October 20th, 2009
Venezuelan Food
If you’re visiting Venezuela, it’s helpful to have a working knowledge of the types of foods you’ll encounter, and their names. Here are the most popular dishes:
Pabellon Criollo
Thought of by many as the Venezuelan national food, Pabellon Criollo is a wonderful mixture of shredded beef and rich black beans and rice. Pabellon also has a bit of humour to it: if you order Pabellon con Barandas, you’re essentially ordering the dish “with guard rails.” The “guard rails” are actually sweet fried plantains, deriving their nickname for their ability to keep the food on the plate.
Mandocas
A multi-purpose side dish or breakfast these circular corn fritters can be served with cheese, sugar, or salsa.
Arepas
Arepas are a soft, round bread stuffed with a myriad of different fillings. The most simple is cheese, but they can be filled with spicy chicken, plantains, beans, or even the Pabellon described above.
