Marcos Lainez’s family has been selling fresh Salvadoran food to hungry soccer players in Red Hook since 1988.  Their signature snack is the pupusa, a stuffed corn pancake created by the Pipils Indians in the territory now demarcated as El Salvador, but they also turn out freshly fried plantain chips and atoll de elote, a hot drink made of yellow corn.  Pupusas are similar to arepas or gorditas, except instead of regular corn dough, pupusas are prepared with nixtamal, a kind of corn flower that’s mixed with an alkaline solution that makes the nutrients more easily absorbed by the body.  The Pipils (or their progenitors) figured this out around 2000 BC, using quicklime and ash.  We asked Marcos about his pupusas, Brooklyn eats, and the weekend’s performers.  We edited his answers a bit to fit the format.

What is Red Hook El Olomega Pupusas’ specialty?
Our specialty is the Pupusas.  A pupasa is a traditional Salvadoran dish made by hand using traditional, non-additive corn flour. The main ingredient is pork & cheese but can be made of a variety of flavors, like beans & cheese and spinach & cheese. From our menu my favorite pupusa is a very traditional Loroco flower and cheese.

Why is Brooklyn a good place for El Olomega?
We have been in Brooklyn for over 20 years and the pupusa is still fairly unknown
here and in the U.S., but each day it is gaining popularity among a very wide group of people.  Brooklyn is now a very diversified borough, and this is the time and place to let them know about this Salvadoran treat.

What band are you looking forward to hearing at GoogaMooga? What’s the best concert you’ve ever seen?
I am looking forward to hear the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  I am not familiar with them, but had to give my friend a ticket because he has talked about them so much that I am very excited.  Saturday and Sunday I expect to be very busy, so I will do a quick tour each day. Continue reading →