A PUERTO RICAN CULINARY DELIGHT IN ORLANDO

I am always up to try a new restaurant — especially if it is Puerto Rican food. Therefore, when invited to Crocante Restaurant at 4311 E Colonial Dr. in Orlando, Florida, for my birthday, I did not hesitate.

Crocante is different from your typical Puerto Rican restaurant. Crocante Restaurant was featured in Season 7 Episode 6 of the Somebody Feed Phil show, therefore; we were curious to try it. It also earned the award of Best Puerto Rican Food 2023 in the categories of Critic's Choice and Reader's Choice. Not bad, huh?

The decor is simple but appealing to the eye, though I did not feel it represented the island of Puerto Rico. But that's not important because the food is what matters. I also love that the music is not loud. Unlike other Puerto Rican restaurants, you can hold a conversation without shouting. Once you enter the restaurant, you can savor the delicious aroma of their roastings.

Let the Tasting Begin!

The menu is not too extensive, but it includes all the delicious Puerto Rican dishes I grew up with. The cost is higher than other Puerto Rican restaurants, but you get your money's worth. To begin our experience, we began our dinner with a chilled glass of sangria and mojito.

Amazing Appetizers

We chose corn fritters (sorullitos de maíz) and cheese balls (bolitas de queso) for our appetizers. I must admit that their corn fritters were much better than mine and I make great corn fritters! I had tasted no better than mine until now. Crunchy corn flavors on the outside and soft on the inside. And those cheese balls… mmmm. Firm round balls full of cheese with a dash of guava sauce, giving the cheese balls a touch of sweet and sour combination. The cheese balls did not fall short of the corn fritters. They were just as delicious.

Time for the Entrée

For dinner, I went for the famous Puerto Rican ‘mofonogo relleno de Camarones a la criolla.’ It does not have a name in English but I’ll describe it here. Mofongo is made with green plantains cut into 1-inch wheels and fried for about 7 minutes. It is then mashed in a wooden mortar with salt, garlic, parsley, and olive oil. Some add pork grinds to the mixture, but not everyone does. Afterward, it is formed into the shape of a bowl and stuffed with shrimp in creole sauce. Sounds delectable, right? It is!

The mofongo absorbs the criolla sauce, leaving a delectable taste of spices mixed with seafood on your palate. The combination of flavors blends together creating a mouthwatering treat you can't get enough of. It'll soon become one of your favorite Puerto Rican dishes.

The other party’s entrée included fluffy white rice, deliciously seasoned pink beans, fried plantains (tostones), and steak with sauteed onions. Of course, I tasted it to make sure that their version of it being delicious was accurate. It was indeed.

A Sweet Treat to End the Night

For dessert, we all opted for the sweet taste of the Tembleque — a smooth custard made with cornstarch and coconut milk and garnished with cinnamon. It was delicious — not that anyone can mess it up being so simple and easy to make. Bonus points to the Crocante staff who brought dessert and sang Happy Birthday.

The entire meal was superb! So what can I say about Crocante? I have no complaints regarding the service, ambiance, or food. It was quick and on point. Therefore, giving us an excellent experience at Crocante Restaurant and surely one to visit again.

Originally published at https://original.newsbreak.com.