The Venezuelan diaspora(4%? population so far) has had an effect around the world: there are now dozens of Venezuelan food restaurants in most major cities of the "west" where Venezuelans do emigrate. I got this in the mail, a comprehensive list made by Andrew Richard and Daniela Cadena. Though In Spanish it is easy to find your way around for your own city. I include the maps for Europe and the US where most readers are. But Australia and South America are well represented while Canada lists Toronto and Montreal and many Central America countries do have Venezuelan joints.
So look to see if your place shows up and go for it. The places listed have a link.
So look to see if your place shows up and go for it. The places listed have a link.
the chicago one is actually pretty far from the city (its in oakpark), its a bit west of the city, but its still pretty legite and delicious, (definitely made not as fatty, but its super good..) I wish I can invest on a place in Pilsen, were there is a large populations of latinos..
ReplyDeleteDaniel
ReplyDeleteYou're probably the one to ask given all the Venezolano knowledge you have. Escaped Caracas in late March this year to return to Toronto and have yet to find any place in Toronto that has agi dulce. Would any of your contacts have a clue? I know this is a pretty lame request given that you can't find absolute essential....but would any of your readers have a clue?
Caracas Canadian
nones, I have found none of those in Ontario. So if somebody tells you please share the knowledge
DeleteLJ
Aji dulce is the one ingredient I really miss from Venezuela. I haven't found it anywhere here in Frankfort, Illinois (near Chicago) so I have been growing my own aji dulce and have had success in getting some great peppers! The first peppers I grew from seeds my family brought from Venezuela, but this year I'm using seeds I purchased on etsy.com Try growing them!
DeleteAji dulce seems to be particularly Venezuelan. I would suggest that you visit the restaurants listed. One may have local info. Or grow them as Mary does :-)
DeleteWe also have been growing Aji Dulce from seeds brought from VZ. Have 5 or 6 perennial plants in the yard and my neighbors are growing them also. If you are in the Tampa area and need seeds or peppers let me know.
DeleteThanks. Looks like best is to get some seeds and start my own. Rice just isn't rice without aji dulce.
DeleteCaracas Canadian
I once bought some dried Aji Dulce, that needed to be re-constituted but it just isn't the same.
DeleteIf growing, make sure you don't have any hot peppers growing nearby or the Aji will take on some heat in future generations!!
Anon 242
We're growing ají dulce as well in Norway. The Venezuelan-Norwegian club distributed seeds to all it's members :-) Only problem is our climate, it grows rather slowly compared to most other peppers.
DeleteLa Caraquena, in Falls Church a few miles south of DC, is truly awesome. It's a small restaurant, easy to miss, and was featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" a few years back. In the past you could also buy hallacas to bring home at Christmas time, not sure if they still do that.
ReplyDeleteArepaZone, the food truck that has been winning every award for food trucks possible in the DC area, is also great. I took my coworkers with me one day to grab lunch from there, and now they are hooked! Their pabellon arepa is to die for.
It's hard to find Polar at any Venezuelan restaurant I;ve been to, but let's be honest Polar sucks anyway.
The liquor store in Georgetown, on M street, will order cases of Polar for you if you want.
DeleteAnon 242
Arepazone truck in DC is fanstastic. Staff is very helpful and the truck is very clean. Food is tasty and fresh. I like arepa's burned a little more so I will ask for it next time.
DeleteYou can add one more Venezuelan restaurant with a second location coming soon: Venezuelan Bowl, which is located in Joliet--a good distance from the city of Chicago but it has become so popular / successful that it will be adding a second location in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago. Here's their fb page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008637667473
ReplyDeleteOops, sorry, I should have specified that the restaurant mentioned above is in Joliet, Illinois and their second location is in Chicago, Illinois.
Deletewoo hoo more venezuelan food in the chicago area!
DeleteTeque Arepa in Eden Prairie is another Venezuelan restaurant in the Twin Cities. I prefer this as it's authentic Venezuelan and their arepas taste like the arepas I know and love. I would also recommend Maria's Cafe, which is Colombian run but serves Arepas and Cachapas.
ReplyDeleteHola Arepa in Minneapolis isn't Venezuelan. I'd best describe it as Venezuela inspired / Venezuelan fusion cuisine run by Venezuelaphiles. (I guess there is such a thing!) Authenticity concerns aside, their arepas are pretty good, but good luck getting a pabellon criollo, or reina pepiada. Actually, don't bother. You're only going to get pulled pork and other hipster fare stuff. I don't know what they're doing to their yuccas though, the texture is really weird and not at all like yucca. And aioli sauce? Really?
Aji dulce is a great subject of discussion around the table because we have never been able to get it outside of the country. Our solution for the next season? Smuggle seeds. But will it have the same taste?
ReplyDeleteCharly,
DeleteWe also miss Aji Dulce.One of my son's attempted to grow it from seed in Durham NC. and they grew and were plentiful, but did NOT have that special taste .There was something important missing ...so sad
firepigette
Thank you firepigette for telling me that your aji didn't taste the same. I thought it was my imagination, I blamed it on a flawed memory of that what it really was supposed to taste like, my husband told me I was wrong, but really, there is that something special missing....well, at least it looks the same and has somewhat the same flavor.
DeleteThere is one venezuelan restaurant in Calgary: Heaven Artisan, for those interested.
ReplyDeleteI have been there once. The one comment my oldest son told me is that paying $13 for something we make often at home was outreageous.
$13 dollars for one arepa, I should have said.
DeleteSouth Florida is full of good Venezuelan places.. We even have entire sub-cities and soon-to-be mayors soon, notably Weston and Doral .
ReplyDeleteCuba has had "Little Havana" here for a long time..
Cubazuela is now proud of its own colonizations, thanks to el Comandante Supremo and the infinite wisdom of our electing pueblo.
Houston has a huge Venezuelano contingent, many ex PDVSA. The suburb of Katy is referred to as Katyzuela. Plenty of Venezuelan food here but have to grow our own aji dulce.
ReplyDeleteMuchachos! ¿Qué pasa con Doña Arepa en Greenacres, Fl cerca de West Palm Beach? Que divina!
ReplyDeleteTotally off topic but why is the fact that they came out with Chavez daughter as the richest person in Venezuela having 4.5 billion or whatever not getting any play?
ReplyDeleteHere in N.E. Ohio, In Akron you can find Angel Falls Coffee Company. They are roasters and retailers of great coffees. They also serve food with a venezuelan flair like cachitos, palmeras, carne meted among other things
ReplyDeleteThere is one in Forest Hills NY called "La Arepa" ........
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kijpcUv-b8M
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/news/going-out-guide/wp/2015/08/20/arepas-are-taking-over-d-c-with-griddled-stuffed-goodness/
ReplyDeleteArticle about the rise of Arepas in the DC food scene.