For those curious about Venezuelan deliciousness- we interviewed our new neighbors to dig a little deeper into what makes an arepa.

How would you describe an arepa to someone who’s never had one before?

An arepa is handmade cornmeal bread that gets freshly baked. They are gluten free and we use non-gmo cornmeal. Think like a pita that gets stuffed with your favorite ingredients. You have choices of either cold or hot fillings, which include options for plant based and meat-eaters alike.

Where do arepa’s originate from culturally?

We can thank our indigineous ancestors for the idea of the arepa. Corn was a sacred ingredient of the land in our culture. Arepas are commonly known today amongst Venezuelan and Colombian communities. The major difference in today’s recipes are that Venezulean arepas get stuffed with their goodies, where Colombian arepas are typically topped with their ingredients.

We create the fillings for our arepa menu, which include family-recipes, such as our chicken salad, ceviché, and pabellón (jackfruit.)

How long has The Ecologica been slinging Venezuelan arepas?

The Ecologica started out as an idea in 2020, post covid. We knew our main mission was to spread our ideas on protecting our planet and honoring Mother Earth. The food came second. By focusing on the planet, we want people to feel connected to nature when they consume fresh, healthy, ingredients. We also care for our planet and shape our business model around recyclable materials and sustainability. It was after the mission started, that the Ecologica was born! Since 2020 you may have seen us at the Saint Augustine Beach Pier Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays or at the Atlantic Beach Market on Sundays.