More foodie finds
Speaking of new eats, fans of picadillo, relleno de papa and other Cuban specialities have a new restaurant to frequent in Emmaus.
Mi Havana Cuban Cuisine, “where classic Cuban dishes and modern flair collide,” opened April 3 at 1301 Chestnut St., Suite N, in the East Penn Plaza.
Owner and executive chef George Arce, with more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, developed the menu that’s highlighted by entrees such as paella, pan-seared cod, mofongo (chicken, pork or shrimp) and ropa vieja, one of Cuba’s national dishes consisting of flank steak stewed in a vegetable stock and tomato sauce accompanied by white rice, black beans and garlic yuca.
Other menu highlights include sides such as yuca fries and fried and sweet plantains; and appetizers such as black bean hummus and Caribbean pork sliders.
“Since opening, our Cuban sandwich, with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard, has been a go-to for many customers,” said Arce, who’s known as “Chef Geo” to staff and customers.
The 28-seat, BYOB restaurant, which also offers such desserts as flan and coconut bread pudding and specialty drinks like Cuban espresso and virgin mojitos, occupies a renovated space that previously housed other eateries, including Café Bachi’s and most recently Lehigh Fine Foods featuring Lehigh Cafe. For takeout or catering, call 610-966-7777.
More international delights are on the way in Nazareth.
Mersin on Main, a restaurant serving authentic Mediterranean cuisine, is expected to open at the end of summer at 52 S. Main St., according to Eileen Simak, who will operate the restaurant with her partner, Erdinc Uzun.
The BYOB restaurant, which will offer dine-in service, takeout and catering, is named after the port city on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.
Traditional Turkish dishes will include bamya (okra stew with seasonal vegetables and tomato sauce), manti (dumplings filled with meat, parsley and spices and served with garlic mint yogurt sauce, paprika and butter) and moussaka (sauteed eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and carrots mixed into a casserole and baked with bechamel sauce and cheese).
Other menu highlights will include cold appetizers such as babaganush, lebneh and grape leaves; such warm appetizers as spinach pies, fried mozzarella and fried calamari; and desserts like baklava, sutlac (Turkish rice pudding) and sekerpare (semolina dough cookies topped homemade syrup).
More than a dozen chicken, meat and seafood entrees, served with bulgur or rice pilav and a chef ’s salad, will include beef shish, chicken adana, baby lamb chops and grilled branzini.
Mersin on Main will occupy a renovated space that housed other businesses, including Kate’s Main Street Garden Café, JellyBean Town USA, Xpresso Cafe and most recently Dolce on Main. Info: Mersin on Main on Facebook.