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| Cardenas & Cabrera: C&C Frita Factory |
El Mago de Las Fritas packed the house for a Frita Mash Up as
they hosted guest Chef Alberto Cabrera of Bread and Butter and some of his
signature dishes. Working side by side,
Ortelio “El Mago” Cardenas and Cabrera spent a very special night serving up
Bread and Butter’s Platano en Tentacion and Frita China on El Mago’s famous counter. The same counter that Cabrera’s father
brought him to many times while growing up in Miami.
Recognized by the Miami New Times as the Best Frita in
Miami, El Mago keeps the secret recipe for his Cuban burger locked away in a heavily
guarded vault. Over the years he has
been very cautious about whom he lets near his flat top, as many have tried to
imitate, but none have been successful to duplicate. Burger Beast Sef Gonzalez thought up the
Frita Mash Up, approached El Mago and Cabrera about bridging the generational
frita gap, and both men were happy to participate. In fact El Mago proclaimed, “I am honored, to
have Alberto here with me tonight,” welcoming the hard working, creative and
successful young Chef, who also placed among the top five in the same frita
rankings.
Bread and Butter’s signature Platano en Tentacion, deep
fried morsel of sweet, ripe plantains wrapped in a smoky slice of bacon, made it
to the 86 board as the fun filled crowd of patrons raved about the offering. No worries for those who missed out, Cabrera
called in for reinforcements and had a tray sent over from Bread and Butter’s prep
kitchen. Those boys will have to wrap a
few more platanos in the morning.
The Frita China was among the other signature dishes Cabrera
served. EL Mago, being the classic
purist, serves his well-seasoned all-beef patties on a Cuban Bread roll with
julienned fries and adds onions, cheese or an egg if you wish. Bread and Butter’s creation combines the
flavors of Korean BBQ and the classic Cuban burger delivering a tasty chorizo
and beef patty topped with tangy kimchee cabbage, cilantro, julienned fries and
spicy sriracha ketchup to deliver the unique phenomenon.
Cabrera and EL Mago wore grins from ear to ear, as did just
about everyone else in the room. It may
have been the families sitting together at the booths or along the storied countertop. Maybe it was the little kids enjoying a
summer night out with really great fun food.
Or the big kids lost in nostalgic memories of the first time they came to
El Mago de Las Fritas. Whatever the case,
it was a euphoric night that left everyone Floored by Food.
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| Platano en Tentacion, CAUTION: Highly Addictive |
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| Frita China, a creative twist to the Cuban classic |
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