MO-CHICA - mindblowingly good

Mo-Chica is a fantastic Peruvian restaurant owned by chef Ricardo Zarate, a Lima native who sept most of his adult life cooking in high-end Japanese restaurants all over the world. The simply styled restaurant is part of the Mercado La Paloma complex south of downtown, and they have the best ceviche: cubes of sushi-quality fish in a thick acidic emulsion sharp with chile, soft and tart and spicy all at once, served with slivered red onion, giant-kerneled corn and a soft chunk of sweet potato. This is the best high-quality Peruvian seafood since Nobu. But there is much more to Peruvian food than just ceviche. The Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, African and Inca influences show in earthy, sensual and unusual dishes like 'Aji de Gallina' a chicken stew in a spicy, nutty cheese sauce. There's no way around: you have to check it out for yourself. I promise, you will not regret it.

RIVERA DOWNTOWN - LATIN ELEGANCE

I have to admit that I never found Latin American cuisine, above all Mexican, especially enticing. Mainly because I feel that the dishes consist of too many overcooked ingredients and form some kind of mish-mash. But also because for me the seasoning often doesn't feel right, almost bland. Now, you will tell me about those nice and spicy chillies. Yes, they add spice, but a dish also needs to be balanced. So, where is the salt? I have never figured out why Mexican cuisine uses so little salt. With all this in mind, I drove to Rivera Restaurant - a modern Latin Restaurant - in Downtown L.A. And I must say, that I was pleasantly surprised. Chef John Rivera Sedlar has captured the essence of L.A. - Latin Culture meets Modernism. He understands that the city is at its best, when it stays true to itself, not pretending to be something it isn't, copying other cities and other cultures. The dining experience was lovely, because you could taste love and passion in the dishes. How poetic the flowers pressed into the tortillas, how thoughtful the words stenciled with spices, and how fun the small portions that give you room to taste many different dishes! Their execution, though, wasn't flawless. Interestingly, one of my soups and one sauce were overly salty. Just the opposite of my other Latin experiences. And the chocolate torte, I had for dessert felt mostly buttery, meaning fat, instead of giving away a rich chocolate flavor. While I wouldn't call the cooking 'brilliant', it is inventive and delicious.