Kjolle has rapidly become the new must-try place for foodies in Lima, Peru.
Opened in 2018, it is the sister restaurant to award-winning Central.
Central has been high on the list of food lovers visiting Lima for some years. But the only problem is getting a reservation requires booking three months in advance.
So why not try Kjolle instead? It is run by chef Pia Leon, who worked in Central for ten years with her husband, chef Virgilio Martinez.
Why not try: Our cook in the home of a Lima chef experience for a truly authentic experience.
Both Kjolle and Central are together in the same building along with Mayo, their food and cocktail bar and the Mater Iniciativa, which is the hub of their business and reason to exist. They also own Mil, which operates to a similar concept in the Sacred Valley, Cusco.
What is the concept behind this restaurant group?
The overall concept of the group is fairly simple- Peru has a huge amount of ingredients, due to the megadiversity of the country. Coast, desert, foothills, 6000-metre mountains, cloud forest, and the Amazon jungle all join to create a massive selection of climates and ecosystems, each allowing different growing conditions- so the variety of food available is in turn equally ample.
The group works to discover the various foods on offer, and present them to the world in a series of innovative dishes and drinks. In turn, this will help preserve these ingredients, some of which were in danger of disappearing. In turn, by increasing knowledge of and demand for these ingredients, local communities will have a financial motivation to protect these ecosystems.
Who is the chef behind Kjolle?
Pia Leon was voted the Best Female Chef in Latin America by the 2018 World´s 50 Best restaurant awards. When she moved from Central, various of her staff moved with her. She also happens to be married to Virgilio Martinez, currently one of the most famous chefs in the world.
They live in the same complex as their restaurants, to allow them to work and bring up their son at the same time.
Why not try: Our cook in the home of a Lima chef experience for a truly authentic experience.
How does Kjolle differ from Central?
Kjolle is more relaxed than Central and about half the price. I visited with a friend, and it was as good as they say.
The idea behind Central is to present food according to a particular ecosystem. Kjolle, while it uses ingredients from many ecosystems is more than happy to mix them, and the results are fantastic. Kjolle does have a tasting menu too, at just over 100U$ dollars each, but it would have been too much food for us. Sharing a la carte plates works superbly well.
What is the price to eat at Kjolle?
The cost for two of us to eat a la carte came to around 110U$ dollars, which is very reasonable considering the quality of the food experience. That was two starters, two mains, one dessert, a shared craft beer and various refills of water. It was plenty enough food for two.
Head to the Kjolle website to see their current menu, with prices. All prices are in Peruvian Nuevo Soles.
So, if you want to try some of the very best ingredients in Peru, wonderfully combined and beautifully presented, with great service and a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere, put together by a company with a conscience, try Kjolle. They make great food fun, and you can tell by the laughs and smiles shared between the staff, that they love being there. As will you.
The video below will give you an idea of what it is all about.
Why not try: Our cook in the home of a Lima chef experience for a truly authentic experience.
Click here for some other ideas of where to eat in Lima.
