Remembering Sunday Brunch...

Every week I start anticipating the weekend by Tuesday. Since the next weekend food adventure seems light years away, I simply have to recall the past until the future arrives...this past weekend Ryan and I met for brunch at Caracas, a Venezuelan restaurant in the East Village. This place opened in a storefront the size of a small bathroom and then after some time of taming the hungry, drooling crowds that gathered nightly outside, the owners expanded to the much larger (still pretty cramped) space next door. Caracas has a happy and colorful decor, bright table clothes with giant flower and fruit pattens, and big painted murals on the walls.

Here is the thing about Caracas: if you go there once and eat an arepa, afterward you will suffer strange cravings and urges to return. Arepas are foods you do not cross paths with often. That said, if you see one, eat it - a semi-sweet corn cake with any number of meat, vegetable or cheese items stuffed inside. My favorite has a combination of ripened and sweet avocado, black beans, sweet plantains, and a soft, fresh cheese inside that is dyno-mite. When I say dynamite, I mean you could literally explode with happiness. Also try their appetizers - Emilia and I have shared some favorites: tequenos (little fried cheese sticks), tajadas (fried sweet plantains and cheese), guasacaca and chips (Venezuelan guacamole and plantain chips), or ensalada la acida (multi-bean and corn salad with a puckering lemon dressing).

Last Sunday after Ryan and I unsuccessfully tried to get a table for brunch at Yuca Bar (another favorite place), we walked down the block to Caracas at prime time and sat right down. Ah, desayuno. I had un plato muy delicioso. An big plate of the favorite fillings listed above, plus perico - eggs with peppers, tomatoes and onions - and a big glass of sweet passion fruit juice. Life is good.

Caracas Arepa Bar
93 1/2 E 7th St (between 1st Ave and Ave A)
212-529-2314

Caracas To-Go
91 E 7th St
East Village, NY
212-228-5062

www.caracasarepabar.com