Pan Con Palta, Not Avocado Toast
The appropriation trend I thought was coming to an end, but an announcement at the grocery store told me otherwise.
July 18, 2020
This morning while picking up a few food items for my week, I heard loudly over the intercom a pre-recorded announcement saying, “Did you know avocado toast was a thing? Well, it is!” then proceeded to talk about their Hass avocados. I had to laugh because the whole avocado toast phenomenon is such a scam, in my opinion.
I vividly remember the first time I had pan con palta (bread with avocado). I was around 10 years old at my aunt's house in Peru and she asked me if I wanted some. I didn’t know what it was, but I happily complied because, honestly, 98% of anything I eat there is perfect. It was amazing and so simple. Just soft pan frances (A very popular type of bread roll in Peru) and creamy, mashed, salted avocado.
Eating avocado on a piece of bread doesn’t really seem like something that needs to be deliberated over, but the truth is, I get it. I get why it became trendy. It’s fucking delicious and nutritious. And, it’s is a great veggie friendly option. It satisfies the way other veggies (It’s a fruit, I know, but my savory palate says otherwise.) can’t, and it’s a solid snack. BUT here’s my issue- the price. Any menu it’s on it’s grossly overpriced; never under $15. I can’t pay over $15 for a snack. You shouldn’t either. Just make it at home for the cheap and don’t call it avocado toast. Call it pan con palta / aguacate, and don’t make a big deal about it. Just eat it, thank what we now call Mexico, and enjoy. Keep it humble.
All this to say, here is my pan con palta I made today out of inspiration from the grocery store announcement. It triggered a craving, and I went ahead and freestyled it. I wish I had pan frances, but so be it.
A what-do-I-have-in-the-fridge combo of accompaniments.
Slice all nice.
Me thinking about restaurant avocado toast while I slice and being very unimpressed. (I need a haircut!!)
Salt. A gift from the heavens.
Toast in a pot. “Because that’s my business.” -Tabitha Brown <3
Not $15 dollars.
Decided to make a little side cucumber salad with the extra cukes. A little drizzle of olive oil and pinch of salt and black pepper on top. With a side of cheese. Buen provecho.
*Side note: This is pan frances! This photo was taken this year, Feb. 2020, at Wong supermarket in Barranco, Lima, Peru. Ever so slightly crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside. <3
