VeneBites is a brand new little gem, simple to overlook on Third Avenue in Midtown, but it surely brings Tallahassee a menu of authentic arepas and different Venezuelan fare.
I’m very grateful to Keith Baxter, chef/proprietor of Kool Beanz, for posting an merchandise on his Fb web page after he and his crew found the counter-serve restaurant.
“Could be stunned to know you’ve gotten had higher arepas exterior of Venezuela,” Baxter wrote. “The KBC kitchen crew tried a variety with unanimous, enthusiastic thumbs up.”
I’d need to agree. I finished by VeneBites this week and was thrilled to seek out these housemade arepas and meet the congenial house owners, Adolfo Morales and his spouse Lisseth Gonzalez, who opened VeneBites three months in the past.
The couple has been engaged on the constructing for 2 years, studying to navigate the allow and paperwork course of, renovating and refining their recipes. Each like to cook dinner however that is their first true restaurant enterprise, apart from serving to at a relative’s banquet corridor.
Lisseth had been an architect and Adolfo the proprietor of a small enterprise in their house of Barquisimeto, the capital of the state of Lara in the northwestern a part of Venezuela.
Spurred by exhausting instances in the nation, the couple stated they felt like they needed to go away.
They went first to Orlando, the place Adolfo has household, after which to Tallahassee, the place Lisseth has kinfolk.
The couple specializes in arepas. Adolfo makes every little thing from scratch, together with his “star sauce,” a bit like tartar sauce the couple calls “Horny Lady Sauce.” I’d say it’s horny good.
“Arepas are vital” in Venezuela, eaten for breakfast, lunch and even dinner, stated Lissbeth.
Venezuelan-style arepas are comprised of corn flour they usually’re gluten-free. They’re cooked on a griddle and have a beautiful, barely crisp shell and are comfortable inside.
Adolfo slices the arepas and fills them with a wide range of elements together with shredded beef, pork hen (with or with out crumbled cheese) or get one with shredded beef, black beans and plantains. All of the arepas are $5.49 to $5.99.
These arepas are scrumptious, tasting contemporary, with a number of meat and cheese stuffed inside, served with a housemade garlic sauce in addition to the Horny Lady Sauce. I introduced some house and my husband and I fortunately devoured them.
One other deal with: the tequeños, cigar-shaped goodies made with a light-weight crust wrapped round salty white cheese and fried. In essence, it’s a breaded cheese stick, however so a lot better. The associated fee: 5 for $5 and 10 for $9. Lissbeth stated these tequenos, that are actually addictive, are a staple at particular events in Venezuela, like birthdays, events and weddings.
Different objects embody desserts of tres leche, a cake made with three milks, and pineapple cake. Strive drinks like mango or panela, made with sugar cane juice, or chicha, a refreshing and candy juice comprised of rice and milk, or a cup of cafe con leche.
You order on the counter and might eat in or take out. VeneBites is minimally embellished for now, however Lisseth and Adolfo need to cowl their partitions with work from native artists.
The primary is Oswaldo Chapman, who’s painted vivid, colourful landscapes. Right here’s a enjoyable contact: there’s additionally a piano in the nook, left by the final proprietor. Sometimes a buyer will play, stated Lisseth.
Transferring right here and opening VeneBites “has given me the chance to share my tradition by way of gastronomy ,” stated Lisseth.
Inexpensive, pleasant and scrumptious, VeneBites is excelente.
Should you go …
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to eight p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday (closed Tuesday)
The place: 217 E. Third Ave.
Cellphone: 850-727-7641
