Archive

Archive for the ‘Latin Food’ Category

Top latin restaurants in the world

February 15th, 2012

The world is quickly learning that some of the best food comes from Latin restaurants. These restaurants often rely on unique ingredients from the Amazon, along with artistic flair to make their business boom. Some of the world’s most creative chefs are working in these Latin restaurants. With the closure of El Bulli last year, diners around the world are hunting a new favorite destination.

The top Latin restaurant in the world is D.O.M. in São Paulo, Brazil. Top chef Alex Atala has scoured the Amazon to bring his dining guest the best in ingredients. He has then carefully crafted the food like an artist would mold clay. He truly combines the ingredients in unique ways done nowhere else in the world. Try one of the tasting menus when dining at this restaurant.

Another outstanding Latin restaurant is Malabar in Lima, Peru. Top chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino has also worked hard to find unique foods from the Amazon. While the atmosphere of this restaurant is not as upscale as D.O.M. guests are immediately greeted with a large plate of appetizers upon entering the restaurant. When dining at this restaurant make sure and try the lechon crocante con lucuma.

When in Santiaguino, Chilie make sure and plan a stop at Puerto Fuy. Chef Giancarlo Mazzarelli has scoured Chile and beyond to come up with the very finest in ingredients. Make reservations ahead of time to enjoy the Easter Island tuna or the Patagonian lamb. No chef in the world may be as talented at using salts from around the world.

Chain restaurants are known around the world for bad food, but not so with Astrid and Gaston, although the original location in Lima, Peru remains the best. The husband and wife team feature old family favorites with their own unique twists. When in their restaurants try the La Mar cebichería, or the Tanta peruvian bistro.

Latin cooking is a wonderful delicacy found in several different countries. Plan a trip today to one of these wonderful locations.

Latin Food, Restuarants

The Best Cities For Latin Food

August 21st, 2011

The Americas are home to a delicious blend of cooking styles known as Latin American food. The food can be described as a mixture of influences from European, African and indigenous cultures. The cuisines are extremely diverse depending on the country. Travelers can learn about the best cities to sample these tasty cuisines by reading this article.

Lima

Lima is well known for its delicious Peruvian cuisine. The food shares influences from Spain, Africa, China, Japan and Europe. Corn, potatoes, rice, wheat, meat and beans make up a Peruvian cuisine. There are also 20 native fruits, which are used in Peruvian cooking. When travelers want to dine in Lima, they can find five different influences and the strongest is Spanish. Some examples of the Peruvian dish include the Peruvian empanadas, Lomo, saltado and Butifarra.

Peruvian empanadas

Chihuahua

Chihuahua is a capital city in Northern Mexico with cuisines that still retain cultural influences from Spain. Travelers searching for authentic Mexican style food can find it in this city. Traditional ingredients used in the foods will include maize, beans, tomatoes, tortillas, tequila, chili peppers and beef. When dining in this wonderful city, visitors can try Mexican Dried Beef with Eggs, Filet Mignon with Tomatillo-Chipotle Sauce and Tamaulipas-Style Fajitas.

Mexican Dried Beef with Eggs

Santo Domingo

The food in Santo Domingo shares influences from Spain and Africa however the names of the dishes are going to be different from other countries in Latin America. The Dominicans prefer a lot of rice, meat and beans accompanied with sofrito, which is a mix of local herbs. Visitors will not find an abundance of dairy products and vegetables mixed with the cuisines, however some of the best dishes in the Caribbean will be available. These dishes include chicharrón, which is made of fried pork rinds, yuca the fruit, and the popular chimichurris sandwiches.

Chimichurris Sandwiches

Buenos Aires

This city is famous for salsa and the Argentine cuisine. The cuisine has a indigenous Mediterranean influence, which gives it a distinctive taste. When visiting this country, tourist will notice the social gatherings for food and tasty dishes. These foods will include milanesa, panchos and empanadas.

Milanesa

Latin American cuisines are very diverse with a history that dates back to colonial times. The dishes typically share influences from Europe, Africa and indigenous cultures. The best of these cuisines can be found in Lima, Chihuahua, Santo Domingo and Buenos Aires. Travelers should book a flight to these cities and experience traditional cuisines.

Latin Food, Travel

The Best Latin Food Dishes

June 13th, 2011

Travel the world by way of your taste buds. Latin food can come from the Caribbean, Pueto Rico, and Cuba and the Americas. For some of us the most familiar Latin food is Mexican cuisine, but there are an abundance of flavorful dishes that go beyond Mexican food and introduce intricate flavors and textures. The food is enlivened by the abundance of fresh tropical fruits, and exotic spices.

Latin dishes often use rice or quinoa for their starch component, and non alcoholic beverages are different teas, coffee, and cocoa and fruit punches. All of these items are fair trade goods and by purchasing them and cooking with them you support sustainable agriculture in Latin American countries.

Some examples of Latin cooking include shredded beef, seasoned and served over rice. Seafood and shrimp are also staples. Often they are seasoned with blends of dried or smoked chiles, coriander, or cumin. Cilantro, the leafy plant from which coriander comes plays a featured role in this cuisine as well.  There are a few Latin dishes that are considered no carb foods including assortment of meats, beans and low carb vegetables, but a good amount of Latin food does have rice, a main high carb ingredient.

We have adopted many foods with Latin flavoring. Tamales, beans with rice, flan, pepperpot and seafood stews. We eat plantains, a cooking banana, and mangos, a delicious fruit often eaten raw or made into a delicious mousse like pudding. Many upscale restaurants feature Hearts of Palm salad, a dish that is common in Costa Rica, as well as other vegetable salads served in vinaigrette dressings.Mexican and Caribbean cuisine is popular today and it is best presented with authentic Latin cheeses. These are fresh white cheeses. Sometimes known as Queso Blanco, Queso Fresco, and Panela they are mild and deliciously creamy, suitable for pouring or dipping. These cheeses are the finishing touch to Latin dishes.

Enjoy a Latin meal with appetizers such as empanadas, a type of fried pie, or fritters followed by a hearty soup, made with seafood or chicken or beef, seasoned with chiles and other spices. An entree with sides could be seasoned beef or chicken strips accompanied by rice and bean dishes. Enjoy the taste of fried plantain or yucca fritters to accompany your meal and complete your dining experience with fresh fruit or flan or arroz con leche for dessert. Meals can be served with appropriate wines, or with yerba mate, coffee or tea, which is usually served
cold.

Latin cooking is full of flavor and freshness. Enjoy foods from many nations and support free trade goods and fine dining.

Latin Food, Travel

How To Find Latin Food Near You

April 11th, 2011

If you love Latin food, you might wonder what Latin restaurants are in your area. There are a couple of ways that you can locate this information and this process can be much easier then you think. Before you know it you will be visiting the Latin restaurants where you live and this can help you to get the food that you crave right in your own neighborhood.

The first thing you want to do is to look in your local phone book. This is a great place to find any type of restaurant you desire. You will likely have a couple of options that you can try and this will also inform you of any restaurants that you might miss if they are in a location that you do not frequent very often. When you have choices, you will be able to try out a couple and determine which Latin restaurants are your favorite where you live.

Another great way to find Latin food near you is with your computer. There are some great advantages to using your computer that you will quickly learn about. Some sites online provide daily deals for restuarants and also give you reviews. This can show you which restaurants are most popular and this can help you decide which ones are worth exploring on your own. If you find a Latin restaurant that you love, you can rate this place and this can help you to show others which Latin restaurants are worth the time.

If you are looking online you can usually save this search and the next time you are in the mood for Latin food you can easily turn to this information for guidance.

If you know someone where you live that loves Latin food, you can ask them where they go locally. This can be a great, insider resource that you can use to help you uncover spots that other people may not know about. This can also provide you with someone you can go to dinner with that loves Latin food. You might find the restaurant you have been looking for when you begin to ask around.

When you learn how to find Latin food where you live, you can enjoy this cuisine and you will likely have a couple of different choices to help you feed this craving. Many areas have choices in Latin food and you just need to find out where this is where you live.

Latin Food, Travel

How to Open a Latin Food Restaurant

March 21st, 2011

Opening a Latin food restaurant is not an easy task. It takes plenty of hard work and planning, but if you do everything the right way, then the outcome can be very rewarding. You need to acquire a few things before you can start your restaurant, but it’s always a good idea to have some things in mind. The first thing you should be looking for is a location. Next, you need to set up a menu and decide on your decorum. You need to purchase equipment and furniture. There are many business loans available to help you with your start up costs. Finally, you need to staff your restaurant.

Get an idea of the ideal location for your restaurant. Ideally, this will be in a high traffic area, with great visibility. If you have a built in clientele, who will come to your restaurant regardless of how far off the beaten path you are, then this is less of a concern. For any upstart restaurant, location is key. If you are somewhere that has a large amount of businesses in the area, then you are going to have heavy lunch traffic. If you are in an area with a large amount of residences, expect more of a dinner crowd. The farther you are from other Latin food restaurants, the more unique you are to that location.

Next, you need to get an idea for what your menu will be. This helps you get an idea for what type of equipment you will need. This is also what is going to set you apart from other restaurants in the area. After you have a location picked, start thinking of how many people it will take to staff your restaurant, and how much their work is worth. Once you have these things in mind, you can start to build a budget.

When you come up with the number that you need, it’s time to see a loan officer. The loan officer can discuss the options, tell you about a number of different loans to consider, and help you decide which of them is right for you.  Make sure to keep track of all of your expenses and income so that if you need to file at the tax extension deadline you will have all the necessary paperwork to back up your tax claims.  Taxation should never be overlooked if you run your own business because there are different ways to write off taxes, including employee health benefits, kitchen appliances or almost any type of expense that you incur during the tax year.  After you have your finances secure, you can begin building your restaurant, buying your equipment, setting up your staff, and start making food in the restaurant you have always dreamed of owning.

Latin Food, Restuarants