Latin America has a wide variety of great food: from Argentinian steaks, to Mexican mole, from Cuban congri to Peruvian anticuchos, many countries in Latin America are known for their cuisine. There any many influences in the food of different Latin American countries which have led to some really good eating! Corn, potatoes, tomatoes, squash, avocado, some types of beans, turkey, and chocolate originated in the Americas, and were widely used in native cooking. After the arrival of the Spaniards, Europeans combined native foods in ways that were familiar, leading to some great combinations. If we add spices common to the Moors (remember the 8 centuries of Moorish presence in Spain) - cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, paprika, turmeric - we get a complex combination. Add to that influences from Africans brought to the Caribbean as slaves, Japanese influences in Peru, and so on...we have a wonderful smorgasbord.
Argentina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bus2NCPZcUw
Street food in Peru: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nQnkOrWZNw
Puerto Rican cuisine, video from an art class in NYC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nQnkOrWZNw
Discovery Atlas: Mexico Food http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmxoRSQ1CGQ
With this short and yummy intro, I have questions for you.
1.- What is your favorite Latin American restaurant and why? Tell us where it is and if it is not local (Long Island/NYC), tell us where it is. What type of food does it offer?
2.- Choose one country and explore its food. What dish sounds the best? What would you like to try and why? Are there any foods you would not eat? Why?
I don't really know many Latin American restaurants. I have never been I huge fan of the food. The most common place I go to would have to be taco bell, but I really enjoy Baja Grill in Smithtown. They sell mostly wraps, enchiladas, fajitas. I really would like to try the traditional rice and beans, I have had black beans and white rice before and they were very good. If there would be a food I wouldn’t try it would be seafood because I don’t like the taste.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Latin American restaurant is Amigos, in Danbury CT. My favorite dish is moist chicken and yellow rice and brown beans. They serve dominican food. I would like to try the beef because my cousin likes it alot. & i would have to go with emily i wouldnt try the seafood, i dont like any fishy food.
ReplyDeleteI don't know any Latin American restaurants. The only place I can the of is Meson Ole in Greenport. I really like there chicken and rice. I've only been there a handful of times so I haven't tried anything else, but I would like to. Also there's supposedly a really good bodega next to my job. My customers are constantly raving about how excellent the food is. They have everything from rice, chicken, plantanes, pig, beans and so much more! I would really like to try all of that one day. I agree with both Emily and Elena, seafoods a no for me. -Courtney T
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Latin American restaurant has to be Viva Juans Mexican restaurant in Selden. I am not a big fan of Latin food in any way so i usually go for the margaritas and karaoke. They also have a pretty good sangria. Theres so many Latin foods that I'm not really willing to try because I am much more of a meat and potatoes type eater. Even at Taco Bell its just meat and cheese tacos for me. I do love seafood though, but that is not something i'd even think about eating at Viva Juans.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I dont prefer to eat Latin American cusine, I went to Meson Ole in Patchouge with my High School spanish class a few times. I really like there fajitas because they are served with Beef, Chicken or Vegetarian sauteed with Green Peppers, Onions and Tomatoes. I love spicy and hot foods. I tend tp be a picky eater and dont like seafood. I tried it at a young age because my dad paid me to eat it, and I havent eaten it since. Just the smell of it makes me sick.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know of too many latin american type of food restaurants. If i knew of more i'd definitely give it a try because i like a lot of different types of food. I've been to this mexican/spanish restaurant in florida, i'm not sure of what the name is but it was in west palm beach. The prices were high but the food was definitely worth it. I really enjoy spicy food and some of the things they had there were spicy. I don't remember everything I had but i had some type of mexican roll or wrap.
ReplyDeleteI really like this place in patchogue it's a columbian resturant called mi territas. The one dish I really like there are these empanadas, they come with a mix of shredded beef and potatoes wraped in a tortilla. They serve them with limes and a home made ahji sause that has a very strong kick to it so you need to be careful with how much you eat. The prices were very reasonable and it's makes for a great time in a very authentic columbian resturant.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy Salsa Salsa in Port Jeff because anything is delicious on the menu and it is close to my job to grab quick lunch. When I go I usually order a burrito with almost everything in it. But nothing beats my grandmother's home made dominican meals. One of my favorite is when we make fried plantains with salt. When I visited the Dominican Rep I tried and ate everything my family made me.
ReplyDeleteI love latin food, its the best. The place I always go to is call Viva La Vida, its in oakdale and its a family owned by my bestfriends fiance. They have great food, whenevr i go there i normal get this chicken in a spicy sauce over yellow rice and its amazing. But they also have great chicken and rice too.
ReplyDeleteI like to go to this place called senor taco. It is in miller place. It is not too far from my house and they have really good food there. I usually get the chicken taco. i do not really know too much whats on there menu because i like to get the same thing everytime i go in there. I would go to Mexico and try there food. I do not think i would have a problem eating any of their food.
ReplyDeleteI am not a big gan of Latin American foods. I really havent been to many resturaunts. If I had to pick a resturaunt i would have to pick this littl resturaunt that i ate at whn i visitd Mexico. Th food was very expensive but it was definitely worth it. I am a big fan of different types of food such as spicy foods. Whne i went to Mexico i tried some type of sandwich that was really spicy but it was great.
ReplyDeleteI like spicy food and would like to try real Mexican food. I hear that Mexican food is different from American style Mexican food. The closest I've had to authentic Mexican food was in southern California, its a lot greasier than in the northeast and a lot more like real Mexican food.
ReplyDelete