Chef Gastón Acurio, the globally-renowned Peruvian chef with 29 restaurants around the world, will open his first New York City restaurant in September. La Mar Cebicheria Peruana will be located at 11 Madison Ave. at 25th Street, overlooking beautiful and historic Madison Square Park. Serving as executive chef will be Victoriano Lopez, Gastón’s most trusted partner in the kitchen who has worked at his side for 17 years. The general manager of La Mar will be N.A. Nadir, formerly the General Manager of Japonais in New York and Las Vegas, assistant general manager of Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain, and general manager and managing partner of Pico in New York.
Rising architect Stephanie Goto, whose portfolio includes Aldea, Corton, and Morimoto, will design the restaurant. Goto will transform the bi-level space into a modern Peruvian restaurant that echoes its sister eateries in South America, but also presents a distinct New York point of view – beautiful and contemporary, with clean lines, a neutral palette accented with La Mar’s signature bright colors, customized furniture, and installations evoking the spirit of Peru.
La Mar’s menu offers Gastón’s haute Peruvian cuisine, featuring ceviche, tiraditos, causas, platos criollos, and anticuchos, focusing largely on seafood, and showcasing bright flavors, color, texture, and the best ingredients. The cocktail menu is built around pisco, the national spirit of Perú, and the wine-list will highlight American, South American, and international selections.
Chef Victoriano was born in the Andes, and at age 18 he went to Lima to work for an uncle as a street vendor. Victoriano landed a job at Astrid&Gastón, where Gastón discovered and developed Victoriano´s talents in the kitchen, and he swiftly moved through the culinary ranks. Victoriano has held many positions in Gastón’s restaurant kitchens, and has become his most trusted partner, overseeing the openings of new restaurants around the world. In addition to Gastón’s restaurants, Victoriano has trained in the kitchens of top restaurants around the world, including Cellar de Can Roca, Mugaritz, and Arzak, and his next project will be to serve as the representative of Peruvian cuisine and culture at La Mar in New York.
Gastón is the chef and owner of restaurants in twelve countries around the world, and is known as the Ambassador of Peruvian Cuisine. His restaurants include: Astrid&Gastón, Tanta, La Mar Cebicheria Peruana, Chicha, Panchita, and Madam Tusan. In addition to his restaurants, Gastón has been instrumental in creating a culinary school in Perú´s capital city that offers education to underprivileged students and job placement following graduation. He is also part of the International Advisory Council of the Basque Culinary Center, which was founded by Ferran Adrià. He hosts a popular weekly cooking show in Perú called “Aventura Culinaria.” He is active in the politics of sustainability, and works to spread the message of its importance in Perú and throughout the world.
