Arepa & Co is one of the few authentic Venezuelan areperas in the UK and a gastronomic experience that global food junkies just cannot miss.
Tucked away in Camden Lock Market, the hippest market in the capital, Venezuelan entrepreneur Gus's small food stall has been turning on Londoners to the true tastes of his native Caracas for four years with the catchy slogan: "Venezuelan Food with a Pinch of Love".
If you've never tried a traditional Venezuelan arepa before, this is the place to start.
The cornmeal arepas are large - about 6 inches across - and come with a variety of stuffings, from play-safe options such as grated cheese to the more adventurous Reina Pepiada, a combination of shredded chicken, avocado and mayonnaise.
Targetting health conscious British marketgoers, the large banners on either side of the stall make much of the fact that arepas are made from cormeal, which is wheat and dairy free, low in gluten, and contains no nuts.
Vegetarians can combine cheese with fried plantains or black beans, which are rich in anti-ageing, health-boosting anti-oxidants.
Gus also serves up hearty portions of Venezuela's other staple dish pabellon criollo , a full meal consisting of white rice, shredded beef, black beans and soft fried plantains. (I'm getting hungry just writing about it.)
The success of the Camden stall has allowed Gus, an enterprising MBA student, to branch out into catering, providing some suitably criollo canapes for the UK launch of Santa Teresa rum and doing the food for Venezuelan expat events.
The lastest addition to the menu is Venezuelan white cheese, which Gus has sourced from a secret supplier in London and tequeños, deep-fried pastry twists filled with cheese, which no Venezuelan wedding party, however humble, should ever be without.
Most Venezuelans will eat their tequenos dunked in ketchup, but they're just as tasty dipped in Arepa & Co's guasacaca sauce, made from avocadoes, garlic and parsley leaves, or the spicy picante (hot sauce).
To be honest, the only negative I could find is that Arepa & Co is only open on Saturdays and Sundays.
For Munchies in Bournemouth Try Sandra's arepa bar
Glossary: Eating at an Arepera
La Reina Pepiada: The Curvy Queen of Arepas
Pabellon Criollo - Venezuela's National Dish
Buying Harina Pan in the UK
Recipe: Caraotas Negras - Venezuelan Black Beans
Recipe: Carne Mechada - Venezuelan Shredded Beef
16 comments:
sounds delicious! would love to get over to london to try it...
As you may already know, I LOVE these guys. Their food is truly fabulous. I've heard that up around Holloway Road, there is a little South American pocket. Likewise, down by Brixton. I don't know if either pocket does Venezuelan, but both might be worth a visit.
Thanks for checking out my site and for introducing me to yours.
Besos,
Krista
I live in Los ANgeles, visiting London for a month, my boyfriend lives here and he loves arepas, I got some harina Pan, but running out soon and I will be in desperate situation when I don't have any more, so we are going on sunday to Camden Market, yuhooooo...
looking foward for that adventure and more....
Thank you for this information on the "arepa craving"
Simply delicious! and most of all Gluten-Free! Last Saturday I had the pleasure to visit Camden again and of course my lunch was arepa filled with delicious chicken and avocado. I'm now desperately looking to buy Harina PAN online - I live in Oxford and isn't so convenient to just pop to London and buy it. Does anyone know if there is an online store that delivers in the UK? I've been searching the web but with not much luck! Thanks and besitos! Cinzia
Cinzia, I bet you can get Harina Pan in a corner shop in Oxford.
Ask around and let me know where you got it.
It's definitely available in Reading:
http://www.venezuelanfoodanddrinks.blogspot.com/2008/08/cornmeal-cravings-and-hunt-for-harina.html
And there are comments about getting it elsewhere. Don't buy it online.
I have finally found harina Pan and today managed to make some arepas - soooooo delicious!!! :)
voy a comer a la arepera de Augusto todo los fines de semana y tiene la mejor guasacaca! como podre conseguir la receta?
La harina PAN (la blanca y la amarilla) la venden en un par de tiendas del mercado de Shepperd's Bush por unas dos libras o así el paquete!! // You can get harina PAN (both the white and the yellow) in a couple of shops located within Shepperd's Bush's Market for about two-odd pounds a packet!
Este tipo es un engreido y mal educado, cree que esta vendiendo Caviar Irani o que? ademas las arepas son un robo
Bueno es conseguir algo de Venezuela fuera, donde la atencion y el servicio no existe!
Very delicios....
I love your food.
Greating from Germany.
They look good. Next time I am in London I will have to try and see if they are better than Colombian one's!!!!
Hola, I live in the Bahamas and I wish there was a place like yours here. I do find Harina Pan so I could make my arepas and feel Venezuela close to my heart. Good Luck. Regards and saludos y abrazos from the Bahamas to the UK.
En Miami,en el area del Doral,se consigue la harina para las arepas,el queso guayanes,tequenos,y toda la comida de nuestro pais. Graciela
Are they still open? only open at weelends ? what times are they open ? have 3 maracuchas looking for their Arepafix this weekend
Si. si... Arepa & Co is still open in Camden Lock Market.
Here is the latest:
Para todos nuestros queridos clientes y leales seguidores de nuestras arepas.... A partir de este fin de semana tenemos nuevo horario de atencion al publico... ahora abrimos desde las 10:30 am hasta las 5:30 pm
Y como sabemos que muchos se quieren desayunar arepas temprano, hemos decidido hacer una promocion especial de tan solo £3 por arepa... La unica condicion es que lleguen entre las 1030 de la manana y las 12 del mediodia...! Por eso lo de la hora y media feliz...!
For all our beloved customers and loyal followers of our arepas... We have a new opening time from now on every weekend.... from 10:30 am until 5:30 pm
And as we know that many of you want to have for breakfast arepas, we have decided to run a special promotion of £3 per arepa...The only condition is that you arrived between 10:30 in the morning until 12 noon. Thus, no more happy hour, now Happy Hour and a Half...!
Besos and hugs para todos....! Enjoy el clima del weekend... Looks muy promising...!
Vivo en BC, Canada y tenia tiempo tratando de encontrar la Harina Pan en Saskatchewan y nada… hasta que ayer… BINGOOO!!! la encontre aqui Abbostford… casi me da ¨un sincope cuando la vi,.. y salte de alegria agarrando 6 de una vez, por supuesto la gente en el pasillo me miro raro, jejej pues, que van a entender? jiji No tengo budare ni cocina de gas, pero me traje la arepera portatil… asi que hoy comeremos arepa con pabellon criollo que estoy preparando ahora mismo!!!
Saluditos y un fuerte abrazo!
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