Cravings: Caracas 'Los Muchachos' Arepa

Maybe about once a week, the right side of my brain starts to twinge.  My stomach growls.  I begin to look around nervously.  I begin to drool.  People speaking to me begin to sound like that teacher from Snoopy.  My IQ drops 10 50 points. I nervously check my watch and realize it's almost time for dinner.  My boss asks me to do something and I look at her as if insane.

Instincts tell me exactly where to go and what to do.   "Los Muchachos", I whisper to myself. I bundle up for the cold and walk out of the office as if under hypnosis. "Los Muchachos", I whisper as I pass people on the street.  I begin to lightly foam from the mouth.  People pass me and look in horror - I hear a woman wonder whether I have rabis. I don't even notice - I just barrel my way toward 7th St and Caracas Arepa Bar. 

I head right to the counter, at this point gasping for breath and sopping wet, as if it were pouring rain outside.  The woman doesn't acknowledge me as she continues to play with the cash register.  I do not notice that she's not paying attention to me. All goes silent. I just whisper "Los Muchachos".  She knows who it is. 

I jest....I obviously do not have rabis. 

But I admit that Caracas Arepa Bar does have a hold on me.   Caracas has many Venezuelan arepas on the menu, but none like "Los Muchachos".  The arepa - made from corn flour - has a crisp, chewy texture that gives way to grilled, smoky chorizo and a broiled/fried spicy white cheese.  There are jalapenos inside, as well as slices of soft, sweet red peppers that balance the spicy flavors within the arepa. I am addicted to the "Los Muchachos" and urge you to run down and try one.  I can't think of a better way to spend $5. 

Comments

[Robert Roeger]

Wow does that look good! living in a hyper blue-collar Midwestern city can be cool, but food wise its lame-o. Oh yes HAPPY BIRTHDAY Foodie man!

Beef

[joe]

thanks beef. you would love this arepa, right up your ally.

[Mark]

Okay, that looks really good. My wife is from Trinidad and she makes arepas now and then; we'll have to try them with the peppers, etc. but she's not too keen on the chorizo.

[ann]

you're toying with my emotions joe... just 3 weeks ago I would have been able to walk out of my building and pace the sidewalks for about 10 minutes and be able to get an arepa, but now? it would be well over an hour. Dang. thanks, you're the first person to make me officially homesick for the ev/les ;-)

[joe]

ann, i'm sure you'll make me even more jealous when you're out grilling this summer in brooklyn!

[tina]

i love caracas. bit sad that it put flor's east side location to shame, but you can't argue with good food. my favorites are the surena and the del gato. yum.