TASTY DELIGHTS FROM COLOMBIA
wellington | table
El Rinconcito Colombiano #2 Offers Patrons Flavorful Latin Food In A Casual Atmosphere STORY AND PHOTOS BY MELANIE KOPACZ
It’s Colombian food as authentic as being in the coffee-growing capital of Pereira itself. The mountainous coffee-growing region of western Colombia is known for mild Arabica beans and a number of traditional flavorful foods. It’s those delectable recipes and other regional Latin dishes that can be found at El Rinconcito Colombiano #2 here in the western communities. Rinconcito Colombiano is nestled at the southeast corner of Southern Blvd. and State Road 7 in the Western Plaza shopping center with Home Depot.The tricolors of Colombia’s national flag with yellow, blue and red painted outside the restaurant proudly welcome customers as they walk in. The doors at this location opened four years ago to complement its original West Palm Beach restaurant. For many longtime customers, like Patricia Recalt and her son Giovanni, the food here feeds their soul. “We’ve shared a lot of special meals over the years. My husband, Arnaldo, who was from Cuba, passed away two years ago. We would come here for the traditional soups,” Patricia Recalt said. She and her friend, Marielena Hotusing, agreed it’s that soup and the many other Colombian dishes that they find both so comforting and appetizing. “If we can’t make it, we will come and get it here, because it’s the same thing as making it,” Recalt said.“It’s home-cooked food, and it’s delicious.” It’s delicious — and also as fresh as you can get.
(Clockwise from top left) A frothy Cappuccino made with the world-famous Colombian coffee; Pechuga De Pollo Asada features tenderly grilled chicken breast with rice and salad; Bandeja Paisa includes grilled steak, fried egg, pork belly, sausage, sweet plantains, beans, rice and half an avocado; a display of mouthwatering pastries and cheese-filled breads; the Club Sandwich is served on Cuban bread with ham, bacon, melted Swiss, lettuce, tomato and onion; the Colombian Burger is topped with bacon, pineapple, cheese, lettuce, ketchup, mustard, mayo and potato chips; and Colombian empanadas are made from corn meal and deep fried. wellington the magazine | may 2022 49