January 5, 2004 New York Magazine - Best Places to Eat 2004 By Adam Platt New York From the looks of it, two arepa joints in the East Village - The new Caracas and the five-old Flor's Kitchen- isn't nearly enough for the crowds that crave these delicious Venezuelan snacks. Even the servers at Caracas seem shocked by the masses that pour into the closet-sized space. These dense yet spongy corn-flour rounds may spur the next sandwich craze (move over panini!). Of the 17 fillings, our favorite were La de Telita ($4.50), salty, fresh South American cheese, and De Pabellón ($4.75), shredded meat stewed in tomato and peppers with black beans and sweet plantain. Other choices include a chunky chicken-and-avocado mix ($4.25) and the Vegan Deluxe, a Portobello mushroom and tofu combo ($4). The indecisive will take to the Plato Mixto ($6.50), mini arepa babies that come with a trio of toppings. But the arepas aren't the only pleasures here: Don't leave without trying Tequeños ($6.50)-dough sticks that are oozing with melted cheese. Absolutely everything is freshly made, which may explain why it seems like mañana by the time order arrives. The crowd (students, bohemian locals and Spanish-speaking families) somehow summons the patience. To bide the time, admire the colorful girl-power mural pronouncing that the food is "atendido por chicas" ("served by women"). Hell, we'd eat these even if they were dished out by wild Andean mountain goats.