This pork was so tender, it just melted in our mouths and there was plenty to take home for lunch the next day. Lechon asado is baby pig, slow roasted and served in thick slices with rice and beans ($12). Pernil is roasted leg of pork, cooked for hours so that the meat renders easily from the bone and is a traditional meal served in all Puerto Rican homes. Our skirt steak was cooked to perfection and served with fluffy white rice and slow cooked pinto beans that were just delicious. Puerto Rican main courses focus on pork, beef, chicken and shrimp and all are offered here, cooked on the spot and served in generous portions at a great price. Ceviche is a seafood cocktail marinated in citrus juices and cilantro and is the perfect summer appetizer. Enjoy a cool salad of avocado with light dressing, a mixed green salad, shrimp, codfish or seafood salad. The flavors are intense, but not hot and you can tell this dish takes hours to create. Cordero insisted we try the chef’s famous stew of pigeon peas with ham and plantains called “gandulas”. The codfish fritters are quite popular as they are crunchy and golden on the outside, with sweet, flaky codfish in the middle ($2). We also loved a sweet plantain cut lengthwise and filled with savory meat that is named “hick in a canoe” for its shape ($3.50). Alcapurrias are fritters made of cassava root, filled with seasoned beef. We tried a few of their most popular appetizers including golden empanadas, filled with shrimp or chicken with mild spices and olives, served with house made salsa. At the entrance, cool tile walls and floors lead you to the salsa red bar along with plenty of tables and booths at which to dine.Ĭhef Minerva arrives at 5am to get things started, since everything here is made from scratch with lots of pride and love. On the television behind the bar, concert DVDs of famous Latin stars play, allowing the Latin rhythms to fill the air. A lively crowd already fills the restaurant, even on a weeknight, as they dine on hearty dishes, served in generous portions. Mi Candela is easy to find, on Steinway Street between 31st Avenue and Broadway, just across from the Municipal lot. Better still, there will be dancing all night in the upstairs club very shortly, on slick dance floors framed with sleek banquettes. “Mi Candela means my fire”, explained Cordero, and it was his passion for this cuisine that fueled the inspiration to open Mi Candela. The effervescent owner, William Cordero, is the proud father of this brand new restaurant, which opened on July 1 to the delight of many. Mi Candela is Astoria’s only truly authentic Puerto Rican restaurant featuring the intense flavors and recipes from La Isla Bonita, the beautiful island. Eat, drink and dance the night away at Astoria’s latest addition to the food and entertainment scene.
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