Eating In Translation

Torico Homemade Ice Cream Parlor

The name Torico is a contraction of the Puerto Rican "todo rico" — "all good," or in this context "all delicious." By most accounts that's true of the old-school ice-cream-parlor standards, but usually I'm drawn instead to the many Latin American and Asian flavors, including mamey, black sesame, avocado, lychee, and dulce de leche. Shown: ube, green tea, and jackfruit ice creams, a scoop of jackfruit, and an odd couple of tamarind sherbet and soursop ice cream. Those last two flavors, individually delicious, didn't suit each other; treat yourself to a free taste or two first!

Torico Homemade Ice Cream Parlor
20 Erie St. (at 1st St.), Jersey City
201-432-9458
www.Facebook.com/Torico-Ice-Cream-Parlor-66756053544

Santacruzan Festival

Eat pork, not too much, leave room for dessert: Wise counsel at many a Filipino restaurant, and especially true at this Catholic springtime celebration. My sampler, bolstered by white rice, included brightly colored pork binagoongan, slow-cooked with shrimp paste; blackish dinuguan, stewed in pig's blood gravy; chunks of pork adobo, simmered in soy sauce, garlic, and vinegar; and slices of pork belly prepared as hamonado, with pineapple juice and sugar. See additional photos from this event, including more pork and several sweets, on the EIT page on Facebook.

Santacruzan Festival
Manila Ave. between 1st and 6th Sts., Jersey City
www.SantacruzanFestival.com
(The 2016 festival was held on May 29)