What’s Cookin’? – Smithtown
By Nancy Vallarella
Culinary Staycation – Tasting the World in Your Backyard
Destination: A little bit of Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Peru the Caribbean and Thailand too!
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Perfecto Mundo’s Managerial StaffWhere can one experience all of this under one roof within the Town of Smithtown? At Liz Keschl’s Perfecto Mundo Latin Fusion Bistro. It is here where you will find the perfect world of ingredients from foreign lands accenting your favorite and familiar dishes in a warm and welcoming surrounding.
For the past two years this hard to find establishment has delighted neighbors with its fine fare and accommodating menu. I use the word neighbor instead of customer because that is how you are made to feel here; like a neighbor, in your good neighbor’s home. In speaking with owner Liz Keschl, I found she mentions the word neighbor many times during our conversation. When asked how the menu concept was created, she replied, “There wasn’t anything like it in the neighborhood. We wanted to provide something unique.” And when discussing Perfecto Mundo’s ultra-accommodating menu, she replies, “We always look to meet the needs of our neighbors.” So like a good neighbor, Perfecto Mundo is there with its 85% gluten free menu and a Healthy Choice Menu which accommodates the Weight Watchers’ clientele located next door! In addition Perfecto Mundo offers Daily Deals such as “Taco Tuesdays with 2fer Margaritas” and “Wild Wing Wednesday with Happy Hour All Night”.
Liz Keschl’s insouciant female energy is a major contributing ingredient for the front of the house success of ;)
Chef Alex Cantuthis bistro. In the back of the house (kitchen) you will find many additional delightful ingredients. Together with Chef Alex Cantu, Ms. Keschl (a chef and Culinary Institute of America graduate) designed the New Dinner Menu with items sure to please most every palate.
For starters a familiar dish, ROASTED CORN-MAINE LOBSTER CHOWDER is flavored with jalapeño bacon and finished with white truffle oil and smoked paprika ;)
Corn-Maine Lobster Chowdercroutons. The BLACK BEAN SOUP contains chorizo and lime-cumin crema. SHRIMP ON A STICK is wrapped in smoky poblano bacon and glazed with a mixture of dark rum and brown sugar. BLACK TIGER SHRIMP FLAT BREAD is served with pecan-cilantro and red pepper pesto and cotija cheese. FLASH-FRIED ANCHO CHILE CALAMARI and DOS EQUIS BEER STEAMED P.E.I. MUSSELS with grilled chorizo and sofrito speak for themselves. Getting the picture? – A familiar dish presented with a little Latin flare. Kind of like Melanie Griffith on the arm of Antonio Banderas before he became big in the U.S. But I digress. Let us move on to the main course.
SOFRITO MARINATED OVEN ROASTED CHICKEN BREAST is presented with vegetable risotto, roasted red pepper, and baby arugula with cilantro oil. GRILLED MARINATED ARGENTINIAN SKIRT STEAK sizzles with Latin fried rice, chimichurri sauce and topped with a sunny egg. CORIANDER CRUSTED PORK TENDERLOIN is dished up with grilled linguica (sausage), roasted corn and jack cheese massa cake in spicy coconut broth with hot house tomato and sweet coconut salad. OUR OWN SEAFOOD PAELLA features jumbo shrimp, P.E.I. mussels, clams, calamari, saffron risotto, chorizo, sweet peas, roasted corn and green onion. There is more; much more. Click onto Perfecto Mundo in Smithtown Matters’ Restaurant and Food Guide to access their full menus.
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Tres Leche CakeFor those of you who are dessert fans I will tell you this…I am not. I am usually too full and really not big on the sugar thing. I find that most sweets I do try are entirely not calorie worthy. There are however calorie worthy exceptions at Perfecto Mundo. Usually there is chocolate involved but much to my surprise - Perfecto Mundo’s Coconut Crème Brule is worth an extra spin class as is their Tres Leche Cake.
Just go. You will not be disappointed. Great food, great value, great staff. It may very well become your favorite neighborhood joint!
Perfecto Mundo is available for private parties Saturday and Sunday afternoons and will open on Monday nights for fundraisers, special events or meetings. Live music is part of a great dining experience every Friday and Saturday night. Performers are announced on Perfecto Mundo’s website under EVENTS and also on their Facebook page which can be accessed through Smithtown Matters’ Restaurant and Food Guide for those of you who are not Facebook members.