Arepera Guacuco near the Bushwick/Ridgewood border

Image source: Arepera Guacuco

New Yorkers are not unfamiliar with arepas, whether they’re the beyond delicious discs created by the Arepa Lady (we enjoyed her amazing arepas at Viva La Comida! last summer) or the Venezuelan stuffed arepas at Astoria’s Arepa Cafe, or face it – even the ones in the refrigerated section of your local supermarket (we like the cheese ones) are tasty in a pinch. Over on Irving Street near Troutman in Bushwick – just a block from the Jefferson L stop and three blocks from the Ridgewood-Bushwick border (only a couple of blocks from Bushwick Five Points, too) – is Arepera Guacuco.

Image source: Arepera Guacuco

According to their website, “arepera” means “a place that sells arepas” and “Guacuco” is a beach on the eastern coast of Vezuela; the owner, Leonardo Molina, was born there. At Arepera Guacuco, they serve the Venezuelan kind of arepas, which are grilled, then filled with a vegetables, meat, or cheese, or a combination of ingredients. Popular there are the pernil (pork and cheddar), and the pabellon (beef, white cheese, plantains, and black beans). They also sell papelon con limon – a molasses-sweetened lemonade – as well as a coconut drink called cocada.

The owners – Leonardo and his wife – actually live in neighboring Ridgewood. Leonardo’s mother does a lot of the cooking and makes the arepas fresh to order. First they are griddled, then they are finished in the oven. Empanadas, also made to order, are available, filled with cheese, beef, fish, and more. Tostones (fried starchy plantain) and Tajadas (fried sweet plantain with cheese) are also available as side dishes.

Channel 7 has a great video about Arepera Guacuco, and a recipe for arepas as well.

Arepera Guacuco, 44 Irving Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237; (347) 305-3300; guacuconyc.com

Brooklyn eatery brings Venezuela to Bushwick [ABC]

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