192770 Sat Nov 10 10:53:13 -0800 2001 4 18 Manhattan 0 1029240 I have to give full credit to HLing for dragging me into Abuela's Cocina (1758 First Ave, near E91st St--917-492-1790) even though we were both late for work. Puerto Rican home cooking. It's mainly a take-out sort of place, but there's room at the counter for maybe 4 people to sit--from here you can see into the tiny, modest kitchen where a grandma, assisted by a team of several slightly younger women, cranks out all this amazing food. First I tried a pastelillo, a slightly flaky dough wrapped around some spicy ground beef and deep fried. These were clearly hand made and fried a few minutes earlier. So fresh tasting, and completely addictive, especially with a squirt of bright green, very oniony fresh salsa from the squeeze bottle on the counter. Grandma then pulled a big pan of roast pork from the oven, so we ordered some of that (pernil), sliced over rice and beans. The pork was very moist and tender, and beautifully flavored with black pepper and other spices. And the crispy slices of skin....holy cow. What really blew my mind was a dish that I'd never had before: pionono. Plantains wrapped around spiced ground beef, draped with a delicate coating of fried egg. Even before I tried it, I knew it would be the best thing I'd eaten in weeks. Like everything else here, it had just come off of the heat and was still glowing with the energy that food has when it's freshly made by someone who really loves to cook. The grandma watched us wolf down her piononos first with great satisfaction, and then horror as she realized that she forgot to warn us that each one is held together with a toothpick. Wasn't it Jon Bon Jovi who said that "every rose has its thorn"? Luckily, we escaped injury. I can't wait to go back there. Sat Nov 10 10:53:13 -0800 2001 0 Tom Meg 1 1029241 Wow, Tom! Sounds like you scored a real hit. Yet another placed to squirrel away for my next NYC meanderings. When you go back from a second helping, please post again. Pat Sat Nov 10 11:37:36 -0800 2001 1029240 0 Pat Hammond 2 1029254 I went back today on my way to a party (so I couldn't order anything and spoil my appetite), but I did find out that they are open Monday-Saturday from 11-8:30. And, for the record, it was HLing who spotted this one. Her chow-sniffing instincts are awesome. Sun Nov 11 00:02:07 -0800 2001 1029241 0 Tom Meg 3 1029261 Tom: Thanks for the hours on this place. I'd meant to credit HLing with the actual find, but you deserve some too, for allowing yourself to be so deliciously "led astray". Can't wait to try it. Pat Sun Nov 11 10:24:32 -0800 2001 1029254 0 Pat Hammond 1 1029259 This place sounds heavenly. I am definitely giving it a try SOON. Sun Nov 11 09:04:25 -0800 2001 1029240 0 Maria