The author Mr. Seth Kugal absorbs all the full essence of the Dominican Republic and writes with the effervescent beat of a good Merengue song.  He explains that no other county has sent more of its soul to New York in recent decades than the Dominican Republic, and that the actual number of Dominicans living within the five boroughs is conservative at around 600,000 people.  In his own sentiments he has expressed that “you can experience more of their culture in a weekend here than you would in a month in an all-inclusive island resort.”

From Dominican restaurants winning glowing reviews from The Times itself in 2005, to The Brooklyn Museum currently holding an exhibition on the Caribbean titled “Infinite Island” and featuring work from half a dozen Dominican artists.  Not forgetting of course Presidente beer, which he so stylishly describes as “a Dominican import, which has moved from uptown bodegas to downtown bars”.  We would like to add to Mr. Kugals commentary (although I’m sure he knows)that Presidente beer has now bobbed across the Atlantic and found its way into many European and British bars too, such is the flavor and popularity of this Dominican treasure.

The heart of the Dominican community is found at 181st Street on the No.1 train, and made all the more pleasurable he recommends if you’re reading the Dominican-American author Junot Diaz’s novel, “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,”which according to The Time’s chief book critic describes as “an extraordinarily vibrant book that’s fueled by adrenaline-powered prose.” After probing into more critic of this literacy piece myself, it has also been described as “This book isn’t a book, it’s a jazz piece, a series of improvisations on Diaz’s country using the characters as the instruments.  As a novel, I thought it was disjointed (that short story gene kicking in), now and again haphazard, and infrequently completely off the point. As a jazz piece however, I like it just fine.” That description of Diaz’s book came from Elinor Teele, California Literary Review.  However I too, am going off the point somewhat (must be a Dominican thing) and will check out the book myself and let you all know!

Back on the train ride, Kugal describes the scenery changing dramatically from embarkation to disembarkation so that domino games dot the side walks, car stereos demonstrate the Doppler effect with reggaeton and bachata music, and also hilariously that the price of plantains nose dives! Everything here seems to be done a bit louder and nicely with a little bit more laughter too.

Describing the al fresco food scene he tells the reader that you could fill up on good fare from the street vendors alone, from empanadas stuffed with meat or cheese, water coconuts hacked opened with a machete (every street corner for real in the DR) and also take a sampler of the famous Dominican sweet bean soup which is called habichuelas con dulce.

There are great Dominican bakeries to be found and he recommends the unbeatable and unbeatably cheap $1 café con leche at Kenny Bakery in Inwood, also points out the grilled cheese at Dona Carmen’s on Broadway and over to the baked goods found at El Panadero.

Restaurant wise he tells of the old but faithful place called El Malecon which is famous for its delicious rotisserie chickens spinning in their windows 24 hours a day, for seafood and great atmosphere try the pricier Rancho Jubilee whose dining room is decorated in rural Dominican style, rustic tables, banana bunches and so forth, but then he really tickles our culinary curiosity with new hot spot places that have caught on with the diverse and upscale crowd.

A place named Mamajuana which he reckons is probably the most popular, drawing Dominican-American second generation.  The menu and live guitar music is slightly more Spanish in theme (paella, Serrano ham, Manchego cheese) but saved by the great Dominican desert, Crème Brulee made with majarete (a Dominican corn pudding).  Also at 809 Sangria Bar and Grill (which is cleverly named after the country dialing code for the Dominican Republic) the swank set are out and about and gorging on mashed green plantains fried into little cups and filled with seafood.

I adored reading this article and could taste the words Kugal had written, so much so I almost booked myself a flight from Puerto Plata to Miami, then I sat back and sighed as really, what a journey that would be, pendeja de Puerto Plata that I am, I have it all here right outside my back yard ready and waiting!

To read further on this article and also to obtain some visitor information about the restaurants recommended, places to hear music, book shops and beverages go to The New York Times Travel Section.

‘And if I may recommend, you can always come and try the Dominican Republic for yourselves.  If you would like some of my personal recommendations for great snacks, restaurants, off the beaten track seafood beachside secret retreats, then give me a shout at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   and I’ll get back to you, manana, I promise!’