- The team of The Diary He visited Blue Ocean, El Rincón de la Arepa, Arepas Burger and La Sabrocita to discover the variety of flavors of this dish
The arepa is more than just a food, this dish has become a characteristic symbol of Venezuelan identity, both inside and outside the country. While for some Venezuelan households, it has become a source of work and a livelihood for their families.
The concept of what is known as -arepa- is always the same, however, it can have variations in the preparation of its dough, its shape or the type of filling.
In Caracas, most areperas offer traditional fillings such as reina pepiada, which is chicken with avocado; pelúa, with shredded beef and yellow cheese; quail eggs with pink sauce; ham and cheese; pork; black roast, among others. However, the team at The Diary He toured the capital to discover the types of unusual arepa flavors.
Seafood casserole arepa
Chef Miguel Núñez of Blue Ocean, located in Boleíta, Sucre municipality, said that the establishment has more types of arepa fillings, which are separated between cold and hot, among which the seafood casserole stands out as one of the favorites.
According to Núñez, the creation of this flavor came about by “accident” when mixing ingredients in their kitchens, however, it was so popular with their customers that they decided to include it as one of the permanent flavors on the menu. “The best dishes in the world are sometimes born as mistakes,” he added.
“Our distinguishing feature is that, since we were previously a fish market and we still maintain that channel, all our seafood is fresh, and we also have a high turnover thanks to the fact that we sell a ton of shrimp per month,” said Núñez.
He said that part of Blue Ocean’s goal is to continue expanding the options of seafood fillings for its customers, while also selling seafood delicacies (shrimp, squid and octopus); crab, garlic shrimp, shrimp pudding, among others.
Octopus arepa with melted cheddar cheese
Another of the iconic places in Caracas to eat arepas with unusual fillings is El Rincón de la Arepa, located on the main avenue of La Guairita, El Hatillo municipality.
This place has dozens of flavors. Among the unusual ones is the octopus arepa with melted cheddar cheese. The workers said that it is not the most requested flavor, but it has the most loyal clientele.
Another of this place’s unusual arepas is called Explosiva, which is filled with crab, shrimp and octopus.
“We know that these are not combinations that everyone orders, but it is satisfying to see people’s faces when they can eat what they really want. Here we have 25 fillings, but people can make endless combinations. The important thing is that they leave fed and happy,” said James Ruiz, one of the workers at El Rincón de la Arepa.
Prices of arepas
-Arepas with a filling: from 2.5 to 3 dollars
-Seafood arepas: $3.5
-Arepas with two fillings: from 4 to 5 dollars
-Arepas with more than 10 fillings: 10 dollars
Arepa the Monstrous
Arepa Burger, located in Santa Rosalía Sur, near the corner of El Muerto in the Libertador municipality, offers more than 40 different fillings for arepas. However, for those who are unsure between one flavor or another, the establishment created the Monstruosa arepa, which includes a spoonful of each of the toppings, including cheeses and salads.
Lisbeth Márquez, owner of Arepa Burger, said that she started selling arepas with her sister about 20 years ago. Over time, the popularity of her arepas grew and she had to look for a larger location, which currently has more than 24 employees.
“This has been my whole life, I don’t know how to do anything else. I still have the first cart I bought to make arepas. We have done well because our product is fresh and because people see us as a traditional place to come on the weekends,” said the owner of Arepas Burger.
Tuna arepa with vinaigrette
At La Sabrocita, a restaurant located on the corner of Candilito, in Santa Rosalía, Libertador municipality, one of the signature arepas is the tuna vinaigrette. This place is also known for offering other options with unusual fillings with seafood such as the shrimp and squid arepa with an extra of garlic shrimp.
Lorena Torres, also known as “La Catira,” who is the owner of the arepera, commented that another of the unusual combinations is “vaina con vaina” (minced pork chop, bacon, mortadella, salami, and stewed chorizo) with “brujería” (mixed salad with avocado) with queso de mano.
Torres said that he started selling arepas about 30 years ago, when he walked the streets of Hunger and the corner of El Muerto, with a cooler and an umbrella to protect himself from the sun; and in 2001 he opened his shop in Santa Rosalía.
“For me, arepa is the perfect breakfast or dinner, but above all it is the livelihood of my family. Thanks to what I owed, I was able to raise my children. Those of us who work in this field have to do it: continue innovating to make Venezuelans happy,” concluded La Catira.
International Arepa Day
Every second Saturday in September, World Arepa Day is celebrated, an initiative of the Venezuelans in the World Organization (VenMundo).
In July 2012, VenMundo, through its representatives Rafael Mourad, Luisana La Cruz and Tony De Viveiros, held an event aimed at supporting Venezuelans abroad and, in turn, promoting their integration and unity wherever they may be in the world.
This organization was founded in March 2011 with the mission of promoting voting and political participation among Venezuelans abroad.
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#Unusual #flavors #Caracas
2024-09-14 23:53:52