Mandarin Oriental, Geneva has teamed up with celebrity chef Gastón Acurio to open Yakumanka, an authentic cebicheria (ceviche restaurant) serving Acurio’s acclaimed Peruvian cuisine.
The restaurant has a vibrant, modern setting and is the perfect complement to the hotel’s gourmet restaurant Rasoi by Vineet.
César Bellido, a talented 29-year-old chef and disciple of Gastón Acurio, is in charge of this second Yakumanka restaurant in Europe, after Barcelona. César honed his skills as head chef at the acclaimed gourmet restaurant Astrid y Gastón in Lima before overseeing the launches of Yakumanka in Barcelona and La Mar in Doha. Acurio’s La Mar restaurant is also available at sister hotel, Mandarin Oriental, Miami.
In addition to cebiche, a speciality made from fresh fish marinated in Leche de Tigre, a citrus and coriander marinade, Yakumanka serves tiradito, raw fish finely sliced and placed on top of delicious emulsions just before serving. Also offered are anticuchos, skewers of meat or fish – a popular version of Peruvian street food – and the unmissable lomo saltado, a dish made from beef sautéed in a wok and flambéed in pisco. Colourful, wholesome, healthy and full of flavour, Peruvian cuisine has something to tempt every palate.
Yakumanka’s warm, inviting decor with marine accents by Brandfood Studio led by Peruvian designer Morandi Arcela, creates a welcoming ambiance for diners. At the restaurant’s open cebiche bar, diners can watch chefs prepare their cebiche and tiradito, while the cocktail bar offers an exciting selection of cocktails based on pisco, the famous Peruvian brandy. Those wishing to enjoy a relaxing view over the Rhône can do so from the covered terrace, subtly styled to transport diners to the heart of a typical Peruvian cebichería.
Commenting on the opening of Yakumanka, David Collas, General Manager at Mandarin Oriental, Geneva said, “We are thrilled to host world-acclaimed chef Gastón Acurio and introduce diners to the authentic and diverse flavours of Peruvian cuisine.”
Celebrated for making Peruvian cuisine a global phenomenon, Gastón Acurio is excited to open a restaurant in Switzerland. “Geneva is undeniably a cosmopolitan city, a cultural intersection, which is home to the European headquarters of the United Nations. I love being able to bring my native cuisine, with its varied flavours here and to showcase my seafood specialities. I’m absolutely delighted to highlight what Peru has to offer with its exceptional ingredients”, said Acurio.
Reservations for Yakumanka can be made by email: [email protected] or phone: +41 (22) 909 00 00.
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