A new restaurant is bringing one of the hottest worldwide trends in food to Lexington
Peruvian cuisine, 7,000 years in the making, is also one of the hottest trends in food worldwide.
And soon it will be in Lexington.
Maria Rivera, a native of Lima, hopes to open Maty’s Authentic Peruvian Cuisine in late November at 4371 Old Harrodsburg Rd. Suite 160. It’s the former site of Brick Oven Pizzeria.
Rivera left a job at the University of Kentucky after 15 years to pursue her dream.
“I was the sixth of six siblings and my dad taught me how to cook. But when I was a kid, as a career it was ‘too girly,’” Rivera said, but she never lost her interest in it.
“Now my only daughter is graduating in December so I’m going to follow my dream,” she said. “That was a passion I had for my whole life. I cook for my friends and family every day. I’m doing what I like to do now.”
While Peruvian food has been winning fans around the globe for the last decade, it may be unfamiliar to many in Lexington.
So Rivera said she plans to build a core American-friendly (not searing hot) menu, with specials that expand on regional specialties that customers want. She’ll be doing the cooking, so the flavors will stay authentic.
“The thing with Peruvian food is we have different regions and very diverse ingredients,” Rivera said. “We use a lot of potatoes, a lot of different kinds of peppers but they are mild, not super hot.”
Other staples of Peruvian cuisine: Rice and seafood. “Ceviche is a signature dish,” she said.
Another big element of the menu: Sautes, like lomo saltado, a stir fry with onions and peppers that incorporates french fries.
She also will have Peruvian desserts and drinks, including cocktails once she gets a liquor license.
Maty’s Authentic Peruvian Cuisine
Where: 4371 Old Harrodsburg Rd. Suite 160
Hours: Closed Monday, open Tuesday-Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Opening: Late November
