Ladies and Gentleman, I got my mind blown Friday night. Bar Paya, a Peruvian wine bar in the East Village opened up, and I was not expecting the amazing culinary delights brought to me by chef Matthew Kenney. Peruvian cuisine is rare in NYC, and the dishes here are a welcoming culinary bliss to the East Village and the entire island of Manhattan!

Corn nuts with Incan pink salt ($4) were so tasty and addictive, I needed an intervention.

Plantain, Sweet Potato, Yuca, and Blue Potato Chips with Chili Purees ($5), was another fabulous snack. Each of the three purees had a different level of spiciness which I thought was ingenius and wonderful!

A ceviche of fried tuna ($14), fried in the style of "La Gloria", with avocado, heart of palm, and lime, was outstanding. The texture of the tuna was unique and the flavors perfectly balanced. Delicious!

A Tiradito (a type of ceviche) of tuna, red chile cream, and corn ($14), was beautiful and great! It was like eating a work of art. The sweet corn on the tuna was sensational!

A Causa of yellow potato and Cacao braised beef ($12) was scrumptious and fantastic!

To end, a Paya (potato and corn flatbread) of barbequed shrimp, grilled green onions, and cilantro pesto ($14) was another winner. It was simple and light, yet indulgent, if that makes sense. The flavors were unique, yet wonderful. After each bite, I felt great, both physically and emotionally! (A glass of lebanese rosé didn't hurt either!)

Bar Paya is, simply put, a fantastic place. Opening up the culinary horizons of the people of NYC and abroad, it's a place you need to come to, and experience for yourself. Get whisked away to Peru on Second Avenue. Trust me, there's no place like it around.

Bar Paya
65 Second Avenue (and 4th Street)
New York, NY 10003
212-777-6965
www.barpaya.com