Mofongo

[h2oville rocket]

For YD- I have made my peace with mofongo. Had some excellent mofongo in San Juan last week- served in the traditional pestel with Churrasco. Absolutely delicious. A couple cups of PR coffee, mofongo and arroz y habachuellos and I was a very happy, if roly poly, man. I think I just had been getting bad mofongo. The place was called "Raices" I think, in Old Town and was very traditional Puerto Rican country cuisine. If you're ever down I highly recommend it.

[Rightupinthere]

Mofongo. I remember that stuff. I was on a cruise back in 83 or 84 and didn't much like it. My friend and I kept saying for the rest of the trip, "UH-OH, Mooo-Fong-ooooo!" This type of attitude is probably the reason I couldn't get laid until my dates could drink.

I was young and foolish so savoring mofongo would be a different experience for me today.

[h2oville rocket]

Mofongo. I remember that stuff. I was on a cruise back in 83 or 84 and didn't much like it. My friend and I kept saying for the rest of the trip, "UH-OH, Mooo-Fong-ooooo!" This type of attitude is probably the reason I couldn't get laid until my dates could drink.

I was young and foolish so savoring mofongo would be a different experience for me today.

Well, I was notorious amongst my Puerto Rican family members for saying cute things like"Mofongo? No, less fongo, thanks" or "Mofongo? Nofongo!" But apparantly there is a wide variation in mofongo quality. Plus, I got a "Got Mofongo" T-shirt from my niece for Christmas so i had to give it another shot. Basically mashed plaintains and garlic mixed with whatever else you want to mix it with and I think the "Whatever else" is the key!

[TG1996]

This type of attitude is probably the reason I couldn't get laid until my dates could drink.

Off the bottle, or did you wait until they could drink without a sippy cup, too?

[Rightupinthere]

This type of attitude is probably the reason I couldn't get laid until my dates could drink.

Off the bottle, or did you wait until they could drink without a sippy cup, too?

I was more "if there's grass on the infield" kinda guy.

[Rightupinthere]

Basically mashed plaintains and garlic mixed with whatever else you want to mix it with and I think the "Whatever else" is the key!

Mine was a greasy glob of plantains with LOADS of garlic and crispy pork [red pork rinds.]

It wasn't great but I was eating stuff with ketchup on it back then.

[h2oville rocket]

Basically mashed plaintains and garlic mixed with whatever else you want to mix it with and I think the "Whatever else" is the key!

Mine was a greasy glob of plantains with LOADS of garlic and crispy pork [red pork rinds.]

It wasn't great but I was eating stuff with ketchup on it back then.

YEah- YD and I had a discussion a ways back about the amount of fried food served there-my most recent experience was with a very nice cut of meat that was grilled and embedded in the mofongo- much better than the carne frita I was used to.

And in case BO is lurking- the coffee was fabulous-started each day with a cup on the porch looking out at the ocean. Of course even Folgers is pretty dam fine when you drink it on the balcony looking out at the ocean.

[Ydfalcon]

Ha, I appreciate the mofongo thread. It's one of my favorite Puerto Rican dishes. I was able to make some over the summer for my fiancee and her roommates in TN and they all loved it as well. Of course, you can't get the chicharron here the same way (our pork rinds are just nowhere near the same as the crispy skin from the roasted whole pig down there, flavor or especially consistency wise), but in a pinch, fried salt pork worked pretty well.

But yes, mofongo is basically plantains, fried a little, then mashed, and you mash in garlic and usually chicharron. Then you have "mofongo relleno" or "filled mofongo" and there you can get all kinds of additional meat/seafood options served either alongside the mofongo, or sometimes on top of it. (In my experience at least.) Either way, I have yet to meet a mofongo I didn't love.

I haven't been to the place you've mentioned, but then again, we don't usually spend a lot of time in San Juan (a day at the most) when we go down. We love to go and visit El Morro and Viejo San Juan, but after a day, we tend to be ready to get away from the more Americanized/Touristy portions of that city and get back to the island interior with the rest of our family. The first place I ever had mofongo (and still one of the best) was a place called Don Quixote in Mayaguez, which is on the West Coast of the island.

[TG1996]

This type of attitude is probably the reason I couldn't get laid until my dates could drink.

Off the bottle, or did you wait until they could drink without a sippy cup, too?

I was more "if there's grass on the infield" kinda guy.

PLAY BALL!

[hammb]

This type of attitude is probably the reason I couldn't get laid until my dates could drink.

Off the bottle, or did you wait until they could drink without a sippy cup, too?

I was more "if there's grass on the infield" kinda guy.

PLAY BALL!

And here I was thinking..."Cut it!"

[h2oville rocket]

Ha, I appreciate the mofongo thread. It's one of my favorite Puerto Rican dishes. I was able to make some over the summer for my fiancee and her roommates in TN and they all loved it as well. Of course, you can't get the chicharron here the same way (our pork rinds are just nowhere near the same as the crispy skin from the roasted whole pig down there, flavor or especially consistency wise), but in a pinch, fried salt pork worked pretty well.

But yes, mofongo is basically plantains, fried a little, then mashed, and you mash in garlic and usually chicharron. Then you have "mofongo relleno" or "filled mofongo" and there you can get all kinds of additional meat/seafood options served either alongside the mofongo, or sometimes on top of it. (In my experience at least.) Either way, I have yet to meet a mofongo I didn't love.

I haven't been to the place you've mentioned, but then again, we don't usually spend a lot of time in San Juan (a day at the most) when we go down. We love to go and visit El Morro and Viejo San Juan, but after a day, we tend to be ready to get away from the more Americanized/Touristy portions of that city and get back to the island interior with the rest of our family. The first place I ever had mofongo (and still one of the best) was a place called Don Quixote in Mayaguez, which is on the West Coast of the island.

Mayaguez is where we hang out as well-well, we stay there and hang out in Boccaron and Rincon. I'll check with my BIL who is a porfessor at UPR MAyaguez about Don Quixote. Sounds good.

[Ydfalcon]

Ha, I appreciate the mofongo thread. It's one of my favorite Puerto Rican dishes. I was able to make some over the summer for my fiancee and her roommates in TN and they all loved it as well. Of course, you can't get the chicharron here the same way (our pork rinds are just nowhere near the same as the crispy skin from the roasted whole pig down there, flavor or especially consistency wise), but in a pinch, fried salt pork worked pretty well.

But yes, mofongo is basically plantains, fried a little, then mashed, and you mash in garlic and usually chicharron. Then you have "mofongo relleno" or "filled mofongo" and there you can get all kinds of additional meat/seafood options served either alongside the mofongo, or sometimes on top of it. (In my experience at least.) Either way, I have yet to meet a mofongo I didn't love.

I haven't been to the place you've mentioned, but then again, we don't usually spend a lot of time in San Juan (a day at the most) when we go down. We love to go and visit El Morro and Viejo San Juan, but after a day, we tend to be ready to get away from the more Americanized/Touristy portions of that city and get back to the island interior with the rest of our family. The first place I ever had mofongo (and still one of the best) was a place called Don Quixote in Mayaguez, which is on the West Coast of the island.

Mayaguez is where we hang out as well-well, we stay there and hang out in Boccaron and Rincon. I'll check with my BIL who is a porfessor at UPR MAyaguez about Don Quixote. Sounds good.

Don Quixote, like a lot of places in PR, is a very unassuming and simple little place. Nothing that I was blown away by. But I've eaten there twice and enjoyed the food both times. They kinda have an interesting mix of food offerings. Part of the menu is Italian-type offerings (pizza, calzones, spaghetti), while the other is more traditional Puerto Rican food like mofongo and arroz y habichuelas.

Rincon is a great city. We as a group rented a beach house from one of my cousin's coworkers for a few nights there the last time I went down. The place was pretty small, especially when we put about 20 of us in it, but it was a lot of fun. I was a big fan of the Playero store there in Rincon (even though I'm not a surfer by any stretch, they used to be big when my mom would go there when she was little and are making a comeback, and I really like some of their clothing), and we also had a good visit with Mike at Kasa Vieja, a retired guy from New Jersey who opened a bar there.

[h2oville rocket]

Ha, I appreciate the mofongo thread. It's one of my favorite Puerto Rican dishes. I was able to make some over the summer for my fiancee and her roommates in TN and they all loved it as well. Of course, you can't get the chicharron here the same way (our pork rinds are just nowhere near the same as the crispy skin from the roasted whole pig down there, flavor or especially consistency wise), but in a pinch, fried salt pork worked pretty well.

But yes, mofongo is basically plantains, fried a little, then mashed, and you mash in garlic and usually chicharron. Then you have "mofongo relleno" or "filled mofongo" and there you can get all kinds of additional meat/seafood options served either alongside the mofongo, or sometimes on top of it. (In my experience at least.) Either way, I have yet to meet a mofongo I didn't love.

I haven't been to the place you've mentioned, but then again, we don't usually spend a lot of time in San Juan (a day at the most) when we go down. We love to go and visit El Morro and Viejo San Juan, but after a day, we tend to be ready to get away from the more Americanized/Touristy portions of that city and get back to the island interior with the rest of our family. The first place I ever had mofongo (and still one of the best) was a place called Don Quixote in Mayaguez, which is on the West Coast of the island.

Mayaguez is where we hang out as well-well, we stay there and hang out in Boccaron and Rincon. I'll check with my BIL who is a porfessor at UPR MAyaguez about Don Quixote. Sounds good.

Don Quixote, like a lot of places in PR, is a very unassuming and simple little place. Nothing that I was blown away by. But I've eaten there twice and enjoyed the food both times. They kinda have an interesting mix of food offerings. Part of the menu is Italian-type offerings (pizza, calzones, spaghetti), while the other is more traditional Puerto Rican food like mofongo and arroz y habichuelas.

Rincon is a great city. We as a group rented a beach house from one of my cousin's coworkers for a few nights there the last time I went down. The place was pretty small, especially when we put about 20 of us in it, but it was a lot of fun. I was a big fan of the Playero store there in Rincon (even though I'm not a surfer by any stretch, they used to be big when my mom would go there when she was little and are making a comeback, and I really like some of their clothing), and we also had a good visit with Mike at Kasa Vieja, a retired guy from New Jersey who opened a bar there.

I've surfed Dogman and Domes a little, watched whales from the lighthouse- huge pro surfing contest there last weekend-we watched a number of the pros practicing at Domes. My daughter and I rode up through the hills and along the beach- the lady that owns the stables is from Oak Harbor-small world. Came down to get married and got stood up at the altar, never went back home (hmmmmm, Rincon-Oak Harbor, Rincon -Oak HArbor....I can understand that).

Sadly, there is a lot of development heading out towards Domes Beach, although its still as remote a beach as you can find on a small island I suppose. There are a few pretty nice restaurants along the main road into Rincon and one on 413, The Spot, that we always hit for the food and great sunsets. Almost completely a tourist crowd but great food and location-owned by surfers, of course.

Mayaguez is preparing to host the Caribean/Central American Games this summer-lots of new sports venues around twon, not much in the way of new hotels or infrastructure, though. I had high hopes for some good places to eat springing up near my BIL's house-no such luck.

[Ydfalcon]

Ha, I appreciate the mofongo thread. It's one of my favorite Puerto Rican dishes. I was able to make some over the summer for my fiancee and her roommates in TN and they all loved it as well. Of course, you can't get the chicharron here the same way (our pork rinds are just nowhere near the same as the crispy skin from the roasted whole pig down there, flavor or especially consistency wise), but in a pinch, fried salt pork worked pretty well.

But yes, mofongo is basically plantains, fried a little, then mashed, and you mash in garlic and usually chicharron. Then you have "mofongo relleno" or "filled mofongo" and there you can get all kinds of additional meat/seafood options served either alongside the mofongo, or sometimes on top of it. (In my experience at least.) Either way, I have yet to meet a mofongo I didn't love.

I haven't been to the place you've mentioned, but then again, we don't usually spend a lot of time in San Juan (a day at the most) when we go down. We love to go and visit El Morro and Viejo San Juan, but after a day, we tend to be ready to get away from the more Americanized/Touristy portions of that city and get back to the island interior with the rest of our family. The first place I ever had mofongo (and still one of the best) was a place called Don Quixote in Mayaguez, which is on the West Coast of the island.

Mayaguez is where we hang out as well-well, we stay there and hang out in Boccaron and Rincon. I'll check with my BIL who is a porfessor at UPR MAyaguez about Don Quixote. Sounds good.

Don Quixote, like a lot of places in PR, is a very unassuming and simple little place. Nothing that I was blown away by. But I've eaten there twice and enjoyed the food both times. They kinda have an interesting mix of food offerings. Part of the menu is Italian-type offerings (pizza, calzones, spaghetti), while the other is more traditional Puerto Rican food like mofongo and arroz y habichuelas.

Rincon is a great city. We as a group rented a beach house from one of my cousin's coworkers for a few nights there the last time I went down. The place was pretty small, especially when we put about 20 of us in it, but it was a lot of fun. I was a big fan of the Playero store there in Rincon (even though I'm not a surfer by any stretch, they used to be big when my mom would go there when she was little and are making a comeback, and I really like some of their clothing), and we also had a good visit with Mike at Kasa Vieja, a retired guy from New Jersey who opened a bar there.

I've surfed Dogman and Domes a little, watched whales from the lighthouse- huge pro surfing contest there last weekend-we watched a number of the pros practicing at Domes. My daughter and I rode up through the hills and along the beach- the lady that owns the stables is from Oak Harbor-small world. Came down to get married and got stood up at the altar, never went back home (hmmmmm, Rincon-Oak Harbor, Rincon -Oak HArbor....I can understand that).

Sadly, there is a lot of development heading out towards Domes Beach, although its still as remote a beach as you can find on a small island I suppose. There are a few pretty nice restaurants along the main road into Rincon and one on 413, The Spot, that we always hit for the food and great sunsets. Almost completely a tourist crowd but great food and location-owned by surfers, of course.

Mayaguez is preparing to host the Caribean/Central American Games this summer-lots of new sports venues around twon, not much in the way of new hotels or infrastructure, though. I had high hopes for some good places to eat springing up near my BIL's house-no such luck.

Ah 413. The Road to Happiness. Probably my favorite road sign in entire world.



Also, since I mentioned the beach house, I dug out a few pictures.



That's the view from the driveway of the place, so you can see how close it was to the beach. The dead-end portion of the street there was lined with mango trees, which were right in season when we were there. Some of the family was surprised that we pay $3-$4 per mango here, when they were just falling off and rotting in the street there.



That's the beach that we were near. We wound up staying in Rincon for a couple of days before heading back to my Great-Uncle's house in Cayey.

[h2oville rocket]

Beuatiful-handy beach is nice although I guess you're never too far from one in PR. My BIL has a huge mango tree in his yard. LEarned the hard way that they're poisonous- ate one right off the tree and had a huge poison-ivy like rash everywhere the juice dripped.

As we were heading back to SJ I stopped at a roadside fruit stand and got a watermelon and some oranges. I asked the guy about a bag of these brown, peanut looking things, wondering what they were, and he apparantly misunderstood and threw them in with the other fruit so I tried them. Got sort of addicting after awhile but I just found out what they were. Tamarindo- had heard of it but never had any. Very sticky, sour little fruit in pods- my daughter and I couldn't stop eating the little suckers. Definitely can be a different culinary experience there.

Hey who would have thought a thread on mofongo would go into double figures on posts?