{"id":39693,"date":"2016-05-07T23:53:13","date_gmt":"2016-05-08T05:53:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=39693"},"modified":"2021-07-28T18:50:22","modified_gmt":"2021-07-29T00:50:22","slug":"taste-caribbean-albuquerque-new-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=39693","title":{"rendered":"A Taste of the Caribbean &#8211; Albuquerque, New Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<figure style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 700px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 700\/467;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean01.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean01.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 700w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean01.jpg?size=128x85&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean01.jpg?size=256x171&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean01.jpg?size=384x256&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean01.jpg?size=512x342&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean01.jpg?size=640x427&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Taste of the Caribbean on Central Avenue in the University of New Mexico area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">One of the most hilarious from among so many classic Seinfeld vignettes transpired in an episode fittingly entitled \u201cThe Comeback\u201d which first aired in 1997. During a business meeting, the ever irascible George Costanza is unabashedly stuffing his face with shrimp when Reilly, a co-worker, notices his gluttony and remarks \u201c<em>Hey, George, the ocean called. They\u2019re running out of shrimp<\/em>.\u201d Unable to retaliate with a quick retort, the slow-witted George obsesses about the perfect comeback and recreating the encounter so he can deliver it. Ultimately he crafts a rejoinder he finds witty, but which his friends dismiss as nonsensical. Bringing in a tray of shrimp he begins to cram into his mouth predictably evokes the \u201c<em>running out of shrimp<\/em>\u201d comment which had so torqued him off. When George responds with \u201c<em>Well, the Jerk Store called and they\u2019re running out of you<\/em>,\u201d Reilly shoots back with \u201c<em>What\u2019s the difference? You\u2019re their all-time best seller.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">You know you\u2019re food-obsessed when the first thing that comes to mind when watching that episode (or the Steve Martin movie \u201cThe Jerk\u201d) is jerk chicken, jerk pork, jerk goat, jerk fish, jerk vegetables and the wondrous jerk seasonings which bring so much invigorating flavor to any item on which they\u2019re used. To me, a \u201cjerk store\u201d is any restaurant which offers the incomparable flavors of the Caribbean. There haven\u2019t been too many jerk stores\u2026er, restaurants in New Mexico, but that\u2019s not for lack of trying. Several attempts at introducing New Mexicans to Caribbean cuisine have been almost as short-lived as Rhonda Rousey\u2019s consciousness when Albuquerque native Holly Holm kicked her in the head. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 680px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 680px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 680\/453;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean02.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"680\" height=\"453\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean02.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 680w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean02.jpg?size=128x85&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean02.jpg?size=256x171&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean02.jpg?size=384x256&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean02.jpg?size=512x341&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 512w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Taste of the Caribbean Dining Room<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Perhaps, you might wonder, prospective diners are confused about the term \u201cjerk\u201d which they typically use as a pejorative to describe politicians. While that usage is correct, a Caribbean restaurant serving jerk doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s serving politicians. The term \u201cjerk\u201d is a derivative of the Peruvian word \u201ccharqui,\u201d a term for dried meat strips similar to what we call jerky. It can be used as a noun and as a verb, as in \u201cjerking\u201d which means to poke holes in the meat so the spices can penetrate more deeply. Jerk refers to a way in which meat, vegetables or fruits are seasoned and cooked. Seasoning is a delicious art form typically highlighting the bold flavors of pimento (allspice) and Scotch bonnet peppers (a close relative of the habanero). Meats are marinated and slow-cooked over pimento wood. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Curry is so prominent in Caribbean cuisine that its curry aficionados probably wouldn\u2019t mind if the region was rechristened \u201cCurrybbean.\u201d While the renaming thing is a silly stretch, it\u2019s an understatement to declare curry is merely beloved in the Caribbean. As with so many spices frequently associated with the Caribbean, curry originates from another part of the world with a cuisine of a similar make-up. Curry was brought to Caribbean in the 19th century by indentured Indian workers in the British sugar industry. Its earthy brightness and a unique flavor profile which includes sweet, savory and pungent elements fit right in with the Caribbean culinary practice of using spices liberally.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 680px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 680px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 680\/393;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean03.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"680\" height=\"393\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean03.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 680w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean03-300x173.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean03.jpg?size=128x74&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean03.jpg?size=384x222&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean03.jpg?size=512x296&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 512w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caribbean Mango Haba\u00f1ero Chicken Wings and Virgin Island Spicy Ribs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">A Taste of the Caribbean had been open for nearly six months on the day we first visited, but we had a feeling of d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu when we walked in and imbibed the familiar invigorating aromas of jerk spices and curry. We had previously experienced those familiar aromas at the Albuquerque Pavilion at Expo New Mexico on the State Fairgrounds. After eleven years at that temporary, event-driven location, A Taste of the Caribbean (El Sabor Del Caribe) now has a permanent home on Central Avenue directly across from Johnson Gymnasium on the campus of the University of New Mexico. It\u2019s a bright, airy venue with vibrant signage and aromas which waft toward the street like the call of a siren.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Hanging from the ceiling are the flags of the Caribbean nations, each banner seemingly more colorful and bright than its neighbor. The dining room is homey and small, but not crowded. White linen tablecloths adorn each table. Because the restaurant was short-staffed on the date of our inaugural visit, we ordered from the counter, but thereafter our efficient server (who was doubling as chef) was a frequent visitor to our table\u2026and a very gracious host. An old-fashioned backlit menu is posted over the doors to the kitchen, but you\u2019ll be more prepared to order if you peruse the colorful menus on the counter\u2019s sideboard.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 680px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 680px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 680\/389;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean04.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"680\" height=\"389\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean04.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 680w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean04.jpg?size=128x73&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean04.jpg?size=256x146&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean04.jpg?size=384x220&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean04.jpg?size=512x293&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 512w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jerk Chicken with Rice and Mixed Vegetables<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">The menu is not a compendium of all things Caribbean cuisine, but it does provide a good representative sample of some of the best the region has to offer. As you peruse the menu, all-the-while changing your mind umpteen times, start your island experience with a refreshing glass of <strong><em>Caribbean Red Stuff<\/em><\/strong>, a lively herbaceous elixir made from sorrel, a perennial herb which grows in the region. You\u2019ll be hard-pressed to limit yourself from among the ten appetizers, four sandwiches (including a \u201cCaribbean Sandwich\u201d which reads just like a Cuban sandwich) and three salads. There are only two items\u2014curry chicken and jerk pork\u2014on the lunch menu, but if the enterprising chicken has dinner options ready, you can also order from the dinner menu. Daily specials are also available.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Must-have items from the starters start with the <strong><em>Caribbean Mango Habanero Chicken Wings<\/em><\/strong>, six luscious wings lacquered with a gleaming red-orange sauce. That sauce is both more pulchritudinous and more piquant than Buffalo wing sauce. It\u2019s also much tastier. The combination of sweet fruity mango and sweet-piquant Habanero is pure dynamite. Habaneros, but the way, aren\u2019t just about heat. They\u2019ve got a pleasant sweetness that really comes across on this sauce. Six wings per order are enough to addict you to these fried fowl wings laced with addictive deliciousness and enough heat to get those endorphins going. Almost as wonderful are the <strong><em>Virgin Island Spicy Ribs<\/em><\/strong>, a half-dozen of the most meaty and delicious ribs this side of Jamaica. The sauce is brushed on generously, imparting its own blend of savory and piquant taste elements as well as a reddish hue somewhat reminiscent of New Mexico\u2019s own red chile. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 680px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 680px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 680\/432;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean05.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"680\" height=\"432\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean05.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 680w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean05.jpg?size=128x81&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean05.jpg?size=256x163&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean05.jpg?size=384x244&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean05.jpg?size=512x325&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 512w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Goat Curry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Our benchmark\u2014the standard of excellence\u2014by which we judge jerk chicken is <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=15107\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Talking Drums<\/a><\/strong>, the delightful West African gem about two miles west of this restaurant. Toyin\u2019s rendition of jerk chicken is assertively flavored and has a beguiling \u201cget you high\u201d fragrance you\u2019ll smell in your dreams. A Taste of the Caribbean\u2019s version isn\u2019t quite as assertive. In fact, my Kim was grateful for the small ramekin of jerk sauce served on the side. Though she\u2019s not a fire-eater like her asbestos-tongued husband, she would have liked more emphasis on the piquant elements of jerk seasonings. The <em><strong>jerk chicken<\/strong><\/em> is served with a vegetable medley and rice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Much like chicken feet, a dim sum delicacy we enjoy at <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=339\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ming Dynasty<\/a><\/strong>, goat is one of those dishes you might ask yourself if it\u2019s worth all the effort. As with chicken feet, goat takes a lot of time, effort and care to eat. It\u2019s a very bony and lean meat that can be chewy and difficult to extricate off the bone. Having grown up eating cabrito, it\u2019s always been a labor of love for me. A Taste of the Caribbean\u2019s <em><strong>goat curry<\/strong><\/em> has many pleasing aspects\u2014and some detractors. The curry is delicious, albeit a bit on the watery side. It could use more of those perfectly prepared potatoes and maybe some carrots. Pulling meat off the bone is a manual task performed with your hands and teeth so you\u2019ll need to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/480;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean06.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"480\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean06.jpg?lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 600w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean06.jpg?size=128x102&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean06.jpg?size=256x205&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 256w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean06.jpg?size=384x307&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/TasteOfCaribbean06.jpg?size=512x410&amp;lossy=2&amp;strip=1&amp;webp=1 512w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fried Plantains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">After all the assertively spiced foods, you\u2019ll want something just slightly sweet, golden brown and achingly tender to bring you down to earth. You\u2019ll want <em><strong>fried plantains<\/strong><\/em>, the melt-in-your-mouth dessert or accompaniment enjoyed throughout the Caribbean. The best fried plantains start with a plantain that is beyond ripe, almost black. This ensures the sugars break down and caramelize when you fry them, giving them the texture and flavor you desire. That\u2019s how they\u2019re made at A Taste of the Caribbean. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">The Caribbean and all its lively flavors are now available in Albuquerque and the only water you may have to cross to get there is the Rio Grande. Trust me&#8211;you&#8217;d swim a piranha-infested river to get to those Caribbean Mango Haba\u00f1ero Chicken Wings!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>A Taste of the Caribbean<\/strong><br \/>\n2720 Central Avenue, S.E.<br \/>\n<strong>Albuquerque, New Mexico<\/strong><br \/>\n(505) 503-8428<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.tasteofthecaribbeannm.com\/home.html\"><strong>Web Site<\/strong><\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/A-Taste-of-the-Caribbean-1681045165483767\/\"><strong>Facebook Page<\/strong> <\/a><br \/>\n<strong>LATEST VISIT<\/strong>: 7 May 2016<br \/>\n<strong># OF VISITS<\/strong>: 1<br \/>\n<strong>RATING<\/strong>: N\/R<br \/>\n<strong>COST<\/strong>: $$<br \/>\n<strong>BEST BET<\/strong>: Caribbean Mango Haba\u00f1ero Chicken Wings; Virgin Island Spicy Ribs; Jerk Chicken, Goat Curry, Fried Plantains,Caribbean Red Stuff<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most hilarious from among so many classic Seinfeld vignettes transpired in an episode fittingly entitled \u201cThe Comeback\u201d which first aired in 1997. During a business meeting, the ever irascible George Costanza is unabashedly stuffing his face with shrimp when Reilly, a co-worker, notices his gluttony and remarks \u201cHey, George, the ocean called. They\u2019re running out of shrimp.\u201d Unable to retaliate with a quick retort, the slow-witted George obsesses about the perfect comeback and recreating the encounter so he can deliver it. Ultimately he crafts a rejoinder he finds witty, but which his friends dismiss as nonsensical. Bringing in a tray of shrimp he begins to cram into his mouth predictably evokes the \u201crunning out of shrimp\u201d comment&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39696,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[440,141],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-albuquerque","category-new-mexico"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Taste of the Caribbean - Albuquerque, New Mexico - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=39693\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Taste of the Caribbean - Albuquerque, New Mexico - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"One of the most hilarious from among so many classic Seinfeld vignettes transpired in an episode fittingly entitled \u201cThe Comeback\u201d which first aired in 1997. During a business meeting, the ever irascible George Costanza is unabashedly stuffing his face with shrimp when Reilly, a co-worker, notices his gluttony and remarks \u201cHey, George, the ocean called. They\u2019re running out of shrimp.\u201d Unable to retaliate with a quick retort, the slow-witted George obsesses about the perfect comeback and recreating the encounter so he can deliver it. Ultimately he crafts a rejoinder he finds witty, but which his friends dismiss as nonsensical. 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