It's a new month so there's a new business setting up shop at the Saturday Ferry farmers market at the La Coccina space. Walking up, I saw several packaged products and a variety of photos and menus. The only thing that I didn't see was the actual food. In looking at the items, I asked the kind lady who I later learned is the chef owner Carmen about her food and the beverage container on her side table. After some discussion, I decided to try two items starting with the Chica Morada (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=5AxPhQNSZOiyrkw-422nbg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q); she explained this is made with purple corn and a variety of herbs and spices that prominently include cinnamon. Having a good experience from the previous La Coccina vendor, I wondered how I'd like this as the sun heated up while I shopped. I started drinking it as I walked the market and finished almost half of it before I reached my car. I enjoyed that it was not overly sweet and the flavors were nicely balanced. The following week, I tried the vegan empanada (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=bGlA4CxY2dcj6rqDWxUhmA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q); this is made with lentils and other veggies (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=DR6c0w4JO3ygOVY3GX__Tw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). The added salsa which was more of a marinated onion mixture went well with this, adding a tanginess and crunch to the pastry. I hadn't eaten the second item that I bought the previous week so I steamed the Peruvian chicken tamal (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=h3u1fptB6l4RyKAGPUo_Cg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) for lunch; the filling (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ndUZAvcr51cQOqHirDf6Ww&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) portion was very well-balanced proportion wise to the corn masa. I found this a little on the dry side and it could probably use a wet salsa to cut on the dryness. I paired with a cucumber salad that a friend gifted me Friday. Overall, I liked her food and drink as I got another cup of the Chica Morada the next week. Thanks, Carmen, for giving me a taste of homestyle Peruvian food and I look forward to seeing what you have next Saturday. She's only here through October so stop by if you want to check it out. read more