is here (it's different from what we buy in the USA) and try it on some Necks sometime soon.

For my Farewell Dessert, Queso Helado. There's Always Room for Queso Helado. I love Queso Helado.

From my seat at the table, I could see that there was some Queso Helado drama going on (I had a view of the Dessert Girl). After my misadventures with the Octopus this morning, nothing would have surprised me. Carlos confirmed that yes, there were Queso Helado issues tonight, but that I had nothing to worry about. I'm still not sure what was going on, but after a slightly longer than usual delay... it was delivered.

It was wonderful, as always. I finished it (There's Always Room!), asked for the check, paid, and said my goodbyes until next trip. I got the sendoff that a Super VIP deserves lololol.

I was going to waddle to the Casino, but I took a taxi instead, and won some of their money for the third consecutive night.