Chica

Lorena Garcia’s Electric Latin American Vision at the Venetian

Short Rib Arepas, Cinnamon-Scented Pisco Sours and Brazilian Steak

By Sam Eichner ·
None 16 Photos Chica
The one issue with your pork taco spot: it doesn’t serve Brazilian beef.

The one issue with your Brazilian beef spot: it doesn’t serve pork tacos.

What a horrifyingly specific, food-related conundrum.

Rushing to your immediate aid is Chica, Top Chef Masters-alum Lorena Garcia’s gastronomical tour of Latin America, now open on the Venetian’s Restaurant Row.

The first thing you’ll see is the two-sided bar where Fresno chili margaritas and pisco sours blanketed with cinnamon scented fog come from. Get one, then slip past the mural of a reclining woman clutching a dandelion and into the dining room.

Where you’ll sit amongst hungry friends in Vegas’s version of a Cuban paladar, attempting to catch up over loud music somewhere between the station where tortillas are made and the damned-near pyromaniacal open kitchen.

You’ll eventually employ your mouths in more productive ways. Like sampling spins on some of Latin America’s favorite foods.

From Colombia:
handmade anise arepas with braised short rib.

From Mexico:
mojo-marinated pulled pork tacos and pepita-crusted lamb.

From Peru:
grilled Peruvian octopus and Alaskan halibut ceviche.

From Brazil:
that succulent beef we mentioned.

From Italy: Italy is not in Latin America.

Still, there is porchetta.

Because there should always be porchetta.
Sam Eichner

Sam Eichner likes literature, reality television and his twin cats equally. He has consistently been told he needs a shave since he started growing facial hair.

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