Empanology is the fl avor
twist that the Bronx needs
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Empanology was closed on
Tuesday, January 29, but that
doesn’t mean the owner, Jason
Alicea, had the day off.
He spends days like that
cooking and chopping chicken
cutlets, kneading out fresh
dough, and making batches of
a spicy cheese sauce that’s like
no other, for his empanada restaurant.
Those fl aky Mexican treats
are the lifeblood of his eatery
under the Third Avenue
Bridge at 2407 Third Avenue.
Alicea’s journey to opening his
own dream kitchen began with
pop up stands back in 2016, catering
gigs for National Geographic
and VH1, culminating
with a spacious creative brick
and mortar restaurant.
When Empanology fi rst
opened its doors, Alicea was rotating
52 different fl avors of empanadas
and has experimented
with hundreds more as well.
But recently he narrowed
the menu down to some crowd
pleasers, while preserving elements
of originality as well.
“People want what they
want,” Alicea said, while pointing
out that he prides his empanadas
in that they never
have just one ingredient in
them.
As a matter of fact, his
favorite empanada was his
Thanksgiving creation.
Alicea works up his ‘OG chopped
cheese’ mix. Adiana Rivera
That, like a Thanksgiving
feast had Turkey, stuffi ng, and
tons of other seasonal goodies
all cramed into one little crust.
One of Alicea’s crowd pleasers
is the ‘OG chopped cheese,’
a beef and cheese infused empanada.
Of course, there’s the pizza
empanada as well, that simply
puts Tostino’s pizza rolls to
shame.
Then there’s the chicken
truffl e and mac and cheese empanada…
enough said.
For those fussy diners
searching for a more upscale
experience, Empanology still
has you covered.
Behind the regular dining
room lies an intimate, outdoor
courtyard that’s string lit and
the perfect, private room for a
special occasion.
More than looking up at
vintage bulb lighting, anyone
that books the outdoor space
also gets to be in the presence
of a remarkable mural by Fernando
Leon, that captures
some of the greatest New York
Knicks to ever hit the court.
Before his move (betrayal)
to Dallas, even Kristaps Porzingis
dined underneath his
portrait in the courtyard that
Alicea calls ‘The Bronx Square
Garden.’
The life-size, remarkable
mural also got Alicea and Empanology
into a commercial for
MSG Network even.
Coming up, Alicea is hosting
a special collaboration
with Bronx gastro-fusion restaurant,
Suyo on Sunday, February
10.
Called Brunchology, it’s a
Valentine’s Day themed fl avor
crossover that’s selling out
fast.
Visit empanology.com for
tickets. This reporter recommends
the 1 p.m. time slot, and
every empanada on the menu.
BRONX WEEKLY F www.BXTimes.com ebruary 10, 2019 12
SAME DAY
SERVICE
AVAILABLE
SERVING BRONX
AND THE ENTIRE
TRI-STATE AREA
ANTIQUES & ESTATE BUYERS
Military
Collections
Wanted
Swords,
Knives,
Helmets, etc.
ANTIQUE & ESTATE BUYERS
We buy anything old. One piece or house full.
WILL TRAVEL. HOUSE CALLS.
WILL TRAVEL
ENTIRE
TRI-STATE!
FREE
Estimates!
We Pay $CASH$ For
Paintings, Clocks, Watches,
Estate Jewelry & Fine China,
From Single Items
to Entire Estates!
Coin & Stamp Collections
Costume Jewelry
Antique Furniture Lamps
Bronzes Paintings Prints
Chinese & Japanese
Artwork & Porcelain
Sports Collectibles
Comic Books Old Toys Records
Cameras Sterling Flatware Sets
HUMMELS & LLADROS
TOP $ PAID
FOR JUDAICA
COLLECTIBLES
HOUSE
CALLS
MOVING or
DOWNSIZING?
CALL
US!
Top $ Paid
for Antique
Sterling!
SEE OUR AD EVERY SUNDAY IN THE POST
516-974-6528
WILL TRAVEL. WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS.
1029 WEST JERICHO TURNPIKE, SMITHTOWN, L.I.
HOUSE
CALLS
ASK FOR CHRISTOPHER
The chicken truffl e and mac and cheese
empananda. Empanology Alicea and the Bronx Square Garden. Adiana Rivera
S SHOP OUR CLASSIFIED S
PAGES EVERY WEEK AND
SAVE MONEY
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/www.BXTimes.com
/empanology.com
/www.BXTimes.com