There is a little hole in the wall Latin restaurant in Lakeland, Florida that is nestled in the back of a small shopping center. Tropico Latino had lots of customers coming and going. I thought I would check them out.
There were empanadas on the menu that I wanted to try. They had the traditional kind as well as a Columbian version. The Columbian version used a shell made of potato verses the traditional flour shell.
The traditional empanadas were filled with seasoned ground meat. The shell was thick and crispy that locked in the heat. They served it with a homemade pico de gallo that was full of flavor. The tomatoes, onions, and cilantro added additional flavor to the meat. It really helped make the empanada stand out.
The Empanadoas Colombianas also came out crispy. These shells kind of puffed up when they were fired. The shell did not taste like potato. These were also filled with ground meat and onion. I used the pico de gallo on this empanada too. It just added so much additional flavor.
Another South American dish they had on the menu were Arepas. Arepas are a corn cake made from ground maize dough.
The first one I tried was the Arepa Con Queso. This was a warm corn cake stuffed with shredded cheese. It was like a Latin grilled cheese. The corn cake was crispy on the outside from the grill. It has a sweet, buttery taste. Not all the cheese melted right away. So, there was a nice contrast between hot and cold.
I also tried the Arepa Con Todo. This was the same corn cakes, but these were stuffed with shredded meat and cheese. The meat was tender and had an amazing savory taste. The cheese melted from the heat and created a nice creaminess that married well with the savory meat.
I really enjoyed this little gem. They are worth a stop in. Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tropicolatinorest
Enjoy!
T
