Colombian Street Kitchen @ The Green Rooms

From delicious 'Growing boys' arepas to the thinnest patacones ever - there is something for everyone at The Colombian Street Kitchen in Wood Green's Green Rooms
by Amaranta Wright
Image

The first thing that you notice on entering Green Rooms is what a great space it is. In most restaurants, tables are crammed into every possible space and you have to actively try not to hear the next table’s conversation. At the restaurant at Green Rooms, an 'artists hotel', that gives afforadble rates to artists and also offers rehearsal space, it's a pleasure to eat with space around you.

The Green Rooms also has an interesting food concept. The venue invites local chefs to set up residencies. The current resident is Colombian Street Kitchen, headed by Medellin born Esteban Arboleda, who has a passion for delivering the best traditional dishes of his home country, to a high standard and in a sophisticated style (as well as a passion for music by the sounds coming form the speakers - Colombians are known for their great music taste).

Indeed, we could taste the real freshness and quality of the ingredients in our starters - a sweet potato guacamole and patacones with salsa - which is essential in any Latin cuisine, and sadly not always a given, as many pseudo latin restaurants (especially the chains) feel no shame in serving up pre-prepared frozen guacamole from a jar. The other wonder was the shere thinness of the patacones - deep fried wafers of plantain. How could you possibly get a plantain that thin without it breaking? Esteban’s secret, apparently, which he would not divulge. But this slither, dipped in a fresh tomato salsa (or the guacamole) was something certainly worth a trip to experience.

The world's thinnest patacones?

The sweet corn fritters with homemade melao (cane sugar and rosemary) were a real treat for the kids and the chicharrón was also exquisite; huge chunks of pork in a sweet honey marinade, with ample crackling, and a spicy Colombian-style pickle. Divine.

Next we had the empanadas, crispy and delicious, with meat and potato filling and another with cheese . The prawn ceviche was also good, by my co-diners report, although he would have preferred a fish option to be on the menu, as well as prawn. Then down to the arepas, corn-cakes filled, stuffed or, in this case, piled, with goodies. If you like your sandwich option as eaten on the streets, then this might not be your thing. Esteban's arepas are the full dining option, with all the ‘stuff’ piled on top - beans, spicy salsa, guacamole and coriander, with an option of feta, shredded beef or chicken. My son wolfed down the feta version claiming it was delicious. Definitely 'growing boys' food. These arepas are seeded with black quinoa and toasted sunflower seeds, not that you would notice underneath the the layers of ingredients piled on top.

Arepa deluxe

We finished off with some fried pastry (Colombia’s answer to churros, but can't remember the name!) which we dipped in extremely rich Colombian chocolate sauce. Perfect if you love chocolate. The tropical fruit trifle - a lighter and healthier option - was also yummy.

Just as we were finishing dinner, my favourite salsa track of all time came on. How many places can you eat delicious Colombian food and listen to the smooth honey voice of Azuquita? This reviewer's definition of heaven. A whole load of Latinos and salsa discotheque would have topped it off. I mean surely, all that space is an invitation to do more than just dining!?

Colombian Street Kitchen will be at The Green Rooms till February 2017. The restaurant is open six days a week: 

Tuesday to Friday 12-3pm and 6-10pm. Saturday and Sunday 12pm-10pm.  Closed on Monday.

For more info or to make a reservation, call 020 8888 5317 or email info@greenrooms.london

Address: Green Rooms Hotel, 13-27 Station Road, London N22 6UW. Website: www.greenrooms.london

Opposite Wood Green Station on the Piccadilly Line. Parking is available at The Mall Wood Green which is a few minutes walk away.

http://www.colombianstreetkitchen.com

Related Articles

Image
Coconut Passion Brulee

We at LatinoLife are embracing Veganuary or 'Veganenero' as we say in Spanish. Come on its only one month! But, as we…

Image
Latin Elephant Cuisine - London's unlikely Tourist Destination

"So many people living in this wider area had no idea that this world existed – they felt like they were tourists in their…

Image
Marlon’s Lechona

Colombians love pork, and this stuffed pork, presented with a whole head attached, is the ultimate party feature served for…

Latest Content

Image
Music
Reggaeton Revolution: 20 years of UK Urban Latin Culture 

Back in 2004, when the UK music industry was ignoring reggaetón and Maluma was in nappies,…

Image
Our Mothers  1
Film & Theatre
OUR MOTHERS (Nuestras Madres) - A Debut feature by César Díaz

Winner of the Camera D’Or in Cannes, Guatemalan filmmaker César Díaz’s multi award-winning film,…

Image
Judith, Violeta and Frida in Mad Women
Film & Theatre
Mad Women - Unapologetic and Bold

Mad Women tells the stories of three Latin American women artists who lived with Bipolar disorder.…

Most Viewed

Image
Top 10 Argentine Footballers

As one of the biggest football teams in South America and the world, the Argentine Football…

Image
Ballads and Boleros
Top Ten Mexican Male Singers of all Time

Since the days when Mexico was a serious rival to Hollywood in terms of film production and quality…

Image
Top 10 Mexican Boxers

Globally, Mexico is known as a boxing powerhouse, boasting some of the greatest champions in the…