Local Food Find: Empanadas from La Sorpresa
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Two points do make a line, and that line points to La Sorpresa.
Point one: When the Dominican, Colombian, and Puerto Rican staffers at the Providence US Census office put their heads together for a birthday celebration, they put in an order for 60 empanadas... from La Sorpresa.
Point two: When the person picking up the empanadas happens to phone Andrew Shotts, nationally recognized chef, chocolatier, and Food Network personality, as she drives by his Central Falls chocolate facility on the way to La Sorpresa, he says, "Oh my god. Those are the best empanadas in the world."GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
Two points? Here's the line: La Sorpresa is the destination for empanadas. And if you've never had one... now's the time to start.
If you haven't made the drive to La Sorpresa Bakery for the chicken or beef empanadas, you haven't lived. Perfection at $1.25. Throw in the 50 cent salsa which is so fresh you can taste every note of cilantro, ever tang of tomato, and you'll make the pilgrimage a weekly event. Maybe even more often than that.
What's so fantastic about this Colombian version of the Spanish and Portuguese stuffed bread that shows up in various forms throughout Central and South America? Here, it's about size, balance and freshness. Size? They're huge. One is a light meal, two a lunch, three a dinner. Balance? There's just enough potato up against the shredded meat, and the fried bread that surrounds the mixture is just the right thickness. Freshness? Come in any time of day, from when they open (seven days a week!) at 5 am to closing at 10pm, and the empanadas are going to end up in your bag to go, or in your basket to stay, warm and light because they've just been fried. This is Colombian street food at its best.
Everyone agrees. What are you waiting for?
La Sorpresa Bakery, 498 Broad St, Central Falls, 475-0032, open 7 days 5am-10pm.
Photos Stephanie Ewens
