FrinGo’s Kitchen brings Puerto Rican food to Chandler, AZ

FrinGo’s Kitchen, a family-owned Puerto Rican restaurant, opens its doors at 11 a.m. today on the northwest corner of Alma School and Warner in Chandler.

It takes over the space that formerly housed Tumi Fine Peruvian, which recently relocated a mile south to Alma School and Ray.

FrinGo’s compact menu offers eight entrees, such as pollo guisado (braised chicken with potatoes, $7.50), bistec empanizado (breaded cube steak, $8.50), and chuleta frita (seasoned pork chop, $8.50).

Sides include alcapurrias (stuffed meat fritters, $2.50), relleno de papa (stuffed potato balls, $2.50), and pastelillos (Puerto Rican meat turnovers, $2.25).

Besides fountain drinks, FrinGo’s sells Malta Goya, a Puerto Rican malt beverage brewed from barley, hops, and water, but non-alcoholic.  http://www.fringoskitchen.com/

Source: http://mouthbysouthwest.com/

Three Historic Tales from Old San Juan

Source: By Zain Deane, About.com Guide

The old capital of Puerto Rico is a walled city almost five centuries of history. It’s the kind of place where you can discover secrets and legends at almost every corner, where even the blue-tinged cobblestone has a tale to share. On every trip to the my favorite destination in Puerto Rico, I learn something new, and I remember why Old San Jan is such a special place.In truth, there are much folklore surrounding the old city. In fact, two of the island’s most well-known legends¹ come from within these walls. But the history of La Capilla del Cristo (“Cristo Chapel”) and La Rogativa (“The Procession”) are well-known to locals and tourists alike.

Here, on the other hand, are three more obscure and perhaps more incredible stories and historic tales from the walled city.

1. The soldier in the dungeon – ²Photo © Zain Deane

The imposing fortress of Castillo San Cristóbal³has two entrances: the main one off Norzagaray Street leading up a broad ramp into the courtyard, and a smaller entrance at the foot of the fort that takes you through the tunnel below the courtyard. Next time you visit, take this latter approach and walk into the tunnel. This passageway served several purposes. During battle, it was used to transfer ammunition from storage to the surface by means of levers; it could also have been used to trap invading forces; and finally, it was also the way to the dungeons.Imagine, for a second, a dungeon in the 17th century. No electricity, no air conditioning, the only light and breeze coming through a tiny window. The dungeon was little more than a hollowed out cave, and many prisoners went mad in its black depths.

While the dungeons were meant for prisoners of war, it also housed the occasional local lawbreaker. One of these was a captain was was imprisoned here for years. How he survived is a mystery, but he left a lasting legacy: drawings of ships, done with quite an artistic touch, given the circumstances, that survive to this day and are protected by a sheet of glass. The unnamed officer even painted the colors of the flags on the ships, identifying friend from foe.

The crude drawings are a special reason to make the trip to the dungeon, and witness a tale of survival against all odds (apparently he eventually did make it out of that cell, but the rest of his story is lost, as far as I know).

2. The spies’ drawings – ⁴Photo © Zain Deane

As impressive as Castillo San Felipe del Morro⁵ and Castillo San Cristóbal are, they have one thing in common: neither is the oldest fortified building in San Juan. That honor goes to La Casa Blanca⁶, one of the oldest buildings in Puerto Rico and the original home of the Ponce de León family. Today, the elegant house, considered truly opulent in its day, is a lovely museum tucked away at the end of San Sebastián Street.

Home to many original and recreated artifacts from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, the museum is an interesting look at life over the course of San Juan’s evolution. But there are two items here that fascinated me more than any other: ask the docent (there’s an excellent staff here) to show you two drawings of Porto Rico made during the 16th century. These were actually made by Dutch spies who were making rudimentary maps to help plan attacks on the island.

3. The last moment of Spanish rule

La Fortaleza⁷, or “The Fortress,” is just that: an early fortification that was transformed and remodeled (and painted a lovely pastel blue, not the most aggressive of colors) into the governor’s official residence. In fact, this elegant landmark is the oldest governor’s mansion in the western hemisphere.

A tour of La Fortaleza is a trip through time and a chance to see one of the most sophisticated and opulent residences in Puerto Rico. But there is one piece of furniture in the mansion that has a symbolic importance that far outstrips its beauty. An old grandfather clock stands here, broken, its hands unmoving. It has been left like this on purpose, because this clock actually marks the very last second of Spanish rule in the new world. Following Spain’s defeat at the Spanish-American War in 1898, the last Spanish governor of Puerto Rico paused in front of this clock and struck its face with his sword on his way out of the mansion, and on his country’s way out of the Americas.

To view this page in its original form, please visit: http://gopuertorico.about.com/od/oldsanjuan/tp/5-Historic-Tales-From-Old-San-Juan.htm

©2012 About.com, Inc., a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.

Myths, Legends, and Superstitions: The Folklore of Puerto Rico

Source:  Zain Deane, About.com Guide

With a history spanning millennia, Puerto Rico is steeped in a multicultural mythology. From the Taíno to the New World, from the historic to the fantastic, there are no shortage of ghosts, monsters, pirates, conquistadores, and spirits in the tapestry of tales that help shape the boricua (or native) culture. Here are just a few of my favorite stories from the folklore of Puerto Rico.

La Rogativa – ¹Photo © Zain Deane

A beautiful sculpture in a quiet corner of Old San Juan depicts a solemn religious procession, commemorating one of Puerto Rico’s most endearing historic tales. In 1797, Sir Ralph Abercrombie and Admiral Henry Harvey led a British attack on Puerto Rico. Heavily outnumbered, San Juan’s soldiers manned their posts while Abercrombie’s troops advanced from the east. The outcome of the battle looked bleak, and the citizens of Old San Juan gathered for a religious procession.

Legend has it that Abercrombie’s men saw the light from many torches in the distance and mistook the procession for a troop of Spanish reinforcements arriving to deliver the city. Deciding that he didn’t have the strength to overcome them, the British withdrew.

El Chupacabra

The creature known as El Chupacabra has been terrorizing Puerto Rico, South America, and even parts of the U.S., for quite some time now. Chupacabra means “goat-sucker,” and this monster is known for sucking the blood of goats and other animals, leaving nothing but a carcass and two small puncture wounds to mark its deadly presence.

Opinions vary as to what the creature’s physical description and origins are. Some say it’s gren, others believe it is gray; some belive it has have wings, others are convinced it’s an alien that landed in Puerto Rico. Even “The X-Files” featured it in one of their shows. It’s a character shrouded in mystery, but even National Geographic has come down to investigate the Chupacabra.

Raining Frogs²

³Photo © Angel A. Acevedo (Dj Soundwav)/ http://www.swavdesignstudio.com

The USDA Forest Service actually corroborates the local legend of the “raining frogs” of El Yunque. Apparently, one can indeed catch a shower of the tiny and musical coquí tree frog, the unofficial mascot of Puerto Rico. The truth is that the frogs do climb to the lofty heights of the forest canopy at times, and their natural predators, recognizing the behavior, lie in wait for them. Rather than scaling back down the trees to escape them, the coquís will leap into the air; they’re so light that they actually float down to the ground. “Raining frogs” indeed!

La Capilla del Cristo – ⁴Photo © Zain Deane

At the end of Cristo Street stands a tiny chapel next to a park known for its roosting pigeons. It’s certainly not the most beautiful religious building in San Juan, but the Capilla del Cristo, or “Chapel of Christ,” has an interesting tale to tell.

In 1753, a young man by the name of Baltazar Montañez was racing his horse down Cristo Street. At the time, the street ended at the edge of a steep drop, and Baltazar and his horse rode right off it. The story goes that, as horse and man plunged to their deaths, Baltazar prayed to a Catholic saint for salvation, and the saint answered his prayer: the young man survived (apparently he didn’t pray for his horse). In reality, Baltazar died, and a chapel was erected to prevent further accidents.

Guanina

The legend of Guanina is historically relevant as the inspiration for the Taíno rebellion against the Spanish conquistadores. Guanina was a Taíno princess who fell in love with a Spanish officer named Don Cristobal de Sotomayor (a soldier who died in 1511, thus proving to the Indians that the Spanish were mortal). Guanina’s brother hated the Spanish and swore to kill Sotomayor on his voyage to Caparra. Despite Guanina’s warnings, Sotomayor undertook the journey and was duly killed.

For her love, the tribal chiefs branded Guanina a traitor and chose to sacrifice her to the gods, but when they found her, she was already dead, her head resting on her lover’s chest. They were buried together beneath a ceiba tree.

The Legend of the Hummingbird

A bit of Romeo and Juliet with some divine intervention thrown in, the legend of the hummingbird tell of star-crossed lovers from rival Indian tribes. Alida and Taroo fall in love after meeting by accident by a pool in the forest. Alida’s father discovered their trysts, and arranged a marriage to a man from his own tribe. The girl prayed to the gods to deliver her from this fate, and they complied by changing her into a red flower.

Taroo, ignorant of her father’s machinations and his love’s transformation, waited and waited by the pool, until one night the moon took pity on him and told him of her floral fate. He begged the gods to help him find her, and once again they obliged, changing him into a hummingbird.

To view this page in its original form, please visit: http://gopuertorico.about.com/od/thelocal/tp/folklore.htm

©2012 About.com, Inc., a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.

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creative noshing

Before I left for my trip down south last week, I utilized my leftover mojo marinated steak and sofrito to make this Puerto Rican inspired hash for breakfast. Now, I am not sure that there is any sort of traditional Puerto Rican dish like this, but the flavors gave me inspiration and I thought it was a delicious way to “use it up” and you guys know I am all about using it up. The bright flavors of the sofrito up front mixed with the highly spiced steak and the earthiness of the potatoes coated with the egg yolk sauce rounds it all out. Pour a little pique sauce on and your taste buds will be in over drive. Pure deliciousness.

Puerto Rican Inspired Hash

Serves 4

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A Puerto Rican Carnival

Source: americanhistory.si.edu

People in Ponce, Puerto Rico, have been celebrating Carnival for over 250 years! Each year the Carnival lasts the whole month of February with parades, music, and special events. The Carnival is a special celebration before the Christian season of Lent, the six weeks before Easter. During the Carnival, people make elaborate masks, dress up in costumes, dance, and play music.

The National Museum of American History is fortunate to have many Carnival-related artifacts generously donated by collector Teodoro Vidal.

Children’s book author and illustrator Lulu Delacre tells the story of the Ponce Carnival in her book Vejigante Masquerader. The main character, Ramón, longs to masquerade as a vejigante with his older brothers. The bilingual tale presents the reader with a rich history of the Carnival tradition of Puerto Rico.

Take a few moments to explore the Try It! activities on this page to learn more about the carnival traditions of Puerto Rico. You can explore the history of the Ponce Carnival, participate in hands-on activities such as creating a Carnival mask at home, and learn how to become a collector!

• Make Your Own Carnival Mask

  Play and Create

  Here are simple directions you can use to make your own traditional Ponce Carnival mask.

  Download the PDF »

• Dress For the Ponce Carnival

  Play and Create

  Learn the tradition of the vejigante costumes, and color in your own vejigante masquerader with traditional Ponce Carnival colors.

  Download the PDF »

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Kansas Love Bird

I tell you what! This Midwestern gal loves a good adventure. And I’ve seen a LOT of places and have had a LOT of adventures. Anyone who wants an amazing Caribbean adventure should definitely go to Puerto Rico. Not only are there amazing winding backwood mountain roads, there are beaches: lush and beautiful, on each side of the island. On the north eastern side you see the Atlantic Ocean with huge crashing waves carving the rock and stone. To the southwest you have the beautiful calm turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea in Guanica and Ponce.

Forget your GPS. Our paper maps didn’t even work consistently. But isn’t getting lost half of the fun? It was for my rainforest mountain beach adventure in Puerto Rico. The first day we counted 14 rainbows. I knew I was in paradise.

Downtown Old San Juan is so beautiful with its hundreds-of-years-old brightly colored…

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Puerto Rican Lechon, Roast Suckling Pig

Source: gopuertorico.about.com – By Zain Deane, About.com Guide – Photo © Zain Deane

Lechón: it’s as Puerto Rican as apple pie is American. On Sundays, outdoor gatherings and family get togethers, lechón is practically a member of the family … a highly edible and succulent one. In one brief trip to Puerto Rico I saw no less than four different lechóns roasting away at parties I attended. It was high time I included a recipe on the site, and who better to supply one than the folks at Saborea!¹

 

Cook Time: 7 hours

Total Time: 7 hours

Yield: 12-15 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 25-pound suckling pig, ready to cook
• 24 cloves of garlic, peeled
• 3 tablespoons whole dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon peppercorns (whole black peppers)
• 3/4 cup salt
• 1/2 cup sour orange juice (naranja agria)
• 3-4 green plantains

Preparation:

Crush and mix the garlic, oregano, peppercorns and salt in a mortar. Mix this thoroughly with the sour orange juice. Then, cut deep gashes into the pig at its neck, under the lower jaw, its loin, legs, shoulders and over the ribs. Rub the seasoning into the gashes as well as inside and over the pig. Cover with a cheese cloth and let sit overnight in a cool place. Barbecue the pig in the traditional method on a spit. Tie the front legs to the pole, stretching them out as far as possible, and place the pole on a pair of Y-posts. Place the pig over an open fire of live charcoal over layers of stone. Rotate the spit slowly and continuously to roast evenly, and baste frequently with achiote (annatto seed) coloring. Cook for roughly 7 hours, or until the meat is well done and loses its pink color. Place the green plantains over the stones as well, to be eaten with the lechón. Cut the meat and served with the plantains. For an extra ‘Rican kick, throw in some ajili-mojili, a sour garlic sauce.

©2012 About.com, Inc., a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.

Casa Bacardi Tour

Source: gopuertorico.about.com by Zain Deane

 

Photo © Zain Deane

Bacardi’s distillery in Cataño (the world’s largest rum distillery, I might add), is just a stone’s throw from Old San Juan, is open to visitors year-round. A trolley tour takes you through the history of rum-making on the island and Bacardi’s origins. You also get to test your olfactory prowess, and, of course, you get a complimentary drink. The tours fill up early, so call ahead before you go.

By the way, if you’re using a tour company to visit Casa Bacardi, you’ll pay around $30, but the good people at Bacardi don’t charge for their tours. The trick is to take a ferry from the pier in Old San Juan (at a cost of $0.50) and then grab a taxi to the factory (which will set you back a few dollars).

For more information, contact 787-788-8400.