We were looking for authentic Puerto Rican catering close to home for our father's celebration of…read morelife. With about 150 people expected, this was a big event and we wanted the food to feel just right. Unfortunately, our go-to caterer was out of town, so we reached out to Empanada Times--and we are so glad we did.
Madeline, whose mom was actually our neighbor growing up, welcomed us with a full catering menu. Even though her restaurant is all the way in New Jersey and we're in New York, we knew it would be worth it. We ordered pernil, arroz con gandules (party rice), chicharrón de pollo, and Madeline's famous potato salad.
Let me tell you--we were not disappointed. We had to sneak a taste before serving, and from the first bite, we were transported right back to Puerto Rico. The chicharrón de pollo was everything we hoped for--crispy, boneless, seasoned perfectly, and even better with a squeeze of lime and a cold Medalla beer. The rice was rich, flavorful, and reminded us of Doña María's classic Puerto Rican cooking. The pernil? Juicy, tender, perfectly seasoned. And the potato salad--flavorful, creamy, and just delicious.
We had leftovers for days and didn't mind one bit! My sister, who's a teacher, even brought containers to share with her coworkers, and I brought plenty home for my husband. He's very picky about food and who cooks it--but this time? He dove right in without hesitation, and didn't have one negative thing to say (and trust me, he would have!).
We're already looking forward to visiting Madeline's restaurant in NJ--or maybe catching a food truck somewhere soon. Thank you, Empanada Times, for helping us honor our father with the flavors of home.