A-R-E-P-A! You heard it right, we said AREPA. Today’s staff lunch was catered by Caracas Arepa Bar in Brooklyn. Established in 2003 by Maribel Araujo and Aristides Barrios, their relentless dedication to homemade quality slow flood has earned them a spot on our Weekly Eats.  The arepa is undoubedly the most popular food in Venezuela.  But what exactly is an arepa? They have been described as “dense yet spongy corn-flour rounds, pita-like pockets, white corn cakes, gluten-free crust on the outside, steamy-soft in the middle, basically a flatbread of sorts made of corn meal…”  Whatever you call it, one thing is for sure, they are amazing, versatile, delicious and the center of every Venezuelan meal, including one of the best after party treats you have ever had.  They can be eaten plain with butter, or stuffed with a variety of ingredients including everying from pork, beef, black beans, avacado, cheese, rice, plantains (ususally maduros - the savory sweet variety), and more. Our lunch consisted of staple Venezuelan sides - black beans, rice and plantains - and an assortment of stuffed arepas. Among the favorites was the La Sureña, “…it was a little spicy from the chimichurri sauce, but it had avocado which mellowed it out.” With locations in Manhattan, Rockaway and Brooklyn, enjoying these tasty Venezuelan treats is just a train ride away, or a walk down the block . Check out Caracas Arepa Bar and enjoy the flavors of Venezuela.  Buen provecho!