Catrachos like caracoles. "Catrachos" is a common name for natives of Honduras, and "caracoles" — in Spanish, literally "snails" — signifies conch. The coconut-milk aroma of sopa de caracol (weekends only, $14) was apparent even before my bowl hit the table.
Though the soup is also prepared with the conch's own juices, the color and mildly peppery flavor might come from annatto, staining most recognizable ingredients — yuca, green plantain, onion — the same orange as the chewy shellfish. Compare this greenish rendition from the former La Orquidea.
Los Catrachos Restaurant
125 Beach St. (Van Duzer-Jackson Sts.), Stapleton, Staten Island
718-448-4820
Looks a little bit like Moqueca (Brazil)
Posted by: Kevinyc | February 21, 2012 at 04:20 PM
Looks fantastic. Thanks for this, Dave.
Posted by: Chris | March 02, 2012 at 09:12 AM