50 The Queens Courier •BUZZ •JANUARY 10, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com dining out Photo courtesy Madera Madera in LIC stays true to its Cuban roots in its dishes and decor. Cuba comes to LIC with Madera BY JOANNA M. ADDUCI Madera Cuban Grill [email protected] 47-29 Vernon Blvd A sincere passion for food is the driv- ing force at Madera in Long Island City. Long Island City, NY 11101 Staying true to her family’s Cuban roots, 718-606-1236 owner Miriam Porto has established a http://www.maderacubangrill.com significant customer base through her Reservations genuine appreciation of her culture, culi- Delivery nary roots and an eye for detail. Each Take-out dish at Madera is carefully designed and Full Bar created for the customer. Filled with slow cooked meats, savory tender veg- etables and brilliantly flavored seafood, ous that creativity runs in the family. the menu at Madera is truly magnificent. The quality is blatantly obvious in “Before the opening of the restaurant, I the food as we begin our entrees – the had my chef stay in the kitchen with my “lechon asado con mojo criollo” pres- mother for two years, watching her cook, ents succulent, slow roasted pork with learning,” Porto said as she explained a side of dirty rice. The pork is cooked the history behind the cuisine. for up to seven hours and melts in your Hailing from a creative, culinary- mouth – truly delicious. If you’re in the inspired family, Porto decided that she mood for beef, order the skirt steak. would open Madera and give customers Tender, flavorful, grilled, presented with the same quality she would expect in her lemon and chimichurri sauce, which is own home. almost too good to eat, and can be added “I do all the grocery shopping myself, to anything for an instant burst of flavor. up to five times a week,” she said. The culinary marathon came to an We began our culinary adventure with end with the Chilean sea bass, served stuffed green plantains and Cuban-style on a bed of jasmine rice with sautéed grilled shrimp. The shrimp was cooked vegetables. An exquisite presentation, perfectly, marinated in the chef’s secret savory, cooked to perfection – one of the recipe. Artfully presented, buttery, sur- most memorable renditions of the dish prisingly light – a must try! The stuffed I’ve tried thus far. green plantains have lean meat marinat- From appetizer to entrée each dish we ed in garlic, tomatoes, onions, bell pep- tried was succulent, presenting an assort- pers, olives, raisins and capers stuffed ment of unforgettable flavors within a inside a plantain shell. I enjoyed the charming atmosphere. The entire meal consistency of the meat, tangy mixture of was narrated by soothing strums of gui- the tomato and raisins, and most impor- tar and harmonizing vocals, as Madera tantly, the overall fusion of ingredients. offers live music throughout the week. The food isn’t the only thing that Located on Vernon Boulevard in Long stands out upon entering this Cuban eat- Island City, this establishment combines ery. The atmosphere at Madera deserves authentic cuisine with a sincere passion an award in itself – rich mahogany, dim for food, which is obvious to each and lighting, a distinctive ambiance height- every customer that enters their charm- ened by brilliant artwork. Most of the ing Cuban eatery. paintings that grace the walls are cour- tesy of Miriam’s husband. His artistry View Over 200 Reviews at is a truly distinctive contribution to the queenscourier.com establishment, and it is more than obvi-
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