Bryan & College Station, Texas

Being brought up in a Latin household, I got used to eating a certain way. Then when I married my wife, new foods were added to my preferences, but over the years, she too has been won over to the Latin way of eating…well, some of it.

So, if you are like my family and need a place to find not just jalapeños and Mole, the H-E-B on Villa Maria is the place to go.

There are three H-E-B’s in town. One is usually inundated with college students (on Texas and Holleman), one is on Texas and Villa Maria, and the other is a smaller “Pantry” version over on Hwy 21.

The College H-E-B (Texas and Holleman) has a great Healthy section where you can find herbs, vitamins and natural stuff and a bulk section, the other two stores do not have these sections of the store. In fact, other than the Brazos Natural Foods store (on Texas and Rosemary), there aren’t many other places to go to get herbs and healthy stuff. (Although the Koger on Boonville and Hwy 6 has a good Healthy section).

Anyway, back to the Latin food.

The H-E-B on Villa Maria has one of the largest Goya Product section I’ve seen. From Beans (both the blue and the red can) to Guava Paste and Mariquitas, Malta to Mojo Criollo and Sazon.

They’ve also got a fairly large Frozen Goya Section too, with Tostones, Platano Dulce, various fruit pulp, Discos to make Empanadas, and even pre-made Cheese and Meat Empanadas.

The sections are always stocked. Which is interesting because I don’t know anyone who eats Pasta de Guajaba, or drinks Malta. I guess there’s enough of a demand for these things to keep them on the shelf. Even when I lived in San Antonio (where there is a very large Puertorican and Cuban population) I had trouble finding these items at the regular grocery stores. I would have to go specifically to one of the various Latin Grocery stores in town.

You’d think there’d be a Cuban restaurant in town with all this selection, but no, there’s not. I’ll be the first to take my family if one opens up.

The Super Wal-Mart, Kroger, and Albertsons also have Goya products, but the H-E-B on Villa Maria is the largest section, with more varieties.

So, if you are in the mood for something different, I suggest trying “Malta Goya”. It’s a Malt Beverage…non alcoholic which you’ll find usually in a six-pack on the bottom shelf. Most people I know say it stinks and taste like it smells. I love it.

Something else to try is Plantain chips. There are a few brands that make them (Goya, Chiefles, Mariquitas), so check it out.

One of my favorites is “Pasta de Gauyaba” with a salty, bland white cheese (see the picture below). You can go to the Mexican cheese section and look for a panela or a cotija with around 130 sodium. Slice the cheese and the Guava Paste in little strips and eat them together. It’s a dessert.

You can also take the guava paste and place them inside Puff Pastry Sheets (Look for them in the freezers close to the frozen fruit and the cool whip), bake using the directions on the Puff Pastry Sheet box and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Yum.

I actually found a Guava Jelly at the Kroger on Boonville that is not sweetened with sugar (or artificial sweetener), but fruit juice. It is wonderful.

I’m hungry.

Jorge