Twitter: @Stefadook
A little piece of Venezuela lives in Elmhurst, Queens where patacones, arepas and capachas are being served till the wee hours of the morning. Patacon Pisao, NYC’s first Venezuelen Patacon spot, has gained a legion of followers since its first truck opened in Washington Heights in 2005. Now, the mother & son team behind my favorite sandwich are gearing up for a new location opening on the Lower East Side.
Patacones, also known as tostones, are green plantains, twice fried and flattened into a patty. Nestled between two of the restaurants MVP’s, the classic Patacon de Pollo has shredded marinated chicken, fried queso blanco, lettuce, tomato, and Wasakaka sauce, a mix of garlic, cilantro and orange zest. For a buck, you can add fresh avocado, sweet plantains or black beans. I always ask for extra ‘green sauce’, and though I haven’t bothered to learn its proper name, this cool and creamy, avocado, cilantro concoction is made by the barrels, cause yes, it’s THAT good.
After seeing Patacon Pisao’s potential to become a NYC food trend, and spending a few summers working in his mother’s food truck, Jonathan Hernandez helped open the Elmhurst location in 2009. He’s currently in charge of PR and social media and helped turn this Inwood secret into a go-to spot. Patacon Pisao now boasts of a Twitter, Instagram (which I follow religiously) and takes part in community outreach programs in Queens.
In true Queens cuisine style, five bucks at Patacon Pisao will leave you satisfied and then some. Keep an eye out for their Essex & Delancey St. location, opening this Fall! Your belly won’t regret it.