El Coyuco

One of the things we have been doing in our visits to Caracas is to take in the more traditional eating places. These types of restaurants are some of the oldest in the city and they're simple and wonderful for getting authentic Venezuelan food. Pollo en brasa is grilled chicken and it's a treat in these places. The chicken is soft, juicy on the inside, crispy outside and barbecue flavorful - no frozen foods here - everything fresh. With fried yucca, guacamole sauce and a beer to wash it down. Sooooo good.


http://www.lonelyplanet.com/venezuela/caracas/restaurants/south-american/restaurant-el-coyuco

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the things

Mama Kim's Korean BBQ

This little food truck has been getting raves from all sorts of web sites and has been tough for me to track down. But today I was successful in getting out of the office for lunch and finding myself eating an awesome lunch at a great price.

The photo above is of Beef Bulgogi, served with rice and Kimchi. Lots of beef simmered and juicy packed with a fragrant rice and a side of the spicy cabbage I've become addicted to. The price is right too. Six dollars for the Bulgogi. I had to get a selection of their dumplings as well which are hand made and crispy light and delicious.

I will have to control my lunchtime spending if they stay parked in their downtown location - a few blocks from where I work. Twitter and Facebook tells you where they are and what specials of the day they're serving.

Website

Minh Hai | Cranston

Pho and more. Drove by this the other day - Googled it - and went the following week. Oh Yeh! Charming no frills atmosphere for my lunch trip there - the place was overwhelmed with hungry customers - slow (but polite) service - but authentic awesome-ness on the menu and coming out of the kitchen - food, coffee, soups, drinks. Lots more to eat here. I had Ginseng tea and the BUN CHA GIO (Beef with Imperial rolls over Vermicelli - see photo above ) and my friend had the pork chop lunch special with a Vietnamese coffee that accelerated my heartbeat by just looking at it.

Tables of happy Pho soup eaters were slurping and noodling nearby making me dream of a trip back real soon.


Yelp | Directions | Website | Lunch Menu

Chez Pascal | Providence

If you've been reading about the Hewtin's truck in Providence you might want to know that the chef that runs that is the owner of Chez Pascal on Hope Street. This great French restaurant is filled with hearty and thoughtfully prepared foods and drink. We opened the night with a selection of pate's and charcuterie made by Matt Gennaro - rabbit and duck and pork and fennel etc etc etc. My wife had a braised veal on a potato cake, green cabbage, served with a reduction sauce that was wonderful. I opt for my favorite French meal - a cassoulet with beans, duck and Chez Pascal made sausage. Not a light meal but a warmly satisfying one on a wintery windy cold providence night.

Directions | Yelp | Website