Perúvian Cuisine Comes to MKE
by Benjamin Rangel
Location: 3801 W. Vilet St.
Hours: Tues-Sun | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM / 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
On a cold winter night at Third Space Brewing, my partner was hungry and looking for a quick solution. Luckily, Mario Diaz of Triciclo Perú was stationed at the end of the bar, ready to save the day. My partner came back to the table with two healthy-looking empanadas and, after the first bite, could not stop raving about the delicious taste. The flaky crust, amazing sauce, and hearty filling were unforgettable. We were sold.
When Bridge the City interviewed Amy Narr, co-creator of Triciclo Perú, in August 2019, she and Mario, chef and co-creator, were still selling delicious, Perúvian empanadas. They moved from their food truck and side stands at local breweries to a summer stint at the Humboldt Park Beer Garden in Bay View. They continued to scale their business and, today, a new brick-and-mortar location brings those same authentic empanadas, along with other Perúvian treats, to the Near West Side.
The new location embodies the passion and authenticity both Amy and Mario bring to their work. Bright, multicolored tables provide a beautiful landing for perfectly textured empanadas. The cozy bar, lined with jugs of Pisco Infusions and Peruvian crafts, creates an atmosphere ready for good conversations with friends accompanied by delicious pisco sours.
Bridge the City Connects with Triciclo
Bridge the City was first introduced to Triciclo for our episode highlighting the success and community-building of the Newaukee Night Market. Its lead organizer, Rita DeMerit, recommended we speak to some of its most successful vendors. Amy was an easy recommendation.
After raving about how unique of an event the Night Market is, Amy highlighted the importance of the Night Market. She said, “It means a lot to us to be able to go there (The Night Market)...it’s had a huge impact on us as a small business trying to grow our name.”
In addition to the Night Market spreading the empanada goodness, Triciclo was also runner-up in the 2018 Rev-Up MKE pitch competition. Again, Amy was featured on the pod to talk about the impact the competition had on their business venture. “The resources and the connection to the people has been invaluable,” Amy recalled.
New Taste and New Investment In Milwaukee
I was lucky to check in with Amy and Mario at the new location a few months after our interviews. The menu has at least ten different empanadas to choose from at any time (My personal favorite is the Cucsco: sweet potato, collard green, garlic, onion, gouda, and parmesan). There are also vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Beyond their signature empanadas, the new storefront allows them to showcase other Peruvian foods and drinks, like the classic pisco sour that I would highly recommend.
Triciclo Perú is part of a larger reinvestment in the Near West Side of Milwaukee (Pete’s Pops, another Rev-Up MKE winner is right next door). To Amy and Mario, this location feels right at home. Vendors in Perú, as Amy described, are “in the street working to make a living for their family” selling empanadas from makeshift tricycles (or Triciclos in Spanish).
The success of Triciclo will not come as a surprise to anyone who has had their Chiclayo, Chicken empanada with delicious yellow pepper sauce, after a few brews at Third Space or the Beer Garden in Humboldt Park. The trick is almost certainly in the preparation. “We do our dough from scratch. Everything is baked fresh, made by hand and using very authentic recipes,” Amy said. Whatever the secret, we are happy Triciclo is helping bridge the city, one empanada at a time.
Action Step: Bridge the city by supporting local business - Triciclo Peru
Ben Rangel is co-creator of Bridge the City. You can connect with Ben here.
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