Recently opened restaurant, Gordo’s has brought authentic Peruvian food to Starkville.
Owner Eduardo Reyes said the restaurant could be summed up in one short phrase as “something new in town.”
Peruvian restaurants feature an original blend of natural ingredients shipped straight from Peru. These ingredients then are used in an innovative list of both family and traditional recipes creating the beauty that is Peruvian cuisine.
Reyes said, like many other culinary styles, Peruvian cooking has an interesting history. Incorporated into this history are three different styles of cooking which include: African-American, Chinese and the traditional Peruvian.
“When the Spanish invaded Peru they brought along with them many black slaves and with these slaves came their cooking styles,” he said. “Forced to adapt to their surroundings, the blacks incorporated some of their cooking techniques into the Peruvians’ and that’s how their impact was made.”
He said the same process incorporated Chinese food into Peruvian society.
“Interesting fact to know is that there is actually a Chinatown located in Peru where many Chinese live and speak the local Spanish language of Peru,” he said.
Reyes is a graduate student at MSU pursuing a masters in accounting and has been a member of the Starkville community for two and a half years now.
Iliana Uribe, Reyes’ mother is one of the chefs in the kitchen at Gordo’s.
The two said Gordo’s could be described as a taste of South America.
Reyes said he came to MSU to get his education but was bored with the local South American restaurants.
“The South American restaurants of this area all sell the same thing and I wanted something that had more South American food” he said.
One distinctive feature of Peruvian food is its original blends of sauces which include its famous huacatay sauce.
Many of the foods are marinated in different sauces and the chicken is charcoal roasted, Reyes said.
Uribe said customers have a variety of favorites from the menu.
“One of the most popular dishes among customers is the Lomo Saltado. [It’s] a dish of marinated steak, vegetables and fried potatoes, usually served over white rice,” she said.
Uribe said local diners may be familiar with some South American dishes.
“However the dish that is most known by many people who have ever had South American food is the Ceviche Mixto” she said.
The dish includes shrimp, calamari, scallops, octopus and cubes of fish marinated in lemon juice, garlic, red onions and cilantro, served with corn, slices of boiled potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Uribe said most people enjoy with Ceviche Mixto with alchohol.
“In Peru, it is customary to drink beer with the Ceviche,” Uribe said.
Gordo’s also offers a variety of Peruvian-style drinks and sodas.
Reyes said the business has done well.
“So far the things have been pretty good with the main customers normally being Hispanic families, MSU faculty and locals of Starkville,” he said.
Reyes said he would really like it if more college students came.
“We normally don’t get too many students, but we do try and encourage them to come with coupons,” he said.
Gordo’s is located on Hwy. 182 and is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.