Wepa! Arepas!... at Caracas

Hana and Josh told us great things about Caracas Arepa Bar, and invited us to check it out on a quiet Sunday for brunch.  We admittedly started salivating that morning as we read the menu online.  All the stuffing options for the arepas sounded amazing.  

Josh's sister joined us as well (hooray for finally putting a face to the name!), and we decided to start with fried sweet plantains and a bit of guacamole since we were all pretty hungry.

The plantains were prepared nicely, with nice slight caramelization and soft centers.

The guacamole was a bit bland; it needed salt and more spice.  But the plantain chips served with it were crisp, fresh and beautifully salted, so the flavors balanced out.

Now for the main event: the arepas!  The actual arepas (flatbread made of maize) were nicely browned on the outside while remaining soft and fluffy on the inside.  Translation: the inside was soft enough to soak up the juices of the fillings, while the outside was hardened enough to make it easy to eat the arepa without any of the filling seeping through or falling out.  And the fillings did not disappoint.  Between all of us we wound up trying a wide variety and enjoyed every bite!

La De Pernil 

(roast pork shoulder, tomato, and spicy mango sauce)

La Surena

(grilled chicken, chorizo, avocado, and spicy chimi-churri sauce)

De Pabellon 

(shredded beef, black beans, white salty cheese and sweet plantains)

Leek Jardinera 

(leeks, sundried tomatoes, and onions)

 

At first we all thought we'd want to go for seconds on arepas, but we wound up feeling pretty full after the first round.  However... we did have just enough room for a sharing dessert, and unanimously decided on the Coconut Tres Leches.  Great decision!  Each bite was bursting with the delight of sweet milk and delicate coconut. 

Since the waitress could tell we were wavering on whether to order two desserts, she suggested one of their special cookies with dulce de leche filling.  She assured us it was perfect for sharing and not a huge commitment.  We weren't sure what to expect, but understood what she meant as soon as she set it down.  Huge cookie, but very light!

Two large wafers (they reminded Mel of communion wafers) spread with a deliciously sweet dulce de leche cream (a flavor like a cross of caramel and hazelnut) in between.   You can't go wrong!  The perfect ending to a savory meal.

If you love arepas (or the general concept of meat in bread pockets), Caracas is definitely worth a trip to the East Village.  Its dining area is a bit small, so you might have to be prepared for a wait during busy times.  But it will be worth it!