Tasteful Tuesday

"A good meal ought to begin with hunger"

                         - French Proverb

SOFRITO

      Our quote couldn't state it better!!! Though "A good meal ought to start with hunger",  here at NY city's trendy eatery Sofrito, they are guaranteed to satisfy all appetites.  This Puerto Rican cuisine restaurant Sofrito is located at 400 East 57th Street and 1st ave. Their cuisine is a taste of home in Puerto Rico matched with a caribbean atmosphere that puts you in another world where you actually forget NY is to greet you outside!! You are greeted at the entrance with a lovely, sophisticated dressed staff to direct you to either their dining room, entertaining bar, VIP section, or either small booths for groups who choose to lounge more so than dine.  Let us just say which ever you choose, they're all great options. This spot is great for all your events.  With loud boosting spanish music with an occasional live band, come have dinner with your family, have a first date, celebrate someone's birthday, or even just hanging out with your friends. 

  

 To match such a hot & sophisticated atmosphere is their aromatic menu of appetizers, main courses, and desserts.  Savor such well proportioned delicacies as Arroz Con Pechuga de Pollo (rice with chicken breast), and Pernil Con Arroz Y Gandules (roast pork with pigeon pea rice) just to name a few.  For an appetizer we do, and we mean DO, recommend the empanada's!!! They're unlike any other with a crunchy crust outside but a soft middle filled with well seasoned herb & spice chicken or beef.  Finish out the night with a traditional Tres Leches (a moist sponge cake bathed in 3 types of milk).

Want to impress a first date, wow your bestie for her bday, have a drink with the boys in search of some classy women, have a night out with the wife and kids, this is the place to BE!!!

That's My Kinda Recipe:

Homestyle Banana Pudding

Home-Style Banana Pudding

Ingredients:

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk, low fat or whole
3 large egg yolks
3 tablespoons butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla
vanilla wafer cookies
3 to 4 bananas, ripe but firm
sweetened whipped cream or whipped topping
banana slices for garnishmint sprigs, optional
Preparation:

Combine the sugar, salt, and flour; stir to blend. Slowly stir in milk until smooth. Pour into the top of a double boiler over boiling water. Cook, stiring frequently, until the mixture begins to thicken.

In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks; gradually whisk in about 1 cup of the slightly thickened hot milk mixture. Return egg mixture to the double boiler, stir in the vanilla and butter, and continue whisking and cooking until well thickened. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

In tall dessert glasses or a 2-quart serving dish, make a layer of vanilla wafers then sliced banana. Spoon some of the pudding over the banana layer then layer more vanilla wafers and banana slices, topping with more pudding. Serve with whipped cream topping. If using short dessert dishes, use only one layer each of the wafers, banana slices, and pudding, and then top with a dollop of whipped cream. Garnish each serving with a few slices of banana and a mint sprig if desired.

Serves 6 to 8.