I was born in London England and raised in Toronto Canada. My parents suspected I might become a “foodie” when at age 3 they fed me a raw oyster on a breach holiday in the South of France, and I cried for more. My first job, at 16, was bussing tables in a tiny Southern Italian restaurant in downtown Toronto. Here I realized I was most happy surrounded by good food and people relishing it. To this day I can still remember the smell of the oyster mushrooms smothered in balsamic vinegar and asiago cheese coming off the grill.
Travel has always been a passion of mine. In my early twenties I saved up for an around-the-world ticket and backpacked for 10 months exploring 5 continents. Each new city or village offered the chance to explore even more culinary delights. I was more often found in the local supermarket than historic sights.
At 21 I moved to Jamaica where I lived for four years working as an aromatherapy massage therapist. Still fascinated by the alchemy of food, I designed and prepared an all-natural spa services menu utilizing the fruits of the tropics.
At 25 I moved back to Toronto where I opened a small successful bistro that I continued to run for 10 years. In 2006 I sold it and moved to Peru with my Peruvian partner who was eager to return home. While together in Canada we spent our weekends cooking his favorite Peruvian dishes dictated to him by his grandmother over the phone. Once we arrived in Lima, a city experiencing a culinary boom, I knew I was there to stay.
In 2008 I opened my second restaurant, this time in Lima. My menu fused Peruvian ingredients with Asian flavors and featured local artists. One and a half years later I sold my shares to my partners and gave myself my life back!
EAT WITH ME was developed organically through a constant flow of visitors over the last few years. Eating out In Lima is easily the best way to bring friends right into the culture offering them not only an authentic look at Lima life, but also a genuine feast of outstanding quality dishes.
-Emily Shaw
