13 Monjas

13 Monjas is one of the newest restaurants in Arequipa

The restaurant first opened in November, 2019 but has had to close repeatedly due to Covid-19 regulations set by the Peruvian government. That said, they have kept their sourdough starter alive and maintained a good quality staff throughout. The owner, Keiran Nicklin, is very proud of the 100 year old sourdough starter that is used for all sourdough breads. The staff were all friendly and knowledgeable during my visit.

I tried the Sacred Valley Smoked Trout toast (Bruschetta del Valle), which was delicious. The bread was chewy and flavorful; the smoked trout had a good smoky flavor, and the sour cream added a nice creamy texture. The greens were a nice addition to the presentation although they didn’t add much for flavor. The beer list is impressive, though unfortunately I didn’t have time to try any of them.

The decorations compliment the architecture of the historic building. The blocks of tuff, called “sillar” in Spanish, are highlighted by the tile floors and natural wood finished. The pizza oven was handmade for the restaurant and is right by the bar in the entryway. I always like being able to see into a restaurant’s kitchen, on the principle that people are more likely to follow the rules when people are watching them. This is especially important while we are still living through a global pandemic.