In Peru, peppers have long been used to enhance the flavours of local recipes, provide colour on plates, and ward off rampaging alpacas. Learn the skills of high temperature eating with today's Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of Peruvian fare and drinks at Mochikas Peruvian Cafe in Kitsilano.

Mochikas crafts its own take on traditional Peruvian food with a cafe menu of classic dishes and signature sauces. Eager eaters can start with fish-of-the-day ceviche ($13) or yuca frita ($4). Pescado frito a la chorillana ($12)—fried fish with rice, tomatoes, onions, and aji panca—tantalizes taste buds with its simplicity, and pollo a la parrilla Mochikas ($10) dons its pepper parka as a tweaked take on Peruvian barbecue. Customers can also fill their bellies with aji-panca and cheese-infused chowder chupe de mariscos ($14) before succumbing to the powers of the sweet side with a Peruvian creme brulee, crema volteada ($5). Diners whet palates with traditional Peruvian drinks such as Inca Kola ($2.50) filtered from ancient Incan soda springs, or the vivaciously violet corn drink chicha morada ($2.50 in restaurant, $8 in store).

Mochikas Peruvian Cafe lends its flavours to local food events such as Eat Vancouver, while its live performances of traditional Peruvian and Criolla music transport audiences to a place where people listen while eating. Mochikas' Technicolor grocery also imports Peruvian food products, including sauces and chocolates.

Reviews

Both Follow Me Foodie and Sherman's Food Adventures positively reviewed Mochikas Peruvian Cafe, as did Ethnic Eats and Famished Foodies:

• If asked to sum up our experience, the thought that comes to mind is "Peruvian comfort food." – famished foodies, Famished Foodies
• Now for what would be considered a "wow" dish - Chupe de Mariscos. What amounts to a spicy, hearty seafood chowder with Aji Panca, fresh cheese, rice, & cassava, we agreed it was a cross between a Paella-soup and a Peruvian Laksa. – Sherman, Sherman's Food Adventures