PUYERO VENEZUELAN FLAVOR is Offering Cooking Classes To Learn How to Make Hallacas!
PUYERO VENEZUELAN FLAVOR is Offering Cooking Classes To Learn How to Make Hallacas!
Puyero Venezuelan Flavor (524 S 4th St) invites you to come and unwrap tasty new dishes just in the time for the Christmas season. Between November 13 and December 30, look for the addition of three varieties of hallacas (Venezuelan tamales beautifully wrapped in green plantain leaves) and Pan de jamón (Venezuelan Christmas bread). Additionally, Andres-style hot chocolate has now been added to the menu until the end of winter. hallacas are available individually or in larger quantities for holiday gatherings. On top of the holiday offerings to enjoy for dine-in, take-out or delivery, guests can take part in the Venezuelan tradition by learning how to make hallacas for themselves. Puyero will debut three Venezuelan Cooking Classes: Holiday Edition where guests will taste and make hallacas with owner Manuela Villasmil on November 14, November 28 and December 5, 2018. Each workshop is $30 per person, and class size will remain small to allow for individual attention. Tickets are on sale now at:
http://bit.ly/
Puyero owners Gil and Simon Arends and Gil’s wife Manuela Villasmil are excited to offer traditional Christmas dishes from Venezuela in November and December. Christmas is the most important holiday in Venezuela. It is a time to spend with family, friends and loved ones. Venezuelan Christmas’ are very joyful filled with gatherings and parties. Gaitas and aguinaldos become the soundtrack of the festivities and the smell of hallacas the air.
“We are trying to share as much of the Venezuelan Christmas spirit as we can at Puyero,” said owner Gil Arends. “We’ve changed our dining room playlist but most importantly we are adding hallacas to our menu. Come unwrap these tasty new offerings! We are excited to share one of our favorite customs with you.”
Hallacas are very similar to a tamale, but hallacas are only made during the Christmas season. Each one is made from corn dough and stuffed with a stew made from the meat of choice. The fat from the stew is also used to add extra flavor to the corn dough. It is then wrapped in plantain leaves, tied with strings, and boiled.
The hallaca is the staple Christmas meal. Generally, they are made at home. Families will gather to make hundreds of these is one day. Each family has their own particular recipes which in many cases has been passed down from generation to generation. These hallacas are then shared with your neighbours, friends, employees, and other family members. This is similar to the concept of sharing platters of Christmas cookies in America.
At Puyero, Manuela will be sharing her family’s recipes with Puyero’s dear customers. “The Christmas season is a very special time for me. Since very early in my childhood I have memories of going to my grandparent’s house with my parents, cousins, aunts, uncles to help with this task,” said Manuela.” “Being able to make hallacas in Philly is a way to stay connected with my roots, my family, and my traditions.”
Manuela’s new Venezuelan Cooking Classes: Holiday Edition will focus on tasting and making Hallacas in the restaurant in a small group setting. Dates and times are 6:30pm to 8:30pm on November 14, November 28 and December 5, 2018. Tickets are available for $30.00.
“Venezuelans gather every Christmas with friends and families to make hallacas!” said Manuela. “It’s a tradition passed down from generation to generation and now we want to share it with our Philly family. Join us for a cooking night filled with food and music. You’ll be making your own hallaca and wrapping it up in plantain leaves to take home. We’ll close the night off with a traditional Venezuelan holiday dinner, with an hallaca, chicken salad and pan de jamón.
Can’t wait to see you there, los esperamos!”
All throughout the end of November and through December fridges are filled with hallacas. People will eat them as they please. Some might have them for breakfast after a night partying, others for lunch, and some will save them for reunions and gatherings.
“Venezuelans can’t picture a Christmas without an hallaca,” said Simon. “They are so representative of our identity that they even have a Google Doodle! Now you can enjoy them at Puyero, buy them to take home, or learn to make them for youself.”
Come and unwrap these tasty Venezuelan gifts November 13 to December 30. Pricing is as follows. For orders of 10 or more, it is suggested to call in advance.
Puyero’s holiday menu additions include:
* Hallaca Chicken $9.00 – Corn dough stuffed with chicken stew, adorned with potatoes, olives, raisins, and wrapped in plantain leaves
* Hallaca Chicken and Pork $9.50 – Corn dough stuffed with chicken and pork stew, adorned with potatoes, olives, raisins, and wrapped in plantain leaves
* Hallaca Veggie $8.00 – Corn dough stuffed with chicken stew, adorned with potatoes, olives, raisins, and wrapped in plantain leaves
* Andes Style Hot Chocolate $3.00 – Thick and creamy hot chocolate with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla
Available by order only:
* Hallaca Chicken x 5 – $42.50
* Hallaca Chicken x 10 – $80.00
* Hallaca Chicken and Pork x 5 – $42.50
* Hallaca Chicken and Pork x 10 – $80.00
* Hallaca Veggie x 5 – $37.50
* Hallaca Veggie x 10 – $70
* Pan de Jamon $10.00 – Venezuelan Christmas bread filled with smoked ham, raisins and olives
Manuela added, “Hallacas are THE holiday dish in Venezuela, and this year besides the traditional chicken and pork stew hallaca we’ve added a veggie option as well. Come celebrate the season with us – and learn a new tradition from our country!”
