Mochica, San Francisco

Though Carlos Altamirano has studied under a number of internationally renowned San Francisco chefs, his first culinary teacher was his mother. He grew up amid the lush mountains and fruitful oceans of southern Peru, helping his mother as she sliced fresh fish, cilantro, and limes for ceviche. Today, Carlos infuses his mother's traditional recipes with contemporary flourishes to craft Mochica's menu of innovative Peruvian fusion.

Deep in its kitchen, Carlos and his chefs fold imported Peruvian ingredients into the seafood ceviche lauded by Bill Addison of the San Francisco Chronicle as "among the most astutely prepared in the city." Pots of seafood paella simmer on stoves, as chefs braise chicken breast in flavorful sauces and melt cheeses with but one gentle note from a wooden Peruvian flute. Out in the dining room, guests nibble on crunchy chickpeas and corn kernels while sipping on fine wines and fruity sangria. Sunlight streams in through tall windows, illuminating deep-crimson walls speckled with an eclectic collection of vibrant, modern artwork.