Does Porto's have Big Balls?

[Diana]

How big are those potato balls? Are they donut hole sized? Are the golf ball sized? Tennis ball sized?

[oro3030]

Just for information purposes, the "potato balls" are actually the very popular (at least in Miami) Cuban snack called "papas rellenos". The sometimes come stuffed with cheese the picadillo filling is more common.

[Vikzen]

Isn't this titillating! I recommend the papas rellenos at Porto's and can confirm that they are somewhat larger than a golf ball but definitely smaller than a tennis ball.

Two make the perfect snack.

[wizardx]

as a newbie to the potato balls I can't wait to try the rellenos next time!

[wilafur]

papa rellena = potato ball

=)

[wizardx]

doh!

thanks....

[Das Ubergeek]

It occurs to me that I never posted this here, only other places... even my dog is addicted to those potato balls.

"There's a Cuban bakery near our house called Porto's. Besides having pastries that are so good they ought to be illegal, they're famous for their papas rellenas, or potato balls -- spheres of mashed potato about the size of a tennis ball that are filled with a spiced ground beef filling and rolled in breadcrumbs.

Well, we figured we'd have some overnight guests last night, so I laid in some pastries and some potato balls from Porto's. We had fewer overnighters than we expected, so we had a surfeit of potato balls.

I decided to heat a couple of them up for lunch. I put them on a plate, put the plate in the microwave, took the plate back to my desk and was eating them.

The dog took great exception to the fact that I had potato balls and she didn't, so she started climbing my body and squealing.

'No potato balls for you, Mutt Butt,' said I, 'this is my lunch.'

WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE.

'You're NOT. HAVING. ANY. And stop scratching my leg!'

WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE bounce bounce bounce.

I leaned over to get a tissue, and like a flash, Jackie jumped on my lap -- no mean feat for a nine-year-old, 20-lb. dog -- grabbed a potato ball in her teeth, and hopped down.

'HEY! Give that back, you filthy beast!'

GROWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWL.

'That's my potato ball! You're not having it! BAD DOG!'

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR BARK! *bares teeth*

So intent was she on the potato ball that when I smacked a rolled-up paper in my hand (in response to her threat, which usually causes her immediately to roll over and submit), she didn't even turn -- and that potato ball was down her greedy gullet in about two seconds flat.

I shouldn't have to lock the dog in another room to eat a sixty-cent potato ball."

[wilafur]

haha! nice story. btw, the papa rellenas are now $0.81. damn inflation.

[Chow Bella]

Porto's Potato Balls come in two sizes. The "normal" ones are slightly smaller than a tennis ball. The "party" size is comparable to a golf ball. The smaller size must be pre-ordered.

[JeetJet]

This thread, the OP and replys, takes a lot of Chutzpah! However, Ube is right, "slightly smaller than tennis balls, but definitely larger than golf balls." I can only add that once you get Porto's Balls in your hands you know they are just the right size and you will like then even more once you get them into your mouth -- one at a time.

[kingkong5]

Talk about Chutzpah, JeetJet, just reading your last sentence made me laugh out loud! I agree, you're correct that one at a time works for Porto's balls, but that's only because I can't get two balls in my mouth at the same time.

[Das Ubergeek]

I can, and that's why people like me.

Unfortunately, it seems that there are no balls in OC.

[JeetJet]

Two balls in your mouth at one time? Now that must be something to see. I can only put one at a time into my mouth but only Hot balls. IMO Cold balls are a turn-off. I like'um Hot and Porto's has Big Meaty Hot Cuban Balls the way they should be. Diana asked only about size. I would argue that size is really not all that important because once you have one of Porto's balls in your mouth you realize that it is more a taste / texture kind-of-thing.

[hrhboo]

Venices Bakery in Culver City has bigger balls that Porto's, meatier too.

[Dommy]

Yup! :)

--Dommy!

[kingkong5]

So if I need some balls, you're saying that Venice's Bakery has the best balls? Are the expensive balls?

[hrhboo]

I love their balls, the picadillo filling is beautifully seasoned. I'm not sure about the price, maybe Dommy can chime in?

[Diana]

How can the be meatier? Do they have meat? I didn't know that, I thought it was potato and cheese!

[wilafur]

if you are talking about the papa rellena's (potato balls) at porto's, there is seasoned ground beef in them.

[greengelato]

you mean to tell me that my craving for balls (and meaty balls, at that) could have been so easily satisfied within 1 mile of my house?!

yeah, i didn't know west la had balls.

[Dommy]

Yup! Although they sell out quick! Go in the morning for your best change at the balls (They also have nice empandas and other goodies). :)

--Dommy!

[wilafur]

i am so there with you! it's so close to my tailor's shop....i am gonna drop by this weekend. mmm!

[greengelato]

i went today...they actually don't have potato balls. the girl behind the counter gave me a quizzical look when i asked for them.

another bakery about a block down (forgot the name) has balls and they're quite good. the meat is seasoned; my husband said it tasted like sloppy joe meat, which is not a bad thing. ;)

we also ordered a slice of tres leches cake and a papaya smoothie. yum.

[hrhboo]

They do have balls, I've had them many times. Are you sure you went to Venices Bakery? Coppelia's down the street has balls too but I've never tried them.

[wizardx]

Just left from Porto's an hour ago and yes they do have balls....

[JeetJet]

But does Venices over in Culver City have Balls?

[hrhboo]

I get balls there all the time. Am I going to have to drag Dommy! into this?
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/37112...

[JeetJet]

I am not questioning your word about Venice's having balls or even whether they are bigger and meatier than Porto's balls. I was trying to point out to wizardx that you and greengelato have moved onto Venice's balls and not Porto's balls. I have never seen Venice's balls but I wonder whether they are properly firm -- not too hard, not too soft.

[wilafur]

having just ate one for lunch, the papa rellena at venice's bakery is larger than those at porthos. they are good. but, imo, the ones found at porto's are a bit more refined.

however, since venice's bakery is 10mins from my house, i am definitely going to keep going back to get my fix locally vs driving to burbank or glendale from west la. =)

[wilafur]

i'm sorry. i went to venice's bakery this morn and bought the last 3 papa rellena's they had. =) that and basically 2 of everything they had in their heated display. and...... everything was quite good!!

[Das Ubergeek]

Shame on you for that misleading title!!! :-P

They're slightly smaller than tennis balls, but definitely larger than golf balls.

[Burger Boy]

a bit bigger than golf, not slightly smaller than tennis, tennis balls are pretty big. I think the ones at the Cuban Market in Burbank are a bit bigger than Porto's.

[Das Ubergeek]

Hm, maybe you get smaller balls than I do.

[Ollie]

What Cuban Market in Burbank? You don't mean "El Cubano" On Victory & Tujunga, right?

[Das Ubergeek]

There's another on Sherman Way near Vineland.