First Peruvian Quinoa Week Kicks Off 4/28 in New York's and New Jersey

Eight of New York's and New Jersey's finest Peruvian and Pan-Latin restaurants, in partnership with the Trade Commission of Peru in New York, continue to celebrate 2013's Year of Quinoa with the introduction of Peruvian Quinoa Week as salute to the myriad culinary possibilities of one of the world's most healthful grains; a grain that has been cultivated in Peru for more than 3000 year. In fact, quinoa is the cornerstone of Peru's rich gastronomic heritage. During Peruvian Quinoa Week, Monday April 28 through Saturday, May 3 the participating restaurants - New York City's Coco Roco, Panca, PioPio, Surfish, Morocho and Warqiue and Hoboken's Cucharamama - will offer special quinoa-centric dishes for lunch and dinner.

In the hands of the area's best Peruvian chefs, this familiar ingredient will take on both traditional and unconventional forms during Peruvian Quinoa Week in such dishes as: quionotto (fried quinoa ball); causa de quinoa (quinoa dollop topped with poultry or seafood); tiradito de pescado con crispy de quinoa (sashimi style fish with crispy quinoa); quinoa con pato (confit duck leg on bed of quinoa); and risoto de quinuacon carne guisado (risotto style quinoa with meat). Of course desserts will not be ignored, as sweet preparations like as crème brulle de quinoa francés a peruana and mousse de quinoa all have a place at the end of the meal.

And, while exploring Quinoa Week diners should expect the unexpected, such as uni and other premium ingredients that draw attention to the classic French techniques and Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and African influences Peruvian cuisine delivers.

Peruvian Quinoa Week will be observed at: Coco Roco 392 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215 www.cocorocorestaurant.com; Cucharamama 233 Clinton Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030 www.cucharamama.com; Morocho 1 Union Square West (Union Sq. West & East 14th), New York, NY 10003 www.facebook.com/MorochoNYC;