Lima Floral opens today on 2nd anniversary of first Lima
Lima Floral, the second London restaurant from Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez (pictured) and his partners, Gabriel and Jose Luis Gonzalez, opens today, two years since the first Lima opened in London in 2012.
The menu is set to introduce a host of new dishes and flavours to the UK capital, including rare Andean and Peruvian ingredients, plus UK-sourced products, as part of the team's aim to work in harmony with the environment and support local producers.
The unusual ingredients are inspired by Martinez's role as a founding member of Peru's Mater Initiative, a group of Peruvian chefs, scientists and ecologists who travel around Peru discovering edible ingredients with the goal of sharing the cultural and biodiversity of Peru's produce.
Head chef Robert Ortiz's new menu includes tiradito (sea bream, green leche de tigre and crushed giant corn) and beef sudado (seared entrecote, coriander, heritage tomatoes, tiger milk with white quinoa), plus a set of sharing "piqueo" tapas-style dishes, including grouper with rocoto tiger's milk ceviche and tuna and seared aubergine tiradito.
The restaurant also offers a wide selection of cocktails, including variations on the classic pisco sour, made with infusions of Peru's national drink, plus Amazonian fruits, Andean herbs, and local UK products.
A set lunch menu is available at £17.50 for two courses and £19.50 for three, including a glass of house wine.
Co-owner Gabriel Gonzalez has said that he is "so excited to be opening the doors today".
Originally a monastery, the historic building has large arched windows, with a new interior design by B3 designers, whose other projects include other London restaurants Gymkhana, Bubbledogs and ROKA. The property is owned and managed by Capco.
Sister site Lima London, which opened in August 2012, became the first Peruvian restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star in September 2013.
Owners of Michelin-starred Lima London acquire second site >>
Virgilio Martinez to open Peruvian restaurant Lima in Fitzrovia >>