Revisiting Chile at San Antonio Bakery #2
- By Robyn Lee
- May 15, 2008
- Comments
- HOT DOG!
- San Antonio Bakery #2
A standard hot dog doesn't do much for me. Meat log wrapped in bread? Doesn't it sound like it's missing something?
Yes. Yes it is. It's missing avocado mashings, diced tomatoes and onions, and a loopy squiggle of mayonnaise. Make it yourself or go to your nearby purveyor of Chilean-style hot dogs. In my case, I went to San Antonio Bakery #2 in Astoria, Queens with Olivia, Tristan, and John because I probably wouldn't go through the trouble of making it on my own, even if involves little more effort than making a standard, non-condiment-laden hot dog.
And that's what bothers me; it wouldn't exactly drain the energies of hot dogs places to splodge on those extra bits of tastiness that most hot dogs lack. Spoon on some avocado mush and squeeze on the mayo; booya, your hot dog just became awesomer! Or better yet, spoon on the mayo in giant heaps. Things just can't help but taste better when smothered with emulsified egg yolks and oil.
- Needs more mayo
I wished that San Antonio's hot dogs had more mayo-smothering action. The condiment-to-hot dog ratio is pretty balanced, though. Stare into the meat log. Yes.
- SANDWICH! It loves you. Or it would if it had any emotions. It probably doesn't. Because it's a sandwich.
- Inside!
Better than the hot dogs are the sandwiches: hefty, round piles of meat and bun. And things to go with the meat and the bun, usually of a vegetal nature. Vegetal things! My pork sandwich—possibly called a lomito, unless I just picked that up randomly from somewhere because I'm really tired and the words on my monitor are moving funnily—topped a pile of tender, thinly sliced pork with tomato slices, lots of mashed avocado, and a bit of mayonnaise.
...Okay, probably more mayonnaise than you'd find in most sandwiches, but it was just a smidge light-handed for my unrefined tastes.
The bun was great: crusty and soft, hefty enough to support its fillings, light enough to not get in the way of them. Don't you hate it when you're eating a sandwich and the fillings threaten to escape its bready vice because the force of the too-tough bread causes the softer innards to squish out? You end up with a pooping sandwich. Nobody wants food that poops on you.
- Another sandwich!
- Green!
The chacarero was possibly better than the one I had in Chile as it contained more moist, baby's butt-tender beefiness and more green bean action (although, unfortunately lacking in the mayonnaise department). Yes, a sandwich full of green beans is a glorious thing; 'tis a seriously underused sandwich filling ingredient. Tristan actually ordered a custom, vegetarian-friendly sandwich of just green beans and...well, every other vegetarian-friendly ingredient. Even though my heart cries for pork, I'd totally go for a green bean and avocado sandwich. For those innumerable times when I'm feeling too fat. Like today and yesterday and most of the days I've breathed air.
- Cheesy goo
The cheese empanada was surprisingly of the flaky sort. Not that I know much about empanadas; I had just never seen a flaky one before. Cheese and flaky dough can't fail.
- YEAH, BEEFIES
The beef and onion empanada was more of what I had in mind. Fortunately, it was quite similar to the one I had in Chile, stuffed with diced beef, onion, and somewhere deep inside, chunks of hard boiled egg. I would've preferred a slightly softer crust, maybe something in between that and the cheese empanada's flaky crust.
- Pebre
Each table had its own bowl of pebre, a chunky sauce of cilantro, onion, tomato, olive oil, garlic, and aji peppers. I didn't use this sauce to its fullest potential; instead, I mostly poked at it with a spoon, just one of my few dazzling talents. Was I supposed to eat it with the empanadas or sandwich? When will the mysteries reveal themselves? Wheeeeen?
- Don't forget about dessert!
For dessert, we moseyed over to the dessert counter filled with fat cake slices, fat alfajores, fat slices of pie, and other things of a fat nature. I found the cookie of Olivia's alfajor too dry for my tastes, although that might be standard, meaning that alfajores just aren't my thing. It's sad to think that something full of creamy dulce de leche might not be my thing though. Truly saddening. I liked John's lemon meringue pie more with its surprisingly light, crumbly cookie-like crust and meringue fluffs that I actually labeled as "tasting good" when meringues rank low on my "List of Dessert Components That I Enjoy."
- CAKE! Yellow!
I liked my lucuma cake the most, even if it didn't blow my mind like the similar cake I had in Chile (which was probably quite a unique dessert, even in Chile—it was deliciously semifreddo-esque). If I hadn't already eaten a sandwich, part of a hot dog, and bits of empanada, maybe I could've actually finished the whole slice. Never having eaten lucuma before, I couldn't tell you how much the cake preserved the fruit's flavor. But ooo, frosting! alternating with cake! alternating with dulce de leche! and again with the fluffy cake and the barrier of frosting. That's good in any flavor. I mean, normal cake flavors. Not like "gravel" or "breakfast sausage."
- PAP
Although I am a water drinker 90% of the time, I allow myself to enjoy in a fizzy beverage every so often like millions upon millions of other people on this earth in the name of "exploring the offerings of an unfamiliar cuisine." And thus, I had Pap, one of the two most popular Chilean soft drinks, neither of which seems to have made much of a splash outside the Chilean community. As Pap is supposedly papaya flavored, I assume that's where the name is derived from. And by that I mean it has nothing to do with pap smears, even if that's what Tristan would hope for. Indeed, it does taste like papaya, as long as Chilean papayas taste like bubblegum. Methinks some of the fruit's essence was lost in the manufacturing process.
- Oh, hi!
I must give props to my three eating buddies, John, Tristan and Olivia, for trekking out to Astoria to help me indulge in my moment of Chile-longing. And I thank them by showing you this weird photo where no one looks like their normal selves. That's what happens when you're full to the point of intestinal displacement.
Oh, if I didn't make it clear, you too should visit San Antonio Bakery #2, even if it's off your normal fooding path. The people who work there are really nice and obviously proud of their creations or else they wouldn't enthusiastically encourage you to eat more things. Not that you should need encouragement.
Comments
I like how the sandwiches have loads of meaty bits, not just one big slab o'meat. When it's one big slab, you've got to use your teeth to kind of tear the meat, sometimes resulting in meat hanging out of your mouth and a sandwich that is then lacking in meat.
Meaty bits make for even meaty distribution.
That pebre looks good. I like condiments.
End.
Yes, that is a lomito! And I'm craving one right now. Your food porn photos make me hungry... But seriously, lomito is to die for. If (and only if) there's enough mayo on top!
And you can eat pebre with the sandwich or lomito you have. Just put it on top of the mayo. Or dip your food in it.
snap, look how full of delicious food i am!
I'm intrigued by hotdogs with other things on. We don't even have chilli dogs over here in the UK, so it's an incredibly novelty idea for me. I might have to try botching something together for myself.
Your sandwich looks mega-tasty. As the first poster said, meat shavings are gooooood *nods*
Omg I'm in love.I must runaway and marry that pork sandwich stat. It had me at mayo.
OMG that first sammich looks REALLY REALLY REALLY yummy!!!! It's making me extra hungry lols -=D Too bad it's in Astoria...I never go that way. I think I've only been there once! So the Pap tastes like bubblegum papaya soda? Hm....sounds very interesting! I'm starving now...
Yas: I agree!, although I'd be fine with a whole fried pork cutlet in my sandwich as well.
But yahoo for meat bits!
Jenneke: AHH I WANTED MORE MAYO! Maybe another time. "Please put extra mayo on top. I want to die sooner."
And next time, will use pebre! Thanks for the info.
Olivia: You almost exploded.
SuperChomp: Oh noes, no chili dogs? No crazy hot dog loving? ;_; Yeah, you can make this yourself. I should try that...it would be cheaper and faster than going to Queens!
Bella: Those are some strong feelings...but I understand. (nod)
Wonders: I had only been to Astoria once beforehand! I should go there more often. Or I should explode other places more often!
It tasted like...bubblegum-ish. Not so much papapya, hehe. But not totally like bubblegum. It's..uh...unique and questionably tasty.
Robyn, if you look at the JAS Mart on 23rd St. (right near Shake Shack) you will find Kewpie mayo in both the large (regular) squeeze bottle and the small (portable) squeeze bottle.
The small (about 3 inches high) could be considered one's own personal portable bottle. I wouldn't lose it in your bag for a month or carry it around on a hot day, but as an accompaniment when one is out fooding, it could guarantee that never again are you sobbing for need of mayo.
It call also drive people away from you because carrying your personal portable bottle of mayo is a little wierd.
How much do those cakes cost? I'm planning to go to Queens next month!
i suspect pebre is an all around good-on-anything-sauce, so just put that baby anywhere. well, maybe except cake or sodas.
Hello Hotdog! Why do you look so good with guacamole and mayonnaise? That can't be possible! But it looks so good!
"Nobody wants food that poops on you."
That quote = one of the many reasons we are friends ^_^
Those sandwhiches look so good, I swear I misted up, brought tears to my eyes they did.
Green beans? On a sandwhich? Who'd a thunk it?
I am enjoying your blog quite a bit, found you through tastespotting and am glad I did.
Your photos are spot on!
I TOTALLY thought, "*snicker* Pap smear!! Eeeeew!" I know... I'm 22 but I have the maturity level of a 12-yr old.
Annie: Ooh, I do have a big bottle of kewpie mayo! :D Don't have a small portable one though. Good idea...(rubs chin)...
S: I HAVE NO IDEA. ..Yeah, I don't know how much the individual things cost, just the final bill. I'd make a note of that the next time I go. :P
Angela: PEBRE SODA: MMm..no.
Jamie: Mayo and guac would make a lot of things awesome. Like...uh...SLICE OF TOAST! Yeah.
Kathy: I'm glad it's one of MANY reasons.
Erinn: Glad you enjoyed my post! I lure readers with food porn! Yaay!!!
Jesse: My maturity level is around there too. Is something wrong with us? Wah.
This post made me realize I have learned many things from sandwiches. 1. Avocado is a superfood. It can be in anything and make me happy. 2. Sandwiches are just like life. Balance is key. And requires bread.
This is why my brain doesn't work.
That mayo scribble is so...detailed...like royal icing O_O and it glistens. Wow.
Yowza! This sandwich looks delicious!! I will definitely have to try it out at home! - it would make for the perfect Friday night dinner!
Tristan looks fully recovered and luminous. How is he feeling these days?
Girlfriend git yer butt to Rochester and have yerself a couple Zweigle's white hots and red hots, burnt all crispylike on a grill, mm-hmm, and served up with a little sauerkraut and brown mustard. I reckon.
Avocado, indeed.
I found this article through Tastespotting and I almost ROFL (silently cause I'm in the middle of class). I'm chilean so is reallyyyy funny to me to see reviews of food that for us is just...food...normal, random food. I have to agree that chacareros are awesome because of the green beans, and that our hotdogs are EPIC. But Pap? hahaha, nobody drinks Pap here, I've only seen it and drink it in child's birthday parties xD Plus the Bilz&Pap mascots are the most hated cartoons in the whole country
Awesome review, and yes, we have awesome food that is worth trying ;)
Janet: I AGREE WITH NUMBER 1 MUCHLY!!!
Actually, point 2 is very profound and correct. You are full of wisdom, my dear friend.
Joanne: It's BYOOTIFUL.
candyce: Make me one that I can bring to work for lunch? ;_;
AuntJx: He's doing well! No more stitches, walking around fine...still has some bandages and residual aches (can't predict how long those will last though, eek) but he'd doing well. :) He'll appreciate the concern!
Carl: Rochester, HERE I COOOOME!!
Someday, maybe. I don't know when. But I'll be alive for another many decades, you never know!
Fran: I'm so glad to hear from a Chilean! THANK YOU FOR BESTOWING SUCH DELICIOUS SAMMICHES UPON THE WORLD. NYC is a great sandwich city, but it definitely lacks the green beany sort. :(
And I'm glad to hear no one drinks pap and that the mascots are hated. I never tried it when I was in Chile, partially because the mascots scared the shit out of me for looking like Teletubbies in devil form.
That pork sandwich looks AWESOME!
Yeah, hot dogs are pretty boring to me, too. I, for some strange reason (brain cells malfunctioning?), never thought of putting avocado on it before.
Christina: I've only recently realized that avocado makes a lot of things taste awesomer. Including all sandwich and hot dog-y things.
nice - I had never seen green beans in a sandwich before but that looks seriously good - in fact, i'm gonna do my best to make that monster! I must taste it!
heh, it's called "pap."
that second sandwich looks damn tasty, but i'll take my hot dog plain, thank you very much.
i know it's disgusting, and i don't care.
Leigh: I BELIEVE IN YOU, YOU CAN MAKE THE GREEN BEAN MONSTER. (I dunno why I typed that in caps.)
Michelle: Heh.
NOOO, plain hot dog makes me cry. Actually, I just ignore them without expressing much emotion. ...Yes.
Your blog is totally, completely evil food porn. I am going to have to remember about it when I next visit New York.
I clicked around from your Gordon Korman comment at Brian Lee O'Malley's blog until I fell here - and suddenly had this Deja Vu moment.
I had been here before when researching a place to go for dinner (apparently you rather thoroughly visited Toronto once). I think I also fell in love with your entry on the Shake Shack (I must make it there someday).
It makes sense that I'd read your blog before, anyone who liked Gordon Korman as a kid has to be cool, right?
Se ve súper rico lo que muestran, cuando viaje para allá me tienen que dar de degustar. mmmmm....