A Spoonful of Sofrito: 4th Annual Universal Pasteles Contest!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

4th Annual Universal Pasteles Contest!

Sofrito Lovers,

Mark your calendars!  Set your IPhone reminders!  Saturday, November 18th from 2pm-9pm join us at The 4th Annual Universal Pasteles Contest at the El Barrio Artspace!  

This contest is a celebration of the incredible art of making Pasteles, which I describe as Puerto Rican tamales made from green banana, platanos, or yucca dough.  The dough is filled with a stewed meat (pork, chicken, or whatever),  wrapped in platano leaf, boiled, and served hot with your choice of condiments. Usually served during holidays, good pasteles are a celebration unto themselves!  They remind us of family, holidays, good times with friends, and how beautiful our culture is!

Every Boricua (Puerto Rican), thinks his or her parent or grandparent makes the best pasteles or that their family recipe is the most amazing!  This competition puts the daring and bold's claims to the test!  It's all friendly competition of course...yeah, right!

Check it out and GO TASTE FOR YOURSELF! ¡Buen provecho!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Top 5 CREEPY Facts About Starbucks!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Top 5 CREEPY Facts About Starbucks!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

It might shock you all to know that I hate coffee!  Yes, this Puerto Rican doesn't like to drink café!  I think this widespread concoction is nasty as hell!  I'd rather drink mouth wash than that garbage!  

Now, before you all beat me like a dime store piñata, just hear me out!  I was never raised with the stuff; my mother didn't believe in serving us this life blood of the Latino community.  When I was older and tried it for myself, I found the taste foul and off putting!

I know many of you love coffee and in particular Starbucks!  Being the enemy of all chain restaurants, bars, and coffee shops (I'll explain later), I thought it was necessary to share the video posted below from WatchMojo.com, Top 5 CREEPY Facts About Starbucks!  I found it really informative, interesting, and disgusting!  Get ready to have your mind blown!

Suck on that frappuccino!  Watch and then NEVER taste for yourself!  ¡Buen provecho!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Easy Trini Corn Pie!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Easy Trini Corn Pie!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

Caribbean Corn Pies are a delicious little-known dish that juxtaposes the sweetness of corn with savory spices, herbs, and the occasional tangy cheese. Corn pies easily pair with most cooked meats and vegetable medleys!  Whether as a side dish or entree, you'll see that corn pies are an incredible addition to your meal!

The video below, from Cooklikeajamaican, features a recipe for a Trinidadian Corn pie that is nothing less than spectacular!

Watch, cook, and then taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: 5 Seafood Standouts in NYC!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

5 Seafood Standouts in NYC!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

I don't know what it is about the autumn weather, but I never crave seafood more than when it's Fall!  Despite my partner David's deep seated pure hatred of seafood, I still manage to get my mariscos (Spanish for Seafood) on from time to time.  I just have to do far far far away from him and then brush my teeth thoroughly afterwards or there will be no smoochies for me!

When I came across this incredibly informative article on ChowHound, I knew I had to try out some of these eateries and, of course, share this post with you!  I'm slowly making my way through Ms. Liu's list and so far I've loved them all!  I highly recommend Laut in Union Square, the food was incredible!

Read the article below and go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen provecho!

5 Seafood Standouts in an Infinite Sea of Options!

by Liana Lau, Chowhound

 
New York City is a twenty-four-hour amusement restaurant park brimming with 45,000 rides for all ages. An urban layout of 200 cuisines, for a daily estimate of 8.55 million thrill-seekers, probing for the next meal to savor. Excitement awaits you every time a door is opened, when your name is heard through the crowd to the seats that will take you on a remarkable experience. New York City converts every ingredient in the world, creating a melting pot of revolutionary art forms. Seafood is the Picasso, a predominant figure in this gargantuan metropolitan, innovative, forward-thinking and imaginative.

Check out the rest of this article!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Creamy Red Lentil Curry!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Creamy Red Lentil Curry!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

The One Pot Chef strikes again!  As many of you know, YouTube is my impromptu culinary school and one of my favorite professors is the One Pot Chef!  I may not know his name, but his channel has inspired me to to buy a  crock pot and use my calderos (Dutch ovens in English) to prepare some incredible meals.

Check out the video below-especially you vegans, vegetarians, non-dairy, and healthy wealthy people-and learn how to make a delicious meatless Red Lentil creamy curry!  It's an incredible recipe!  I must admit that I cheated and added bacon to the recipe and it was amazing!  As corny and cliche as it sounds, bacon does make everything better!

Check it out and go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: 60 Cheap Eats Destinations in NYC!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

60 Cheap Eats Destinations in NYC!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

Once again, my hero and foodie crush Robert Sietsema, from Eater.com, has published another amazing compilation of cheap eateries throughout our fair city!

Sietsema's lists point us in the direction of several eateries that are inexpensive, delicious, and often ignored or underrated.  Who says a little fondita (small Boricua mom'n'pop) with great pernil can't be as good as some five star restaurant?  I sure as hell don't! 

Sietsema hit it right on the head with some of his uptown picks (La Salle Dumpling Room and Ecuatoriana) and his Bronx spots (Gurra Cafe and Fouta).  I love these places and have even written reviews on this blog for some of them, as well!  Go check them out!  

Go taste for yourself! ¡Buen Provecho!

60 Cheap Eats Destinations You Should Know About in NYC Eater critic Robert Sietsema rounds up good deals in the five boroughs and beyond. by Robert Sietsema Jul 19, 2017, 8:58am EDT

 

As fancy restaurant prices continue to soar, finding great inexpensive ones becomes more of a priority. If the food is not only delicious but also outside your previous dining experience, all the better. In short write-ups, neighborhood round-ups, and full reviews, I post about cheap restaurants I’ve stumbled on in the five boroughs and adjacent metropolitan areas, and make menu recommendations. Here is a choice collection of those restaurants, listed geographically. Please let me know by email about restaurants you’ve visited that deserve to be more appreciated. Robert@Eater.com

 

Check out the rest of the article here!

 

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Food Waste Hacks! - Mind Over Munch

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Food Waste Hacks! - Mind Over Munch

Sofrito Lovers,

We're all fun and games here, but from time to time, I think it's necessary to drop some food related science and social justice content on you guys!

Recycling, reusing, re-purposing, and sustainability is extremely important to foodies, especially when you realize how much edible food goes to waste in this country!  Any intelligent person, would question why we're wasting TONS of food every year when it can be used to help people, reduce our carbon footprint, or be re-purposed.

Check out the video post below from YouTube's Mind over Munch and put into practice these brilliant, creative, and world saving food hacks.  Every little bit helps us feed people, save the environment, and live a more prosperous life!  Go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen provecho!