HOT PLATES: Tostoni & ‘Tosto-Tacos’

Bringing food fantasies to life, chef Alonso Núñez, lets us in on a personal favourite recipe of his, inspired by his Venezuelan roots and his current home in Mexico. A gastronomical hybrid of the Mexican taco and the Venezuelan arepa, Alonso presents the ‘tosto-taco’, adorned with a creamy chicken and avocado filling. The royalty of arepa fillings, ‘La Reina pepiada’, was created in honour of the Venezuelan woman, Susana Dujim, who was proclaimed Miss World in 1955 in London. ‘Pepiada’ being the slang for ‘cool’ in Venezuela at the time.

Venezuelan compadre Toni Arellano aka DJ Tostoni conjured up some equally flavourful sounds to accompany Alonso’s innovative street snack. Known for digging deep into Venezuelan folk and tropical music, traditional and experimental, Tostoni centres this playful mix around food.

Tostoni’s Tracklist (all records to do with food!)

Unknown – Pregón Mixto

Los Calvos – Comiendo Pan

Cholo Y Su Combo – Casabe De Yuca

Simón Díaz – Mandoca

Hugo Blanco – Moliendo Café

Grupo Por Venezuela – Pan Panadero

Combo Caracas – Yuca

Conjunto Nova 70 – Saca El Pollo

Unknown – Pregón Pescadero

Tito Ochoa – Whisky Con Coco

Los Melódicos – Guayaba Colorá

Unknown – Canto De Ordeño Y Pilón

“Banda de la Polar” – El Milagro De La Harina Pan

“Banda de la Polar” – Las Vacaciones

Hugo Blanco sings Graciela – Maíz Pilado

María Rodríguez – El Cruzao

Conjunto Guaiqueri – El Róbalo

Unknown – Pregón Chichero

Alí Aguero – Pimientos Verdes

Los Coluos – A Molé Yuca

Reina Pepiada

(Makes enough filling for 16 small tosto-tacos)

1/2 cup of chicken breast, boiled and shredded (not too fine)

1/2 cup of mashed avocado

3 tbsp of mayonnaise

1 tsp of julienned onion

1/2 tsp of mustard (not Dijon)

Salt to taste

Mix all the ingredients together and keep refrigerated.

Tosto-Tacos

Ingredients:

(Makes 8 small tosto-tacos)

2 very green plantains

2 cups of vegetable oil for frying

Salt to taste

Method:

Peel the plantain and cut into 8 circular segments of the same thickness.

Fry both sides in the oil until they are lightly browned.

Remove them from the oil.

Place each plantain round on a flat surface and flatten using the bottom of a glass or plate.

Put the flat plantain round back into the oil and with the help of two large spoons form it into a taco shape.

Remove it from the oil and add salt to taste.

Fill the crispy taco with the ‘Reina pepiada’ filling, garnish with coriander, a slice of avocado and chilli salsa.

Serve immediately. ¡Buen provecho!