Food Spot of the Week: La Casona
In my 16 years of living in Tampa, there has always been one thing that has eluded me. That would be finding a great Puerto Rican restaurant. There have been a few that have been decent, but none that have been comparable to my mom’s cooking back home. Until now. Here’s a review of my food spot of the week, La Casona.
La Casona
Also known as “El Pabellon del Mofongo”, La Casona Restaurant is famous for its stuffed “mofongo’s” (fried plantains). The menu consists of a great variety of native Puerto Rican and Caribbean dishes. Their goal is to service EVERYONE. It doesn’t matter if you’re stopping by for a special occasion or you are just plain hungry, La Casona will always offer the best in food and accommodations. This cozy, family-owned eatery serves traditional Puerto Rican food. Good thing you found out about it now, because the Puerto Rican Day parade is right around the corner. You can check out their menu here, but let me tell you about my favorites.
Alcapurria
I have always had a hankering for this traditional Puerto Rican dish, but could never find a place that could make them the way I liked. Known to Americans as “fritters”, these cylindrical delights consist of green banana, yautía (a tropical flowering plant from the family Araceae), achiote (spice and coloring agent extracted from the seeds of the evergreen Bixa orellana shrub) and meat. They’re perfect as a little snack or an appetizer to start your Puerto Rican feast.
Tostones Rellenos de Camarones
I have to be honest and say I don’t know all the ingredients in this dish, but it is absolutely delicious. What I do know is there are fried plantains, shrimp, and some kind of sauce. I must warn everyone though, you have to take the shrimp tails off. Don’t make the mistake I made and be so impatient you don’t check. They look that good.
Mofongo
C’mon now! How can you go to a spot that is known as the “Pavillion of Mofongo” and not try the mofongo?! The one pictured here is the chicken version, but you can also try their beef, churrasco, grouper, lobster tail, mahi, shrimp, octopus, conch, red snapper, and seafood alternatives. Looks like I’m going to have to come back and review my favorite mofongo dish, after I try them all of course.
What other Puerto Rican spots should I try?
