Andina – Portland, OR

Where do I start?!  This place is amazing!!!  My good college friend took me here while I was in town for 24 hours and she couldn’t have picked a better place.  I now see why it’s hard to get a reservation.  What blew me away is how accommodating they are to Gluten Free people.  They have a completely different menu that’s not just a couple of items but rather a whole menu full of options…very impressive!  We started with the Sacsayhuaman (sounds like Sexy Woman) – habañero pepper vodka shaken with pureed passionfruit and cane sugar, served up with a sugar rim and a cilantro leaf garnish.  HOLY CRAP…this drink is to DIE for!!!  I would go back just for that:)

For our non-liquid dishes we ordered the “5 Elementos” cebiche (spelled with a “b” there) which was perfect.  So flavorful and fresh, I could have eaten just that all night.  The A La Chalaca (sashimi-style fish in an ajî Amarillo vinaigrette served with a corn salsa) was so delicate and clean tasting even with the vinaigrette.  Yum!  Whenever there’s octopus on the menu I have to get it so we ordered the Anticucho de Pulpo – grilled octopus kebabs served with chimichurri served over caper potatoes…yum!  Cooked to perfection and exactly what I was hoping for.  Last we got the Pescado al Rocoto y Kyon – roasted fresh fish topped with ginger, rocoto (Capsicum pepper) and scallion, basted with sizzling sesame oil served over shiitake mushrooms and bok choy in a smoked pork broth, served with asparagus quinoa fried rice…DE-LISH!

*Because the lighting was so dim, my pictures turned out horribly so I’m just giving you a teaser with our delicious drink:)