Tuesday, 18 February 2025
This place undoubtedly has the best Latin flavors in town This place undoubtedly has the best Latin flavors in town Alejandra Gotóo

Ode to an Arepa: rediscovering Latin flavours in Croatian land

Written by  Alejandra Gotóo Apr 02, 2023

As a Mexican living in Croatia, I have found the lack of familiar flavors challenging. Although I enjoy Croatian cuisine, I often crave some spicy salsa and tacos. Although some places in Zagreb claim to have Mexican cuisine, I have been disappointed. Thus, I have found some alternatives that have worked marvelously for my taste. If I had written this article a couple of weeks ago, I would have recommended Fuego; still good but not even close to Arepera Maracay. Let me tell you how I came to visit this fantastic restaurant - 

In the last months, I have made Croatian and European friends. Still, recently I came closer to the Latin community in the country. I met a lovely Mexican woman and soon discovered we shared many of our experiences in Croatia as Mexican women. She invited me to attend the Festival of Lights, which was held from March 15-19 and occurs around the same dates each year. If you're in town next year, do check it out! It's truly breathtaking.

I am always up for trying new things 

We met on Thursday evening, strolled around the city, and enjoyed the amazing installations. Then, as most Mexicans do after every event, it was time for food. She didn't ask for my opinion, but she knew where we were headed. I was thrilled that I'm always up for trying new things.

Hold still. Let me make a confession: this place undoubtedly has the best Latin flavors in town! Arepas are not Mexican. Instead, they are a Venezuelan dish and can also be found in Colombia. While I have yet to travel to either country, I am positive that Arepera Maracay offers unique salsas, meats, veggies, and overall combinations. The salsas are not very spicy but have a coriander flavor, which is a crucial ingredient in Mexican salsas. The agua fresca tastes like water that you could buy in any restaurant or street food stand in Mexico City. I recommend you agua de jamaica, a hibiscus infusion.

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Arepera Maracay offers unique salsas, meats, veggies, and overall combinations - Photo - Alejandra Gotóo

I need to conduct more research on all their food offer. Butt my current favorite is the arepa Pabellón, which will excite any paladar with plantain, cheese, shredded beef, and black beans. Hubby also likes that one, so we can recommend it with our mouths and hearts. I know it might be a weird combo for Hrvatskoj ljudi, yet, please try it.

One of the things I love about this place is that it does understand where the food culture of Latin America comes from. It does not pretend to be something that is not. The flavors are familiar to my Mexican paladar and, at the same time, taste like Croatia, my new home.

Arepa is basically a gordita 

One Mexican professor once said in class that an arepa is basically a gordita, a traditional Mexican dish. I didn’t know then, but I have understood a couple of things after some years. First, as humans, we still need to relate cultural expressions to the ethnicity or culture we grew up in. This means that our initial experiences will stay with us, and everything else will be compared to them. I do not believe an arepa is a gordita, but I acknowledge their similarities. Secondly, I did not appreciate Mexican flavors until they were no longer readily available.

In conclusion, my experience at Arepera Maracay has been a revelation. It has reminded me of the importance of cultural exchange and the beauty of discovering new flavors and cuisines. As a Mexican living in Croatia, I have learned to appreciate the similarities and differences between my native cuisine and that of my new home. Arepera Maracay has given me the opportunity to indulge in Latin American flavors that taste like home while also being open to new culinary experiences.

I believe that exploring international cuisine is an excellent way to connect with other cultures and broaden our horizons. As someone who has been lucky enough to experience different cuisines, I encourage everyone to seek out new food experiences, even in their own cities. There is always something new to discover, and who knows, you may just find your new favorite restaurant. So let's all keep an open mind and an empty stomach and keep exploring the world of food!

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Alejandra Gotóo (1991, Mexico City), who studied English Literature and recently graduated with a Masters of Social Anthropology is now writing about her time in Croatia as a columnist in Dubrovnik Times. Her work has been published in Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Peru. She has two published novels, Ruptura and Isadore or Absolute Love. Her topics of interest include nature, adventure, language, books, food, culture, animals, conservation, and women's rights. She also writes in her blog: Cardinal Humours.

 

The Voice of Dubrovnik

THE VOICE OF DUBROVNIK


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