Peruvian Rotisserie and Cevicheria Prepping for Liberty Station

Liberty Station’s culinary options will grow and diversify with the addition of Pisco, a new Peruvian rotisserie and cevicheria that’s scheduled to open in the complex next month. It’s a showcase for executive chef/partner Emmanuel Piqueras, who is partnering with local restaurateur Sami Ladeki on the project, and will slot into the 5,000-square-foot space with an outdoor patio that currently houses Ladeki’s Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza. Sammy’s will close on July 10 with Pisco scheduled to open Thursday, July 27.

Piqueras, who has been in the restaurant industry for over two decades, has been a longtime chef-ambassador for Peru, which is considered one of the gastronomic centers of the world. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in Lima, he traveled to train at Arzak, one of Spain’s top meccas of Basque cuisine, before landing in the U.S. where he headed up the kitchen at several well-regarded Peruvian restaurants including Portland’s Andina, Limon Rotisserie in San Francisco and Panca in New York City.

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Named a Food & Wine "Best Young Chefs" nominee shortly after his arrival in the states, Piqueras is also known as a leader in Novo-Andean cuisine, a style of cooking that highlights indigenous ingredients with a contemporary twist. The chef says his menu for Pisco will focus on pollo a la brasa, or Peruvian rotisserie chicken, and ceviche made to order. He plans to work with local San Diego fishermen and farmers to source the fresh produce and proteins for the two Peruvian specialities, along with the menu’s other dishes. South American wines and beers will be offered, as well as a large selection of cocktails featuring pisco, the brandy that is the national spirit of Peru.