Experience Latin Delights In The Windy City

BY SHRIYA SWAMINATHAN

Chef Yari Vargas transports your taste buds to Latin America with flavorful plant-based dishes inspired by her Honduran and Puerto Rican background

During times of restricted travel, what better way to revel in the cultures of the world than by feasting on inspired, flavorful dishes? Chicago’s Chef Yari Vargas does that and more by welcoming the plant-powered community to celebrate her heritage. Drawing inspiration from her unique Honduran and Puerto Rican backgrounds, Chef Yari’s culinary talent will have your senses tingling in delight with every bite!

When I stepped into Casa Yari, I was greeted with a simple yet welcoming ambiance. The seating was spaced out, several takeout orders were lined up and ready to go, diners occupied tables, staff was doing their rounds- the typical restaurant drill. However, the feeling one gets when walking into a “home” was undeniable. I instantly knew that I was in for a dining experience like no other.

It was a hot summer day in July. To me, that meant a fruity refreshment. The host read out the drink menu, and four magical words sealed the deal- FRESHLY SQUEEZED PASSIONFRUIT JUICE (called Parcha). As a lover of all things passionfruit, I was in a tropical paradise and slurped down that golden nectar instantly!

Next up, the ultimate challenge- deciding what food to get. With a limited budget and as a party of one, I had to be strategic to get as eclectic an experience as possible. For the appetizers, I was intrigued by Yari’s vegan spin on a Puerto Rican shrimp dish- Nidos de Camarones. She prepared delicate mini green plantain nidos (nests), filled with hearts of palm cooked to perfection and recreating the texture of shrimp. The dish came drizzled in a beautiful criollo and chimichurri sauce.

My entrée selection was the Pika Pika. Sure, the name was fun to say and it took me back to my Pokemon craze days, but this Honduran and Puerto Rican fusion dish blew me away beyond my wildest dreams! In lieu of chicken, the vegan version featured crispy banana blossoms in a creamy chili and garlic sauce. It was served with a side of flavorful Puerto Rican rice with pigeon peas and fried plantains called tostones.

Surely no meal is complete without dessert. Mark my words- you’d be damned if you missed out on Chef Yari’s miraculous vegan flan! A light and decadent coconut flan was the flavor of the day, and it had me broadening my smile with every bite. Casa Yari has been feeding Chicagoans for the past 8 years. As one who places customer satisfaction above all, Chef Yari was determined to ensure that folks with different dietary preferences enjoyed an uncompromised meal. Think plant-based keto? She’s got you covered!

During the early years, Yari was sure to offer a variety of vegetarian dishes. However, she noticed some customers requesting modifications eliminating animal products. She became intrigued by this recurring request. Furthermore, watching her vegan daughter nibble on a side salad and bland fries while dining out broke her heart. Feeding people flavorful, comforting foods is Yari’s love language. There was no way she would let even a single customer endure feeling anything less at her Casa. She decided that veganizing dishes was the inclusive way to go.

Not long after, she hopped aboard the plant-powered train and embarked on a mission to deliver a high-quality, scrumptious, plant-based equivalent of every menu item. Her plant-based meals feature a variety of vegan cheeses from Chicago’s vegan cheese extraordinaire- Cheeze and Thank You, meats from Chicago’s Upton’s Breakroom, and Chef Yari’s housemade seitan. All the aiolis and sauces are also plant-based by default. Customers may also treat themselves to a hearty slice of cake from Pie Pie My Darling- an all-vegan bakery run by local darling- Heather Bodine-Lederman. The plant-powered support among the Chi-town restaurant community certainly deserves its recognition. Chef Yari believes that when local businesses uplift one another, they will successfully offer

a dining experience that everyone can cherish. Further attesting to her mission, her phenomenal food has also created vegans! Customers have been known to credit Chef Yari for planting the vital seeds of plant power, accelerating their journey to veganism. I am still at a complete loss of adjectives that would do justice in describing Chef Yari’s talent and creations. When she stepped out to greet me, no words were necessary. A wholesome hug and my tear-filled eyes said all that needed to be said. Indeed her magic power is to make people feel loved simply by preparing meals from her heart.

“It brings me so much joy to see non-vegans open their minds and hearts to the wonders of plants! As a chef, it is my duty to serve nourishing, delicious food. Though we are not a completely vegan restaurant, the majority of orders we get are for the vegan options! I love that I’m able to provide a space for the veg-curious to learn that plant-based living is one of abundance and not restriction!”- Chef Yari Vargas

Will Casa Yari eventually go completely plant-based? How about a Latin fusion brunch? Only time will tell but till then, expect nothing less than a divine feast for all! Now that you’ve been enticed plenty, let Chef Yari welcome you to her Casa, nourish your souls, and transport you to the comforts of her culture.