Humble croquetas get star treatment at Croquetapalooza
Poor croquetas.
The bite-size Miami finger food is always an appetizer at Latin get-togethers but never the main course. That ends now.
More than 14 different restaurants will put forward their best croquetas at Croquetapalooza, an ode to the humble deep-fried, bite-sized snack put on by local blogger and food critic Sef Gonzalez, aka The Burger Beast, at the Magic City Casino on Aug. 19. Guests will be able to name the best croqueta, an honor Larios on the Beach — Estefan Kitchen took home last year.
Plus, the event will offer a preview of the upcoming Burger Beast Burger Museum, the first of its kind in the country. It will be housed permanently at the Magic City Casino.
There is even a croqueta eating contest, a past winner of which was Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia.
The humble frita, the Cuban hamburger, will serve as a side dish to croquetas for a change. The Frita Showdown, once a separate event, will be part of Croquetapalooza — with half a dozen competitors, including three-time champion El Rey de las Fritas.
Tickets are available online at Croquetapalooza.com for $35.
If You Go
What: Croquetapalooza celebrates the humble croqueta with offerings from more than a dozen local restaurants.
When: 7-10 p.m. Friday.
Where: Magic City Casino; 450 NW 37th Ave., Miami
Info: 21 and older. Tickets $35 in advance at www.croquetapalooza.com.
This story was originally published August 16, 2016 at 3:41 PM with the headline "Humble croquetas get star treatment at Croquetapalooza."