Puerto La Cruz eat · Eating in Puerto La Cruz
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Eating in Puerto La Cruz
Eating in Puerto La Cruz
Venezuelan food is really good and flavorful, nothing spicy. Make sure you try EVERYTHING. You can also find really good authentic Italian, Mediterranean, Spanish, Chinese restaurants. Mexican food is not very popular so eat your burrito when you go back home. Among the most popular Venezuela meal/dishes you should try:
Empanadas: These are made of corn flour based dough and are deep fried. The stuffing varies according to the region; most common are the cheese and ground beef empanadas. Other types use fish, "caraotas" or black beans, oyster, clams and other types of seafood popular in the coastal areas.
Arepas: The arepa is a corn-based dish from the northern Andes in South America, now spread to other areas in modern Latin American countries. It is basically a flat (the flatness varies) cake of cornmeal which is then grilled, baked or fried. It is often split in half and filled with cheese, deli meats, and a great variety of fillings, in which case it is know as arepa rellena. This more elaborate version may be eaten closed like a sandwich, or dressed with toppings and eaten open-faced. This is the most frequent form it adopts in Venezuela.
Pabellon Criollo: Pabellón criollo is a traditional Venezuelan dish. It is a plate of rice, shredded beef and stewed black beans. Optionally, one may request Tajadas (fried plantain slices) or a fried egg as additions. Because of the frequency of these requests, they have both gained name in Venezuelan slang. A Pabellón con barandas (Baranda is Spanish for guard rail) is served with tajadas because the long plantain slices placed on the sides are humorously considered as keeping the food from falling out of the plate. A Pabellón a caballo (a caballo is Spanish for horseback riding) means with a fried egg on top, as if "riding" the dish. So most waiters understand inmediately what a Pabellón con barandas y a caballo means.
The shredded beef can be replaced by Chigüire (capybara) Caimán (Alligator) shredded meat or even freshwater fish, depending on particular tastes, region or time of the year (beef consumption is prohibited by the Catholic church during easter time, however Chigüire or fish is approved).
It is widely considered by many as the Venezuelan national dish.
Cachapa: Cachapas are a part of traditional Venezuelan cuisine. They are made of maize in the form of masa. They are made as fresh corn is ground and then mixed into a batter of the consistency of pancakes, yet slightly thicker and lumpier. It is then cooked like a pancake. It is served with many toppings, but traditionally with butter or margarine and white cheese (queso blanco) on top. Cachapas are generally eaten instead of bread, but they can be also prepared as an appetizer or a full breakfast, depending on the size. Cachapas could be very elaborate, some including different kinds of cheese, milky cream, and jam.
Tequeno: A tequeño is prepared with a bread dough with white cheese (queso blanco) in the middle. It is formed into a bread stick and then fried. It is one of the most popular Venezuelan snack foods in parties, especially weddings. It is said that a party is not a true Venezuelan party without tequeños.
Toston: Tostones are a dish made from sliced green plantain(s) which are cut either length-wise or width-wise and are twice fried. The first step is to heat the oil on medium for a few minutes. Once it's hot enough, one cooks both sides for 1-2 minutes each side until they are golden brown in color. One then removes them, pat dry excess oil, pounds them flat with one's fist or any kitchen utensil that has a flat surface, and fry them once again until they are lightly crisp and somewhat brown in color. They are salted and eaten much like potato chips. You can have them with a side of Cubed Steak in Onions, and also a Side Salad
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Puerto La Cruz Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.