Fried Plantains
La Banana Frita owners Brittany Gonzalez and Alicia Candelario weren't monkeying around when they partnered up to make food for a friend's comedy show last year. "Immediately we thought of fried plantains because it's something all of us grew up eating," Gonzalez says. The duo chose to update fried tostones - a Puerto Rican staple of twice-fried mashed plantain cakes served on the side with rice, avocado and meat - by using the cakes in place of bread to build tasty sandwiches stuffed with burgers or pulled pork and coleslaw. With the success of their creations, the two have been popping up at the Sunday Market in Hingetown and the Cleveland Flea. Try the smoked salmon ($8) with fried egg, dill and capers or the Asian barbecue burger ($7) with spicy sesame slaw and Sriracha mayo for a crispy, slightly sweet and totally gluten-free sandwich variation. labananafrita.com