Hispanic - - Page 12

by BS

Peru-ing the Day I Promised This

Editors Note: JoeHoya should need no introduction to the ES community. This DC Foodies blogger/prolific commenter/all-around genius recently traveled to Peru, and is nice enough to share a ~~novel~~ blog post about his culinary experiences.

For the record, Machu Picchu was lost for almost 400 years. So when you think about it, the fact that it’s taken me more than a month to write about our trip to Peru is really pretty insignificant by comparison.

In mid-August (two days after the earthquake, to be exact), my wife and I flew to Peru to volunteer in Cusco for a week. The program was organized by GlobeAware, a terrific American non-profit that arranges volunteer opportunities in countries around the world. And despite the fact that our destination had just suffered a MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE, the hardest part of our trip was actually getting out of DC’s National Airport. Suffice it to say, we sat on the tarmac for the better part of a Thursday night before we were informed that our flight was canceled.

But we got out on Friday and arrived in Cusco with an hour to spare before our program started on Saturday morning. And since this isn’t a travelblog, that’s all I’m going to say about the trip that isn’t directly related to things we ate and drank.

Rellenos Redux

I am fully aware nobody likes a half-baked sequel, but I’m still going to share my second attempt at Chiles Rellenos. I used the same recipe as the first time, but kicked it up a notch by replacing the Monterrey Jack with some good old fashioned pig.

I sauteed 1/2 pound of ground pork with some fresh cilantro, chopped garlic, and salt and pepper, and used this for the filling.

I also made one of Edouble’s salsas, and then to mix it up, made a second batch where I replaced the tomatoes with green tomatillos.

I’ve reproduced the full recipe for easy clicking after the j.

We’ve Changed our Pantries!

I awoke this morning to a very odd sensation – a cool breeze! After the horrors of this hot hot summer, I had completely forgotten cold weather even existed. Clearly it’s not time to start complaining about the cold yet, but it’s a reminder that it is in fact coming, and with just a week of official summer left, I thought it was time to update our best-named page ever – Edible Pantries – to make sure all of our loyal ES readers are ready for fall cooking.

Follow the link to peek inside our pantries.

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by BS

Hott Links: Haters Edition

A lot has happened on the ol’ internets while you were busy looking at pics of that High School Musical girl.

George Clooney wants to make your baby drink coffee [Fishbowl LA]

Fred Thompson hates ice cream [First Read]

Jimmy’s Smits’ new show is so bad you can taste it [NY Post]

Photo: Me, in Madrid

in Celebs / Desserts / Drinks 1 comments

by gansie

New Study Finds Beans to be 30% Less Musical than Originally Thought

Our friend jakeSG sent me this fabulous email and post about his tasty food experiences in Costa Rica.

Be jealous.

********

from: jakeSG
to: gansie
date: Sep 4, 2007 9:00 PM
subject: New Study Finds Beans to be 30% Less Musical Than Originally Thought

Attached is my blog attempt. It is probably too long, so feel free to trim it, format it, whatever, but post that sh*t, make that sh*t, and then fart a few times..oh wait..girls don’t fart.

enjoy.

********

I recently returned from 21 days in the lush cloud forests of Costa Rica. Of the 21 days there, I ate beans, rice or both 17 of those days. You might think that after three weeks of the same food I’d be ready for something new. You’d be right. But after two weeks back in my home country, once again I was craving that hearty staple of Central American cuisine.

Leon Bakery

E-double’s posts about eating in Mexico inspired me to write a little more about eating in little mexico, a.k.a. Manhattan.

Hell’s Kitchen’s Leon Bakery is a tiny neighborhood secret – an increasingly rare statement in a town over-saturated with hyperactive restaurant bloggers constantly reporting news of venues that are rumored to be applying for liquor licenses in 2012.

Leon Bakery displays an impressive array of genuine Mexican cookies and pastries, but the real finds are towards the back – tasty lunch offerings that beat the hell out of Chipotle. Their fresh and fluffy corn tamales are unquestionably the finest you can get North of the Rio Grande, while my fav are the crispy sopes (above) – thick corn tortillas with raised edges, filled with refried beans, queso blanco and a paste made from spicy green chiles.

There’s always a bit of a mystery as the heat of the chiles varies day-to-day and at times the spiciness can kick your ass. The prices also seem to vary day-to-day, at least for gringo customers – but at either a buck or a buck and a half each, you won’t find a better deal without heading to Oaxaca.

Leon Bakery

695 Ninth Ave, 212.489.6677

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by gansie

Amaryllis

That kinda-cute co-worker with an offbeat sense of humor you’re mildly interested in, but you know you could do better…that’s Amaryllis. This tiny Latino restaurant with pink lighting and a strictly Spanish-language jukebox is the restaurant you pretend is better than it is, simply because it’s always around. Whether the chicken is in the form of pollo asado or fajitas, it’s a bit on the dry side; but, live the decadent life and order the lush fried plantains. Start off with the wondrous pupusa appetizer—two fried dough patties filled with pork and cheese, plated with a tangy tomato-flavored slaw and refried beans—or save your appetite for the plato tipico: seasoned grilled beef, two pupusas, buttery white rice, beans and sliced avocado.
For: A neighborhood joint that is almost the jam.

Entrees: $7-$12. 202-483-2027. 1654 Columbia Rd, NW.

Originally in the Onion / DC local edition / July 12, 2007

Photo: Plant of the Week

in Cheese / Fowl / Red Meat 0 comments

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