PrintSampling the Arepa that Beat Bobby Flay at Caracas Arepa Bar
Photograph from harrisj on Flickr
After watching the women from the Caracas Arepa Bar beat Bobby Flay on Throwdown, I knew I had to go downtown to the East Village and try the winning De Pabellón arepa. Arepas are cornmeal patties that may resemble English Muffins at first glance. According to what region you're eating them, they can be grilled, deep-fried, or baked and then slit open to be stuffed with any combination of meats, cheeses, vegetables and condiments. Caracas serves up Venezuelan-style arepas and its best-seller, De Pabellón, is filled with shredded beef, fried sweet plantains, black beans, and cotija cheese.
The main restaurant of the Caracas Arepa Bar is located adjacent to its smaller take-out location, where I stopped by just in time for the lunch special: one arepa and a natural juice for $8. The juice of the day was guava and I had to go with De Pabellón after enviously watching all the people on Throwdown fawn over them the night before. It wasn't an easy choice in the least—other variations include: La De Pernil, roasted pork shoulder with tomatoes and spicy mango salsa; the Muchachos, grilled chorizo, white cheese with jalapenos and sautéed peppers; and La Sureña, grilled chicken and chorizo, avocado slices, and spicy chimi-churri sauce.
Though a sign warned, “Our food is 100% HANDMADE. Please be patient. This is NOT a FAST-FOOD restaurant!” it didn’t take very long for my hot-off-the-griddle arepa to get into my hands. The beef was very tender and flavorful, and combined with the slight sweetness of the plantains, the creaminess of the black beans, and the cotija’s salty bite, it was fantastic.
They may seem small but they’re filling, and washed down with guava juice it was a great lunch. Now I just have to get back to try everything else on the menu, including those Yoyos—deep-fried balls of mashed plaintain stuffed with cheese.
Caracas Arepa Bar
91 E. 7th St., New York NY 10009 (nr. First Ave; map)
212-228-5062
caracasarepabar.com
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5 Comments:
I got hooked on arepas last summer at the Bonnaroo festival, and I was THRILLED to see this bobby flay a couple weeks ago (even though I seriously hate the guy). I took a friend over to Caracas a few days later and freaking loved it. We shared four, including the Pabellon and the Surena, both of which are amazing. If I lived closer I would be eating here at least once a week.
sarahlucy at 11:29AM on 07/15/08
Oooohhh these are the best. It's my post-yoga class dinner (that's just the kind of contradictory girl I am. I think I left my yoga mat there actually. If anyone finds it...). Did you mention their AMAZING salsa that I could eat with a spoon. No s*&^ they kicked Flay's ass. There is no way he could come close to this deliciousness. Only now I am sad because it will now be an even longer wait! :(
LilDumpling at 3:26PM on 07/15/08
I just ate at Caracas last Sunday and loved it. Had the Ensalada en acida, which was a spunky mix of corn, black bleans, and I believe, cilantro in a tart citrus dressing. The Arepas were awesome, - the pabellon was hearty and deep in flavor, my Chorcarne, which combined Chorizo and beef was out of this world. Feel free to use the mango-habanero aoli at the table liberally. The stuff is hard to put down.
As fresh and clean as the Arepas were, stay far away from the Empanads. They're heavy, oily, and overall, unnecessary.
The Ubereater
www.ubereater.com
Ubereater at 9:11AM on 07/18/08
Aw, no... ya'll need to stay out of Caracas. Them there arepas is mine, all mine.
missginsu at 2:47PM on 07/24/08
They have both coconut and banana milkshakes here too and they are awesome especially in the summer.
DudeLovesFood at 5:39PM on 01/04/09