How did we live before the internet? Did we actually speak on the phone since we lacked email? Did we settle movie disputes by watching movies instead of racing off to IMDb? And for us food lovers, how did we find new places to eat? Was our only option to, gasp, read restaurant reviews in the paper? Old school, indeed.
I ask this question because without ‘net assistance, I’m not sure I would have ever discovered Quimbaya in Ossining.
My meal at Caracas Arepa Bar put me in an arepa and empanada state of mind. I was confident I could wander Port Chester and find something suitable, but that’d be too easy. After all, if I’m going to be a good food blogger, I’ve got to explore, right?
Internet, come on down! I googled “empanada westchester” and bam, up came a Chowhound message board for “Scouting the best empanadas in Westchester Co.”. ”nbermas” wrote, “You MUST try the empanadas at the Colombian bakery and cafe in Ossining, Quimbaya.”
And just like that, I was in my car headed to Ossining.
Quimbaya sells all kinds of sandwiches and salads, but those could wait; I was after the Colombian pastries.
See those empanadas on the bottom shelf? I did too.
I have no idea what was in the empanada; I’m pretty sure it wasn’t meat — I don’t think. Was it beans? Yucca? Potato? I really couldn’t tell you. Didn’t matter, it was warm and crispy and served with a nice side of hot sauce. And what’s an empanada without an arepa to go with it?
The arepa surprised me; I was expecting a bread-like texture like the ones at Caracas. Instead, this arepa was much more similar to cornbread — crumbly and sweet. It wouldn’t have worked filled with meat, but with a thin slice of queso blanco on top, it was an unexpectedly delicious snack.
Then there are Quimbaya’s coffees and Colombian hot chocolates. I ordered the “Special Hot Chocolate” — a mix of unsweetened Cacao, panela, cloves and cinnamon. Didn’t bother with a pic because well, it’s hot chocolate, and a picture of a cup of liquid didn’t seem too interesting. But daaamnn, that was some rockin’ hot chocolate — rich, full of interesting flavors and best of all, not too sweet.
So thank you internet, and thank you “nbermas” on Chowhound, wherever you are. If I run into you one of these days at Quimbaya, an empanada’s on me.
Quimbaya
193 Main St.
Ossining, NY 10562
914-941-0810
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Tags: arepas, colombian, empanadas, hot chocolate, ossining, quimbaya
November 10th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Glad you found that Chowhound post. I’ve been trying to scout out loads of places… I haven’t yet tried Quimbaya, but it’s near the top of my list.
Check out Med in Ossining. A new place from a Uruguayan owner that specializes in just empanadas. They’ve got a mix of traditional plus contemporary there.
Also, that sweet-ish arepa similar to cornbread? it’s called an arepa de choclo con queso. Great stuff, particularly as a nice finish to bandeja paisa…
November 10th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
This is great Adam, thanks for the info! I’ll definitely check out Med, and I’m glad to learn the official name for the arepa.