Sunday is the Super Bowl which is also the super bowl of snacks. If you haven't already decided , then stick with the basics guacamole, chips., wings, ribs and of course beers. After all that, if you want dessert, hey, throw that in too. You need to get that sugar high going when you dance to Bruce at halftime.
For guacamole, make sure you get extra avocados. Why the extra? Because even though they make look good, some are almost fifty per cent rotten. You have to scoop around this black part , thus not getting the whole avocado. Select ones that are firm yet yield to a finger tap. I usually go for Haas, I like their brand the best and their avocado makes the best dip. Make the dip about half an hour before guests comes. Guacamole turns quick and you don;t want to be serving guests black gunk. I usually make mine with plum tomatoes and onion powder. If your guests like crunch add a cup of diced onions for flavor and texture.
Wings and ribs are always fun (albeit super messy foods). You can make wings in a variety of heat s for a different spin. If that;s too time consuming call your local Wing Zone , Popeye's or Pollo Tropical for some already made ones. They will also supply you with dips and wet naps. Pollo Tropical has excellent ribs and you can order these with some sides.
As far as dessert, go for simple cupcakes or a football shaped cake. These you can buy at your local supermarket. This is not a big cake celebration. Besides devils' food doesn't exactly go with Bud Lite. Have bowls of M&Ms or Hershey's kisses around if they want something sweet to munch on at the end.Also brew a pot of coffee for those who need it or want a cup of something hot at the end of the night.
Enjoy this year's Super Bowl and let's hope your team wins. In the meantime. enjoy the food.
Showing posts with label Pollo Tropical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pollo Tropical. Show all posts
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Pollo Tropical - Fast Food Island Style
Combine flavorful Caribbean cooking with fast food and you have Pollo Tropical. It's hitting my neighborhood with a vengeance. The food is a salute to home island cooking, full of spices and textures. I have to admit it's about the best tasting fast food out there.
Since Pollo Tropical means chicken tropical style, there are of course chicken dishes but also beef, shrimp and pork. The grilled chicken is coated with lime and adobe, cooked crisp on the outside and meltingly tender on the inside. I had the value meal which also includes savory yellow rice and red beans in a mild chili sauce. A small roll and soda are added to this for a grand price of $4.21. The rice and beans were wonderful, redolent with spices but not too seasoned. I also bought the flan which is the best I've had. This is what flan should be - a creamy little custard, eggy and not too sweet with a deep dark caramel sauce over it.
You can also get pork ribs for a dinner along with ropa veja, that Cuban classic of shredded beef. Pollo Tropical also has fajitas (OK ,maybe a nod to Mexico here) along with Casar and Cobb salad. unlike other fast food joints it also offers soup. The sides reflect the islands with yucca and fried plantanos along with corm. There are even tropical fruit smoothies too. The food itself is low in calories and not at all laden with the usual fast food evils of grease of over salting.
If Pollo Tropical moves into your neighborhood,go to it. The food is excellent along with the pricing. It's a great way of eating good Caribbean food with out the travel.
Since Pollo Tropical means chicken tropical style, there are of course chicken dishes but also beef, shrimp and pork. The grilled chicken is coated with lime and adobe, cooked crisp on the outside and meltingly tender on the inside. I had the value meal which also includes savory yellow rice and red beans in a mild chili sauce. A small roll and soda are added to this for a grand price of $4.21. The rice and beans were wonderful, redolent with spices but not too seasoned. I also bought the flan which is the best I've had. This is what flan should be - a creamy little custard, eggy and not too sweet with a deep dark caramel sauce over it.
You can also get pork ribs for a dinner along with ropa veja, that Cuban classic of shredded beef. Pollo Tropical also has fajitas (OK ,maybe a nod to Mexico here) along with Casar and Cobb salad. unlike other fast food joints it also offers soup. The sides reflect the islands with yucca and fried plantanos along with corm. There are even tropical fruit smoothies too. The food itself is low in calories and not at all laden with the usual fast food evils of grease of over salting.
If Pollo Tropical moves into your neighborhood,go to it. The food is excellent along with the pricing. It's a great way of eating good Caribbean food with out the travel.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Food Chains
Ever notice the number of chain restaurants along your local highway or in your neighborhood mall? It seems America has produced about a million chain restaurants from Pizza Hut to Johnny Rocket's. Some are upscale, some look like neighborhood hang outs. All in all this is
what 's feeding our country.
There are some really good chain restaurants out there. Red Lobster, for all the criticism (and the one snarky novel written about it) does serve up some mean seafood dishes at affordable pricing. Not only that but all the meals are affordable. Families can splurge every now and then on a lobster for a birthday or graduation. This same philosophy is true with Ruby Tuesday's. The chain offers some great steak cuts along with an expansive salad bar. They also have cool creative drinks that are fun for a night out. For super luxurious there's The Grand Luxe Cafe that looks like a part of an Atlantic City or Las Vegas casino (and a division of of another chain, The Cheesecake Factory). There's also Legal Seafoods which offers high class seafood and chic atmosphere at a relatively well priced rate.
The low end chains do pretty well too. Johnny Rocket's, that mall favorite offers a variety of burgers and shakes with a fun atmosphere. A relatively unheard of chain, Pollo Tropical gives people a superb taste of the islands without the high pricing. It's where foodies can dig into Caribbean favorites and follow with flan or dulce de leche.
Chain restaurants may not get a four or five star rating from critics but they're still good. They give Americans a chance for good food and fun without the high pricing.
what 's feeding our country.
There are some really good chain restaurants out there. Red Lobster, for all the criticism (and the one snarky novel written about it) does serve up some mean seafood dishes at affordable pricing. Not only that but all the meals are affordable. Families can splurge every now and then on a lobster for a birthday or graduation. This same philosophy is true with Ruby Tuesday's. The chain offers some great steak cuts along with an expansive salad bar. They also have cool creative drinks that are fun for a night out. For super luxurious there's The Grand Luxe Cafe that looks like a part of an Atlantic City or Las Vegas casino (and a division of of another chain, The Cheesecake Factory). There's also Legal Seafoods which offers high class seafood and chic atmosphere at a relatively well priced rate.
The low end chains do pretty well too. Johnny Rocket's, that mall favorite offers a variety of burgers and shakes with a fun atmosphere. A relatively unheard of chain, Pollo Tropical gives people a superb taste of the islands without the high pricing. It's where foodies can dig into Caribbean favorites and follow with flan or dulce de leche.
Chain restaurants may not get a four or five star rating from critics but they're still good. They give Americans a chance for good food and fun without the high pricing.
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