By: Marla Horn Lazarus
The award-winning Latin American concept Coya in Miami’s burgeoning Brickell neighborhood is the restaurant’s debut expansion in the United States. The flagship location in London has already become a mainstay in the city’s culinary and lifestyle scenes and recently received the coveted London Lifestyle Award for Restaurant of the Year 2014. Coya Miami is the third opening, as the brand unveiled its second global installment in Dubai last year.
Coya’s beautiful expansive interior evokes the rustic eccentricity of the Incan golden age with a balanced juxtaposition of metallic accents and earthy decor. Our journey began from the moment we entered into the grand reception area with a rustic yet colorful destination bar adored with trinkets, and traditional pisco “botija” jars filling the air with an authentic flair. The bar led to an impressive members’ lounge with bespoke furnishings and authentic Peruvian Art allowing access to sister locations in London and Dubai. The intimate space hosts a range of events and entertainment every night of the week, including live music performances, art exhibitions and signature events.
The restaurant highlights the lively, bright culture of Peru through a series of elaborate murals done by native artists and an ornate collection of antiques collected throughout the region. Our culinary journey was inspired by the colors and flavors of the Incan Empire, as Coya’s food program marries abundant ingredients native to Peru with modern, fresh approaches.
As all dishes are definitely worth sharing, we began with a selection of irresistible classic ceviche featuring the atun chifa, fresh yellowfin tuna, soy, sesame seed and rice cracker, pargo rojo trufa , snapper, truffles, ponzu, and chives and langostino with tiger prawns, heart of palm, mango .
Traditional tiraditos of raw sliced vieiras, scallops with botija olives, crispy cancha, and aji limo as well as the tataki de res, tataki with grilled leeks and Amazonian cashew nuts was wonderful.
Naturally healthy yet bursting with flavor, Coya’s dishes represent the evolution of Peruvian cuisine as it has been shaped by myriad cultures from Latin America, Asia and Europe included langostino, tiger prawns with aji panca, pollo, chicken, with aji Amarillo and garlic along with setas, forest mushrooms, with aji panca and parsley.
With such a variety of flavors, make sure to continue share the savory flavors of the Chuletas de cordero, lamb chops with crushed eggplant, costillas de cerdo, pork back ribs in a tamarind glaze with cashew nuts along with the costillas de res, beef short ribs in beer and aji limo along with the tender solomillo de res, spicy beef tenderloin, with aji rocoto and star anise. Delicious salmon a la brasa, salmon fillet, golden beetroot, cucumber and mint, filete de branzino, Mediterranean seabass with fennel salad and tender pulpo al olivo, Josper octopus with Peruvian olives are just perfect. The piece de resistance is the iron pots showcasing arroz Nikkei with buttery Chilean seabass, rice, lime and chili and Langosta with succulent Lobster, rice, watercress and salsa criolla.
Yummy side dishes, not to be missed, include esparragos Peruanos, grilled Peruvian asparagus, setas, shiitake mushrooms in soy tamarind butter broccoli, sprouting in chili garlic butter and sesame seeds as well as patatas bravas a la Peruana, crispy potatoes, spicy tomato and huancaina sauce.
In keeping with its mission to honor the many gems of Latin American epicurean culture, Coya boasts a dedicated Pisco Bar offering a variety of expertly infused piscos, made in-house using a range of natural fruits, spices and herbs like blackcurrant, aji panca chili and cinnamon orange to name a few.
The final element of Coya’s concept is the Coya Collective, an initiative aimed at showcasing artistic talent from around Latin America and beyond. More than a restaurant or bar, Coya is a creative space eager to lend its walls in an effort to promote its shared passion for art, music and the vibrancy of Latin American culture. With its ever-changing gallery of photography, sculpture and illustration, Coya welcomed us to experience a different yet carefully curated ambiance with every turn of a corner. Open for lunch and dinner, you will discover a journey of the senses taking on a culinary adventure exploring the multi-dimensional flavors of Peru. Bon Appétit…
Coya
999 Brickell Avenue, Miami FL.
305-415-9990