Attention those that are fans of Bolivian food, or curious to try this hearty and flavorful cuisine. I have good news and bad news. First, the bad news - the number of Bolivian restaurants in the city is now only two, which officially enters it into the "endangered cuisines" of New York. The good news is that Cumbre, which has always been my favorite Bolivian in NYC has never been better! The five year old restaurant which is still owned by Eny Navarrette , two years ago came under the new management Raul Rivera. The food is still the same - authentic and big-portioned, but the decor has been upgraded creating a much richer atmospheric decor. There is also a slight change in the name of the restaurant, now being Cumbre-Renacer, but the location in Woodside, Queens remains the same.

In a country known for it's high carb huge portioned dishes, there is probably no food item that is so beloved as the Saltenas. Similar to an empanada, though larger, the saltenas is a baked savory pastry filled with beef or chicken, potatoes, raisins, and mixed with a slightly spicy sauce. Open the saltenas up and the steam and aroma hits you, ahhhhh, so delicious. If you ever go to Bolivia, it is worth visiting Sucre as this is known as having the "best saltenas of anywhere in Bolivia." However, I must say, the saltenas as Cumbre-Renacer are very good.

Pique Macho, this is my favorite entree dish at Cumbre-Renacer, and one of the most traditional of all Bolivian classic dishes. It is a heaping plate consisting of sauteed bits of sirloin steak, with pieces of franks (yes - hot dogs) onions, tomatoes, hot peppers with big pieces of golden potatoes, with cubed white cheese. The portion of this dish was gigantic, and my waitress Joann literally seemed to labor in carrying the massive plate out. It was easily enough food for three people. Smaller portions of the dish are simply called Pique. The "bigger" portion gets it's name from Bolivian legend that you need to be "macho" to finish the entire dish by yourself. The Pique Macho is not just big on size, but very BIG on TASTE as well. The dish very succulent, with a nice element of spice-heat running through it. The cheese on top had little taste, and consisted of a soft texture.

Cumbre-Renacer  has transformed itself into a restaurant that is very attractive and bespeaks Bolivia in it's art and design. The walls are painted in an arresting washed pinkish-orange, and contain impressive murals, and smaller paintings all with Bolivian themes by the artist Frita Morales, who is from Miami. Her work is really quite outstanding.  

Raul Rivera has been the manager of Cumbre-Renacer for the past two years, and must be credited for the restaurant's positive changes. With the upgrade in decor, he has also instilled high-quality Bolivian live entertainment appearing more frequently.  Raul is a native of La Paz having arrived in the city ten years ago. He is warm and high-spirited and does a very good job welcoming diners to the restaurant.

Painting of a Llama by Frita Morales at the Cumbre-Renacer. Other large paintings at the restaurant by her includes images of traditional Bolivian woman at market, a small cobbled alley-way, and two dancers in Bolivia's famous Gran Pador Festival which takes place in La Paz each year, usually the first week of May. 

Aymara language lesson (Aymara along with Quecha is a popular indigenous language of the region) "Hello" (Kamisaraki) "Thank you" (Yuspagara)

Interesting fact about Bolivia - La Paz is the highest elevated capital in the world (11,910 feet)

Address - 67 -03 Woodside Avenue  Woodside, Queens   (718) 476-2200