January 2025

Pupusas Family Style: Another Adventurous Dining Winner

By Sue Addelson
Posted: 11/22/2024

Hands down, our Dia de Los Muertos celebration on November 2 was the cultural event of the season. However, it wasn’t our only successful Latin cultural happening.

For its October outing, the Adventurous Dining group chose La Caravana, a San Salvadoran restaurant. Group leader BJ Ledyard admits she didn’t choose it specifically for its Latin theme. She had heard it had great vegetarian pupusas and was anxious to give it a try. In both atmosphere and food, it didn’t disappoint. 

Adventurous Diner Lorrie Grey, had never had Salvadoran cuisine, but was eager to try its signature dish. “We ordered family style, which gave us an opportunity to try a variety of vegetarian pupusas,” she said.

Adventurous Dining was BJ’s brainchild. She is a vegetarian. She enjoys eating out. And she loves exploring new and interesting restaurants. So, she decided, why not see if other Villagers share her joy. They do! Typically, eight to 12 Villagers sign up for these dining opportunities.

Most are not vegetarian. But as Wayne April explains it, “The food’s so good, no one objects.” Jocelyn Keene, also not a vegetarian, agrees. She’s tried hand-pulled Chinese noodles, Burmese and Salvadoran food with this group, and says they were all delicious. “From an ethical and health standpoint, I would like to eat more vegetarian food so I’m happy to experiment with it.”

In addition to Salvadoran, they’ve eaten at Chinese, Burmese, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Thai restaurants, several times to the Blossom Market and others. The Blossom Market is a favorite. “It’s fun because it features different stalls of ethnic food to choose from. And one stall for beer. Perfect,” explains Wayne.
 
Jeff Gutstadt says he goes to Adventurous Dining because, “the food is good as is the company.” And adds, that he thinks this is, “a great idea for new Villagers.” That is a universal sentiment of the group. “With only seven diners at our table, it was easy to converse and get better acquainted. It’s easy to meet and get to know new people,” they said.