June 4th, 2010
Raices (Roots), Restaurant, Review, Caguas, Puerto Rico, Comida Criolla, Puerto Rican Food
You are wondering if I am there or here. Well, I am here, at the Delaware Beaches. But, it is like anything. You go on vacation, had a good time and you spread the word. Plus, in our Delaware and Maryland beaches, we have a fair amount of residents that winter in Puerto Rico. These posts might give them a taste of what this Island is all about.
And this post will be about food. Puerto Rican food and its flavors.
We decided to try a restaurant called Raices in the town of Caguas. Caguas is only 20 miles south of San Juan but it might take you an hour to get there, depending at what time or day of the week you decide to travel.
Raices is located on Urb. Villa Turabo, H-31, Caguas. The tel. is 787-258-1570 and the website is www.restauranteraices.com. It is a great website written in English and Spanish. This restaurant also has another location in Old San Juan, on Recinto Sur Street #315. Tel. 787-289-2121. I am reviewing the one in Caguas, though.
I met my family there and decided to go very early to see if I could get some pictures of the restaurant. The restaurant is completely decorated as it would have been in 1949 in the Island, showing what was important at that time. The staff is dressed as the “jibaro” and you really don’t know what I am talking about.
Jibaro is the term used to describe the mountain people, just like hillbillies in the United States. They lived in-land and are the backbone of the Puerto Rican culture. The Jibaro was poor, uneducated and probably illiterate. But, they were honest, hospitable, self-sufficient and most of all, proud. The Jibaro is pretty much gone from the Island but there are some that are still jibaros at heart. Raices memorializes the soul of the Jibaro.
Puerto Rican food is unique; well seasoned, but not spicy unless you add some of home made sauce “pique”.
Cooking with foods of the island like coriander, papaya, plantains, root vegetables, annatto seeds, and the spice called adobo used as a base for many dishes give that “criollo” flavor.
My favorite tropical fruits used in cooking are pineapples, guavas, papayas, mangoes and coconuts; a real treat.
I was looking forward to tasting some of Raices’ food and someone suggested I try the Pork Chop Kan Kan served with Mofongo (plantain mash). It was huge, tasty, delicious and the edges of crispy pork rind probably gave my arteries a shock but worth it.
Pork Chop Kan Kan
I also had the cream of plantain soup and that was outstanding. I would recommend it anytime.
Creme of Plantain Soup
Other members of my family ordered the Tornado which was a skirt steak stuffed with Raices Mash and crowned with shrimp and mushroom and onion sauce.
A few other dishes ordered were served on the Mortar (Pilon) and it was Mofongo (Plantain) served with shrimp, octopus and mahi mahi.
Sangria, freshly squeezed orange juice and drinks were very well received, as well.
Raices gets crowded. On Thursdays, there is live music.
Enjoying lunch with my family; it is a time to exchange ideas and to remember how lucky we are to have each other.
Have a good one and talk to you later….
Tags: Caguas, Comida Criolla, Full Bar, Puerto Rican food, Puerto Rico, Restaurant, Restaurants, review, Reviews, The Jibaro
Wow. I’ve heard a lot about this restaurant but have not been to any of them yet. One of my daughters mentioned a while ago that the one in Old San Juan is really good. I guess that either one should be on my schedule during this week when my other two children will be visiting for the wedding of my youngest. I will follow your advise on the plantain soup.
Also, glad you enjoyed your latest visit while sightseeing. Have you had your cholesterol level checked yet? Lol
No sabes la alegria que me da el que tu regreso a PR despues de tantos anos te haya servido de inspiracion en tu blog.
Como Puruca he oido muchisimo de este restaurant pero no lo hemos visitado,todo se ve riquisimo y segun tu lo describes se le hace la boca agua a uno.Ya le dire a Tato parar ponerlo en agenda para un fin de semana.
Me encantan las chuletas can-can aunque se nos suba el colesterol ,vale la pena probarlas.
Hola: Yo he estado en los dos restaurantes. En el de Caguas que es el orignal hemos ido varias veces. A Kiki le gusta la chuleta can can a mi la carne frita. La sangria es escelente. Al de San Juan hemos ido una vez pero me quedo con el de Caguas.Se me olvidaba el arroz mamposteao y el mofongo son riquisimos.Saludos…..
Muchas gracias por tus comentarios al blog. Mi chuleta estaba divina al igual que el mofongo. Nos vemos.
Debes de tratarlo porque a la verdad que estubo bueno. Gracias por tus comentarios al blog.
Hello there! you were right to tell me about this blog. Everything looked sooo delicious. Next time I visit Puerto Rico I am going to try these restaurants. Lo que se perdio John!
Se lo voy a mandar a Enid y Kiko.
Anita
My husband n I were vacationing last week (oct2-9-2011)
Visited this restaurant n were really empress with the place n the deliocious food we enjoy it so much that we return again the second time. I still think about that guava mojito , the best!!yum highly recommended
Thanks so much for the comments to the blog. I am so glad you loved it as much as I did. See you.
me gustaria saver la direcion pues estoy planiando unas vacaciones a puerto rico
Margaeria: Gracias por tu comentario. Te envio un e-mail directo.
Hola:
Soy clienta de ustedes desde que abrieron en Caguas, pero en la verdad que me encantaria que abran uno en VA aqui en Northern Virginia seria un palo si necesitan ayuda me dejan saber…..fritafritarita@gmail.com
Ayer visitamos, mi esposito y yo, el de San Juan por primera vez en nuestro aniversario número 13. Me fascinó el lugar, ambiente y comida, verdaderamente fue una experiencia al pasado, me encantó!! me gustaría saber el porqué de la ropa y como se llama, me gustaría tener algo así de recuerdo, me encanta! Éxito en todos sus restaurantes! Gracias!
Ropa Vieja comes from the Cuban culture but it started in Spain. I don’t know if it is true but apparently some penniless person shredded his own clothes and cooked it while praying for a miracle. It did happened and it turned into a tasty meat stew. Good old story. lol