Easy B's Kitchen: Rico's World Kitchen, Buford, GA

The amazing soup

The Mojo Pork Sandwich

Last Thursday, I joined my sister and her family in Buford, GA near the tracks at Rico's World Kitchen. I am always excited to try a new restaurant, especially when it claims to have a global or world theme. Some of the best restaurants I have visited focus on the sphere that makes up the food realm, not just some part of it. Rico's was no exception. The food, service and ambiance met my expectations. The place is comfortably casual, the service attentive, and the food memorable.

Our party of five chose to sit outside on the patio under an umbrella. This area was under construction, but the weather was great and it was the perfect choice. Our server stated the specials and tempted me immediately. I started with the soup of the day: a truffled crab and asparagus espresso, that's correct, an espresso. The chef must have searched every creative bone in his body for this lovely concoction, or discovered it by accident. After I ordered it, I speculated whether the soup actually contained espresso. I was later told it did. As I browsed the menu, I couldn't help but notice the variety. From Filipino inspired Eggrolls with your choice of spiced beef and pork or chicken to Cajun BBQ Shrimp and Mussels, I knew my sister had discovered a little gem of a place.

When the soup/espresso arrived, I was flattered by its appearance and the fact that it resembled a Spanish cortado (1 Part Espresso and 1 Part Milk) which was sprinkled with paprika in place of cocoa. My first impression was, wow, such a pleasant taste from such an odd combination. A winner. If this was evidence of what was to come, I knew then and there, I was in the right place.

My sister, not feeling adventurous, was going with her standard, the Mojo Pork Sandwich. This sandwich prompted her to visit the place again and drove her decision to share this experience with me. So, notwithstanding the variety offered by the menu, I had to order the Mojo Pork Sandwich. Jake, my brother-in-law, was feeling more adventurous and ordered the Royal Rooster, a tender fried habanero chicken breast with swiss cheese, tomato, onion and lettuce, all served on a potato bun. Though he liked his sandwich, he commented the Mojo was the way to go. Moreover, he stated the chicken fingers he ordered for the kids were exceptional and even better than the chicken in his Royal Rooster. I concurred after tasting both. Aside from Ron Gress's chicken fingers, I believe these were the best I have ever had. So, about the Mojo, yum! Tasty, tender, smoky, sweet all in one bite! The only compliant I could mention was that the bottom piece of bread making up the sandwich was a bit soggy from all of those flavorful juices flowing from the pork. Not a big deal. The meat was so good, the bread was merely there to assist those wanting to eat with their hands - me included. The BBQ sauce accompanying the Mojo Pork was out of this world. Its base contains guava fruit, one of my favorite sweets, and contrasted nicely with the other spicy components in the sauce. You must try it.

On the way in, the dessert case had prompted us to consider sweets before we had even ordered. For dessert, we all shared a tremendous slice of decadent, strawberry cake. Now, I have to be honest, my sister whips up the best strawberry cake I have ever had. In this case, it seems she has shared her recipe with them and they obliged to take it a step further. Rico's World Kitchen took the liberty to make this cake in layers and incorporated fresh strawberries throughout. When sliced, the cake shows off those strawberries beautifully and adds additional texture to an already unimaginably good cake. The icing was velvety with a strongly pronounced strawberry flavor. The cake was moist and firm. Just writing about this cake makes the prospect of calling my sister and asking her to bake one or driving straight to Rico's tomorrow for a slice highly likely. What is certain, however, is I will be returning to Rico's with great expectations, and a desire to try something new. As good as the Mojo Pork Sandwich is, I love to try new things and experiment. As a matter of fact, I believe I will try the BBQ Shrimp and Mussels. Our waitress delivered an order to the table beside us and the smell was unbelievable. Until then, happy eating!