Tasting Plates – Latin American Flavours in Vancouver

Vancouver Foodster tried something new today.  Instead of having Tasting Plates cover a small region/neighbourhood in Vancouver, it covered a style of food, in this case Latin food.  It took a short drive from one place to the next, but the tasty food that awaited us was well worth it.  Enjoy the pictures and my short comments about the food and event.

A.G.R.O. Roasters

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Tasting Cups will include:

1. A variety of organic coffees from Latin America including, Columbia, Peru and El Salvador. <The coffee here was very fresh, aromatic, and flavourful.  I sampled the El Salvador beans.>
   

AGRO Roasters Organic El Salvador coffee

 

Chicha Restaurant

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Tasting Plate includes all 3 items:

1. Ensalada De Quinoa: Mango, avocado, roasted red pepper, red onion, cilantro, mint. Jalapeño Huacatay dressing.
   
2. Bolas De Yuca: Croquettes stuff with assorted cheese and chilies. Served with a Huancaina sauce.
3. Calamari and chorizo Anticuchos: Skewers served with a basil and aji Amarillo mash, Peruvian black olive aioli. <Although I enjoyed all the items from Chicha, the calamari and chorizo skewer was my favourite.  It was interesting to pair the flavour and texture of the calamari, with the spice and oiliness of the chorizo sausage.>
   

Chicha: Ensalada De Quinoa, Bolas De Yuca, and Calamari and chorizo Anticuchos

 

La Mezcaleria

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Our Tasting Plate includes all 3 items:

1. PACIFIC RED SNAPPER CEVICHE: Tomato, lime, red onion, serrano and cilantro. <This ceviche was wonderful.  Full of citrus and spice.>
   
2. GUACAMOLE: Fresh avocado, cilantro, lime, onion, jalapeño and tomato.
   
3. TOSTADA OAXAQUENA DE FRIJOLES: Refried cowboy beans with Mexican cheese, fresh tomato, lettuce and sour cream served on a corn tostada

La Mezcaleria: Pacific Red Snapper Ceviche, Guacamole, and Tostada Oaxaquena de Frijoles

 

Las Tortas

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Tasting Plate includes all 3 items:

1. Cochinita Pibil Torta <nice and juicy pork here.  Added flavour from the taquera salsa I added!>  In case you are wondering about how to make a torta, here is a recipe for Cochinita Pibil Torta.
   
2. Tortilla chips w taquera salsa
3. Churros

Las Tortas on Cambie

Las Tortas: Cochinita Pibil Torta, Tortilla Chips, and Churros

Sal y Limon

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Tasting Plate includes all 2 items:

1. Ceviche tostatas
2. Chicken tinga tostadas <My favourite tstada of the evening.  The chicken had so much flavour, without being spicy hot.  The ceviche was also top quality.>
   

Sal y Limon preparing the tostadas

Sal y Limon Cheviche tostada and Chicken tinga tostada

Guanaco Food Truck

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Tasting Plate will include all of these items:

1) Hand-made tortilla filled with pork chicharrón* or ground chicken, vegetables, cheese, loroco and savory refried black beans.

-Chicharrón/Pork <I had this version of the tortilla.  It was a nice mix of pork with the cheese, with lots of flavour and creaminess from the melted cheese.>

-Pollo/Chicken

2) We will be serving pupusas in appetizer sizes and pieces of fried cassava

OR

1) Our Vegetarian Tasting Plate we will offer bean and cheese, zucchini and cheese or just plain cheese with loroco. (V)

-Queso Y Frijoles/Cheese & Bean -Ayote/Zucchini (V)

-Queso/Cheese & Loroco

ALL PUPUSAS ARE SERVED WITH YUCA FRITA.

Stepping up to Guanaco Food Truck

 

Guanaco Food Truck: Pork Chicharrón tortilla, fried cassava, and salad

El Azteca

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Our Tasting Plate includes all 3 items:

1. Ceviche de pescado (fish)
2. Guacamole mumuca (V)
3. Cochinita Pibil

 I unfortunately ran out of time so was not able to visit El Azteca, but will put it on my list for the future.

Tostadas are fun to eat and very messy.  Fun I think in the summer on the patio with your friends and family.  Here is a receipe so you can make your own tostadas.  Enjoy!