BLOCHO'S TACOS

I know what all the craze is about...TACOS

2011-08-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

230 West 4th Street

New York

Empellon has been recommended to me at least three times this summer. It is the hot new place for amazing Mexican food. And ABSURDLYDELICIOUSMOUTHWATERING TACOS! With my sister and my mom we figured we would never get a last-minute reservation on a Saturday night, but my sister tried and succeeded and we were set (and at the reasonable hour of 7:45 no less)!

The loud, hip, dim-lit front room at Empellon is worlds different from the quieter, relaxed, bright back room. But all booked up, we settled at our table in the front room and began the adventure. The cocktails, although small, were fresh and quenched the thirst that a Saturday of hanging out will create. We opted for the guacamole and 2 salsas -- chili arbole and smoked cashew -- which were fantastic. The guacamole was basic but combined with either of the two saulsces (salsa/sauces because of their smooth consistency) it took on new levels of deliciousness. Beware, the chili arbole salsa packs a punch!

Next, the tacos. WOW! We had to ask that they come with corn tortillas but with 3 huge tacos to an entree sized portion and the fine tuned flavor combinations that came out, asking for different tortillas is hardly a complaint. We ordered the Chicken with Black Kale and Salsa Verde, Skirt Steak with Mojo de Ajo (garlic), and Scallops with Roasted Cauliflower and Raisin Puree.

I tried the scallops first and the two enormous scallops per taco were deliciously seared on the outside and soft and meaty on the inside. I was surprised by the sweetness of the raisin puree, but in contrast to the typical spicy flavors of Mexican food, I thought it was a beautiful reinvention of the wheel.

Next up was the skirt steak which was unreal. I did not want that taco to ever end! Empellon does not skimp on fully filling their tacos and the strength and durability of those corn tortillas was mesmerizing. The barely sweet garlic sauce paired perfectly with the caramelized onions atop the steak and the meat was cooked to perfection. This taco was appetizer, entree, and

dessert in one!

The chicken taco was great, but did not stand up to my transformative skirt steak taco experience right before, but I like the flavor of the bitter kale with the chicken (and a few spoonfuls of the leftover salsas). I did add my own spice to the tacos, but only after taking a bite and fully embracing the "naked" flavor that the chef so excellently presented.

We also had the Jicama with Radishes and Watermelon dressing salad which was equally as delicious as the tacos and a nice light and summery dish to accompany the meats.

Way too full to even consider dessert, I know I will be returning to Empellon as soon as I can. After all, they have 10 different tacos on their menu and I only tried 3!!

Zagat weighs in on Mexican

2011-08-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

Here it is...Zagat Buzz 8 Best Mexican Restaurants in NYC

http://www.zagat.com/buzz/8-best-mexican-restaurants-in-new-york

I've only been to two!! HELP!

They Draw & They.....

2011-08-14T18:54:00.001-07:00

http://www.theydrawandcook.com/

What a cool website! Makes me want to take our my watercolors....and fry pan/blender/baking sheet.

Oh. And They Draw & They Travel! http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/
Haven't quite figured this one out, but I'm working on it.

Better late than never...

2011-08-09T05:17:00.001-07:00

The blogger's dilemma hits again and I've been terrible at keeping this baby updated. Despite the ease that comes with the ch-ch-ch-changes (see previous post).

Well, better late than never and here are some of the excellent gluten-free finds I've had this summer. Oh, and they are delicious.

Papardella

316 Columbus Ave

New York

This is a great Italian restaurant. Very classic/old-school with a ridiculous wine assortment. AND they have a gluten-free menu. This gluten-free menu is divine. Everything (and more) on the regular menu can be made gluten-free. Pizza, pasta, garlic bread, bruschetta. You name it! This is an Upper West Side staple and whether you are gluten-free or not, the food is fresh and delicious and the staff is beyond friendly. For $1.00 you can get a gluten-free roll to dip in your olive oil, and there is nothing more enjoyably than sharing bread with the non-gluten-free brethren. The Claudia Cardinale cocktail -- prosecco and St. Germain -- is absurd. Worth a trip just for that!

Pure Food and Wine

54 Irving Place

New York

This raw vegetarian restaurant was recommended to me by a random woman on the subway who saw me ogling over cupcakes that were not gluten-free. She said they were the best cupcakes in town, I said I was gluten-free, and she pulled out a juice and doggy bag from One Lucky Duck, the counterpart to Pure Food and Wine. 3 subway stops later, I was hooked and knew this place would be high on my list of go-to restaurants. After many attempts, and canceled reservations, I finally made it with my sister and a dear friend of ours. The menu was extensive (and a bit expensive) but if you order right, you cannot really go wrong. Definitely the lasagna, definitely the tamales, NOT the polenta (if you like real cooked polenta). The sangria was divine and the vibe in the restaurant is very nice -- not like the bare essentials vibe that some veg restaurants give off. In a world where we are all trying to be environmental and eat less meat, this is a great place to get started.

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

2011-07-22T04:54:00.000-07:00

I've been considering make a change to this blog.

I think a change is needed. I'm not blogging the way I intended.

I love tacos, don't get me wrong! But not everyone is willing to live solely on Mexican cuisine. I have to make accommodations based on the other people I choose to dine with.

However, regardless of the cuisine, the location, the people, I always eat gluten-free. But being a "gluten-free blogger" is not in my future. Blogging is hard! You feel an obligation to your (5) followers and to document the experiences you frame your blog around. For more on my love/hate relationship with blogging and "The Blogger's Dilemma" read this.

So what to do?

Change the blog a little bit. That's my solution.

Introducing............BLOCHO'S TACOS: Eating gluten-free, and preferably Mexican, but also just enjoying life and finding a way to document the experiences in the modern technological world we have become accustomed to!

When something does not work out exactly as you plan you must embrace ch-ch-ch-CHANGES!

Food Truck Tacos

2011-05-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

Hummingbird To Go
Foster St and Sheridan Ave, Evanston, IL
@hummingbirdtogo

Food trucks are awesome. They travel around
giving their delicious grub to a wide consumer base and they often
use sustainable practices, such as compostable containers. Plus, they help
foster a sense of excitement and adventure in the lives of foodies.

To me, food trucks are the adult version of the ice cream truck. You get super
stoked when it's coming to your neighborhood and, at least for us food truck
deprived Evanstonians, it is a special treat. I loved going to the
ice cream truck when I was a kid and, to no surprise, I always devoured my ChocoTaco.

Unfortunately, today's tacos were not chocolate but were
incredible delicious. Short rib tacos on amazing hearty (and stable!)
corn tortillas. The slightly picante salsa verde that came along was
fantastic. The tacos were also quite full...not Gordon Taqueria style
with all the fixins, but there was a significant amount of meat in
these bad boys. The cabbage and cilantro on top also made for a nice
crunchy combo with the softer meat.

I would have loved slightly more flavor/seasoning in the meat. Some sort of BBQ or sweet and spicy accompaniment to the salsa verde. But all in all, I got some hearty tacos that were much needed. (I apologize for slacking on my taco adventures.)

If you see the Hummingbird truck around, stop by and try a taco. I doubt you will be disappointed.

Holiday Season Tacos

2010-12-16T13:26:00.000-08:00

Cascabel Taqueria
1538 2nd Ave (at 80th St)
New York, NY
and
Columbus Circle Holiday Market!

The Holiday Season in New York is characterized by the multitude of holiday markets around Manhattan -- Union Square, Grand Central Station, and Columbus Circle are a few of my favorites. Whether you're shopping for yourself or for your friends and loved ones, there always are a multitude of gift options available at these markets.

Today, despite the 28 degree weather, my friend Molly and I ventured out to the Columbus Circle market ready to browse. I've walked past the market hundreds of times since returning to NY for the Holidays and knew that a Taqueria had set up shop within the market.

The time had come to indulge. I am back in my taco homeland.

I approached the small Cascabel Taqueria booth and my mouth began watering. Although the actual Taqueria has an more in-depth menu (including brunch and tequila), the booth was offering chicken and carnitas tacos. Fine by me. I chose the carnitas taco and could not be happier with my decision.

Cascabel uses soft corn tortillas; clearly they know tacos. And this corn tortilla held up extremely well on the walk from the market to the warmth of the Time Warner building. The simultaneously soft and crisp bite of the tortilla nicely contrasted the soft texture of the slow roasted berkshire pork butt. A perfect combination! The pork was well-flavored -- neither overwhelming nor masked by the other taco ingredients.

In my opinion, this taco was a winner because of the pickled red onions on top. With a squeeze of the small lime wedge, the zesty tartness paired with the vinegary onion taste was unbelievable. I didn't want that flavor to end!

The ingredients were fresh, my hunger was satiated, and Cascabel mastered the simplicity of Mexican street food with the sophistication of gourmet cuisine.

At the Holiday market they also sell Mexican Hot Chocolate -- una bomba! The $1 shot-glass sized cup of luscious hot chocolate with a spicy kick was the perfect way to warm up and end the meal with a sweet finish. Wow. I'll be going back for seconds. After all, there's a chicken taco I have yet to try.

Good food, great service, and the NY holiday season. It's good to be home.

Cousins do Tacos!

2010-08-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

Dos Toros
137 4th Avenue
New York, NY

For weeks I have been meaning to stop by Dos Toros. When I was working, we ended right in front of this taqueria, but at 8pm on a weeknight the place is jammed! With a line out the door I knew I had to try the food, but I would wait for a slightly tamer time.

My cousin, Jonathan, suggested I add Dos Toros to my list of visited taquerias when I told him about my blog. We made a plan and this afternoon we met at Dos Toros for lunch.

The space reminds me of BurittoVille, a local NYC chain that disbanded a few years ago and left me quick Mexican food-less for some time. The wooden tables and leather-seated stools make the place feel comfortable, homey, and conducive to a quick bite or a drawn out lunch.

I ordered 2 tacos -- one basic (rice and beans) and the other carne asada (steak) in soft corn tortillas (obviously). Watching them make the tacos at the counter allowed you to personalize it however you like. I went all in -- pico de gallo, guacamole, and hot sauce. The novelty items for these tacos was that each included cheese as a base layer for whatever else you got. Subtle, yet significant.

The tacos were jam-packed with deliciousness. The meat and toppings were overflowing, but the tortillas maintained their structure throughout the meal. The best way to describe the flavors is natural. The steak was great steak. The guac was great guac. The tortillas tasted like real corn and the rice and beans was exactly what you would hope rice and beans tastes like. The food tasted real. Plus, the hot sauce didn't burn your mouth off, but certainly added a tangy kick that pulled all the flavors together.

The basic taco, newly coined the "taco-burrito" by Jonathan, was surprisingly filling. Next time I'll skip the guac on that one for the sake of simplicity.

These tacos reminded my A LOT of Gordo Taqueria in San Francisco. As I left Dos Toros I remembered reading about a new NY taqueria opened by the brothers who came from the Bay and frequented Gordo. Guess what? That NY taqueria is Dos Toros. Here's the link to the article: Dos Toros Taqueria. Gordo gave me some of the best tacos I have had and Dos Toros is right up there with them. Now it all makes sense that Jonathan and I were sensing the good ol' California vibe from the food and the atmosphere.

Reasonably priced (we questioned how exactly they arrived at $3.67 for a taco), purely tasty, and extremely convenient (take the 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, or L train to Union Square), Dos Toros is not a taqueria to skip over.

Thanks to Jonathan for the suggestion!

Also, they are into sustainability -- compostable forks and knives, locally raised chicken, organic beans, biodegradable cleaning products etc. Good food and good intentions. What more can you ask?

Back in NY

2010-07-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

Hell's Kitchen

679 Ninth Ave

New York, NY

Good News: I'm back in NY where taco shops are easy to come by and tend to be pretty good. Bad News: I'm working like crazy and have not had enough time to sample all the tacos I possible can.

Despite the bad news, I managed to try some tacos the other night with my dad and Ben Scheuer. We met up at Hell's Kitchen, a restaurant I've passed numerous times but had yet to dine in, and settled down for a wonderful meal.

The "corn cake" with black-bean dip they brought out as the "bread and butter" to whet our appetites was scrumptious. I particularly enjoyed the juxtaposition of texture and temperature (heat and spice) that the dip provided.

My dad and I split an appetizer...some seafood tostada. (Of course I am blogging a little late and the online menu seems to have changed from my visit thus limiting the specificity of my post; but a good sign that they keep updating their food!) Delicious and perfectly proportioned.

I ordered skirt steak tacos, excited to re-taco my life. All in all, the flavors were great and I enjoyed the dish. I thought the meat was a bit chewy and the large strips made it slightly difficult to eat. However, the corn tortillas stayed in tact and the greens added a beautiful crunch to the taco.

As we enjoyed the meal I learned that the owners of Hell's Kitchen also own El Centro, a fave spot of mine just a few blocks North. No wonder I was content.

More tacos to come!

Taco Adventure!

2010-05-28T17:35:00.000-07:00

Taqeuria Hernandez
6983 N. Clark Ave
Chicago, IL

After many months without a taco my hiatus is up.

It started with the idea for a spontaneous bike ride with my friends Emily and Doug and ended in a taco tour through Roger's Park, Chicago. Unfortunately, Emily had to miss out on our taco eating, but got to come along for the ride.

We started in Evanston and made our way down Chicago Ave which turns into N. Clark Ave. After biking through Roger's Park we decided to go a bit further, into Edgewater and Andersonville, to see if there was one particular taco shop that stood out. We didn't find one so back to RP we biked. I told Doug to stop at any place that looked appetizing and by the time both our stomachs began grumbling, we hit Taqueria Hernandez. We locked our bikes outside and entered into the long-forgotten world of yummy tacos.

For my re-introduction I decided to keep it simple. I ordered one chicken and one steak taco and marveled at the simplicity of the space -- approximately twelve red-and-white checkerboard covered tables in neat rows with a few sombreros and pieces of Mexican art adorning the walls.

Our food came quickly and based on the look of the corn tortillas I had a feeling this would be good. I love when you can see the texture of the tortilla and it's slightly rough edges screamed "home made" to me. The red spicy salsa/sauce had a bit too much kick for me, so I opted for the mild, but not so mild, green salsa.

The specifics and intricacies of each taco's taste have escaped me in the 60 minutes since I ate them, but I know one thing -- they know how to make a good taco! They were simple. The meat was well cooked. The tortillas DID NOT fall apart (despite the tomatoes that adorned the taco) and I was oh so satisfied upon completion.

There are so many taquerias along Clark Ave. that I think it only fair to test a few more before returning to Taqueria Hernandez, but I will return. That is for sure!

(I took 2 pictures using Doug's camera phone. Hopefully they turned out OK and I will have them soon to add!)

Heaven.

2010-02-25T16:32:00.000-08:00

Topolobampo
445 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL

Mexican Fine-Dining. The Obama's favorite Chi-town restaurant. TopChef Master. The number of words and phrases that spring to mind when I think of Topolobampo are endless.

My mouth is still watering just thinking about the experience.

Wednesday. 9pm. Julia, Ben, Maddy. Heaven.

What is interesting about Topolobampo is it is connected to Frontera Grill, Rick Bayless' other Chicago restaurant that gets just as much hype at Topolo (that's what locals call it). Although the menu at Frontera look equally as appetizing, the cozy room of Topolo made the experience one of grandeur and comfort.

The decor and service were great (Whitney was a fantastic waitress and so accommodating to my gluten-free lifestyle), but let's cut to the most important part: the food.

We decided to go with the Celebration Tasting Menu along with some a la carte options to make sure we had a well rounded experience. And don't you just love a restaurant that lets you combine the two?

The meal started out with their freshly made guacamole (complete with pine nuts!). Rather than being served along side tortilla chips, Topolo goes for cucumber and jicama slices. This makes for a really fresh, vibrant, and crisp combo. Plus, I absolutely LOVE jicama, so I was a happy camper.

We had the Trio, Trio, Trio of ceviche to start us off. The combo of three of their ceviches had a nice balance. The ceviche yucateco was my favorite of the three -- the shrimp and calamari combo with lime, orange, habanero, avocado, jicama and cilantro salsa was so easy to eat. We drank the sauce remnants they were so good! The ceviche with sun dried tomatoes had more of an Italian rather than Mexican taste. But it was still delicious! My least favorite was the Ceviche de atun "chamoy". The sauce was a spicy red chile-apricot salsa. Yes, it was a bit spicy, but also overwhelmingly smoky. It reminded me of Lapsang Souchong teas. Tuna tartar was my first foray into seafood years ago and so I was a bit disappointed with this tuna dish.

Next came the oysters. I have had oysters once before Topolo and went for the "don't taste it just swallow method". This time I tried to be more adventurous and actually chew the oysters. The cucumber and ginger toppings were quite good and masked the fishiness of the oyster. It felt a little like I was eating the ocean....with come cucumber and ginger mixed in. I'm going to stick with my original method for oyster eating.

One of my favorite dishes of the night were the Mochomos. The description from the menu ("crunchy threads of beef brisket (made from braised Tallgrass grass-fed brisket) with crispy onion strings, garlicky guacamole, spicy salsa roja and warm tortillas for making soft tacos") made me curious. Crunchy threads of brisket? My experiences with brisket is "wet meat", more of a chunky stew-like meat than crunchy threads. This brisket was INCREDIBLE. The combination of crunch of meat, warm soft tortillas, smooth guacamole and the kick of the salsa made this a complete mini-meal in one! It falls right into the "taco" category and I wanted more and more.

We continued on to the tamal, described as a polenta-like corn masa tamal. I was expecting my traditional corn masa in a corn husk, but this was three little tamal forms each with different toppings. The bright green color from the Oaxacan green mole was beautiful. My favorite was the tamal with peas -- I enjoyed the contrast of textures between the peas and the creamy tamal. Certainly not my favorite, but something I would consider trying again.

One of the more memorable dishes, the Frijol con Borrego, was a roasted lamb in a black bean sauce with a fingerling potato confit. Also, lamb belly. Wow, was this good! We had more freshly made corn tortillas on the table so I made a supreme lamb taco with all the ingredients. The lamb was perfectly cooked and complimented by the black bean sauce. And the belly was succulent, and fatty and utterly delicious. Plus, the potatoes added a starchiness that kept the fatty belly and spicy sauce from becoming too overbearing. I may have to say this is the dish that had the greatest impression on me.

Perhaps the most disappointing dish was the scallops in a cinnamon and almond "horchata sauce". There was a sweetness to the sauce which, in my opinion, seemed out of place with the scallops (and the other main dishes). I really enjoyed the freshness of the scallops, but was not crazy about their surroundings. My sister, on the other hand, did enjoy them (and the sweetness of the sauce!)

Just slightly below the lamb in my ranking of the dishes is the rock hen with tomato arbol chile broth. The accompanying black bean gelatin worked so well to tie the different flavors from the the hen and broth together. Not to mention that the hen was perfectly cooked! This was another dish that we fully consumed -- cleaning the plate with tortillas to get every little morsel of sauce!

The dessert. 'Nuff said. Dark chocolate cake bites with "black mole" chocolate sauce, cocoa nib ice cream, pomegranate jellies, ancho chile chocolate cookie. As if a meal could not get any better. The cake was great, but putting the cocoa ice cream and pom jellies together was fantastic. It an adult version of an ice cream sundae. And the kids really don't know what they are missing.

All in all, Topolo was one of the better meals I've experienced. I must go back. (And therefore make my reservation now!)

Rick Bayless, you are a genius!

By the way, we saw him!! He came to say hi to a friend at the table next to us and my sister was about 1 foot away from the one and only. We were slightly star-struck.

GO TO TOPOLO!

Dreams Come True

2010-02-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

Topolobampo!

I have heard great things about Rick Bayless' Fine Dining Mexican Restaurant and have been pining to go since I started calling Chicago my 2nd home. When my sister visited in October, we attempted to walk in and dine, but there was a 3 hour wait. Yes, 3 hours!

It must be good.

Now, it's February, and the Mexican dining Gods are working in my favor and I am going to Topolobampo on Wednesday. Stay tuned for a review!

Here's what Zagat says:
Surveyors swear you get the “best high-end Mexican food in Chicago” (or perhaps “anywhere”), “crafted from the freshest ingredients”, at “creative” “celebrity chef” Rick Bayless’ “must-go” River North “treasure”, the “upscale sister to Frontera Grill” (“with prices to match”); its “cheerful” servers are “extremely knowledgeable”, and the “fantastic wine pairings” and “awesome” margaritas are “standouts” as well; just know that the “intimate”, art-filled “white-tablecloth” setting is “always crowded”, so “make your reservations early.”

NYT Travel Review

Oh, I just cannot wait!

Tacos in The Times

2010-01-06T17:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/06/dining/reviews/06unde.html?ref=dining

The New York Time's review on Dos Toros Taqueria in NYC. The brothers who opened the shop are big fan of Gordo Taqueria in San Francisco -- one of my favorite taco experiences thus far.

Glad the Bay area is coming to the East coast and I look forward to trying my own Dos Toros taco!

Airport Cuisine

2009-12-27T07:48:00.000-08:00

Andale Mexican Restaurant
San Francisco International Airport, California
Terminal 3

As we are in the midst of the Holiday season and my travels back and forth from school to vacation and home, I have become extremely airport savvy. I know how to find a good wireless signal, which bathrooms will be the least crowded, how to get through airport security in record time etc. The one thing that I am still working on mastering is airport dining. The gluten-free options are scarce and there tends to be a lack of healthfulness in airport cuisine. Until now.

After a brief trip to San Francisco to see The Bob Hill Band return home and play an extraordinary show at Slim's, I was en route to New York and hungry in the airport. The food court was bustling with Christmas Eve-day travelers, but I managed to make my way in and secure a spot in line for Andale Mexican Restaurant. I ordered the "Tacos Mexicanos" -- 3 soft corn tortillas with carne asada (grilled beef), chopped onion, cilantro, and salsa verde. Simplicity really is key. These tacos were delicious. The proportion of ingredients was balanced, the flavor was strong, and I was smiling as I boarded my flight.

Well done, Andale! I have a new outlook on airport dining (and one with a little Mexican flare no less).

Happy Holidays!

"Special" ?

2009-12-26T12:26:00.000-08:00

Lime
Winter Park, CO

After a long day of skiing in Winter Park, Colorado, I was craving tacos. There is nothing better than noshing on some salty meat-filled tacos as an apres-ski snack. Walking into Lime with a group of friends, we found out that Tuesday was their taco special! Tacos were $2 for shredded chicken, shredded beef, and ground beef and $3 for shrimp and ahi tuna. I was so excited! I ordered one of each (minus the ground beef). After waiting for approximately 25 minutes in a near-empty restaurant my tacos came. The "corn tortillas" were hard corn taco shells. Off to a bad start in my book. (And the funny thing is that the restaurant does have soft corn tortillas.) I was not crazy about the fillings, there wasn't much flavor to any of the tacos -- I could barely distinguish the differences. And they were chock full of cut up romaine lettuce, which due to lack of proper wash and dry procedure made the taco shells soggy. I was thoroughly unsatisfied.

Despite the bad tacos, I returned (reluctantly) later in the week for breakfast and had a delicious dish of huevos rancheros. The eggs were yummy and I was quickly satisfied to the point where I was unable to finish the whole dish. Also, the guac was pretty good.

Give Lime a try, but maybe not for the tacos.

Back from a Hiatus

2009-11-29T18:02:00.000-08:00

Barrio Cafe

2814 N. 16th Street

Phoenix, AZ

I have been sans taco for weeks. Evanston is not home to many taco-serving venues and I have not yet ventured beyond the town's limits.

However, as Thanksgiving rolled around, I traveled to Phoenix, AZ to celebrate the holiday with my family. Knowing that Arizona is closer to Mexico than Illinois, I expected to find some good food in the Southwest.

For dinner we headed to Barrio Cafe, a small restaurant located in a strip mall in Phoenix. The walls were adorned with modern portraits by, what I assume to be, a local artist. The feeling was authentic and the statement "Please conserve water, drink tequila" that was added to each page of the menu made me confident that the night would bring good fun and good food.

We split the Quesadilla de Camaron Borracho (drunken shrimp) as an appetizer. The 4 small corn tortilla were topped with melted Oaxacan cheese and queso de cabra (goat cheese). The flavor of the shrimp, sauteed in tequila and lime, was well-balanced throughout the dish. And it was the perfect appetizer to share. My only complaint is on account of my laziness -- the shrimp were deveined and shelled, but the tail was still on therefore I had to remove mid-course. Not a deal breaker, however!

For my main course, I split the tacos de tinga de pollo (tinga chicken) and tacos de cochinita pibil (slow roasted pork) with my sister's boyfriend, Ben. The chicken was much spicier than I expected and a bit smoky tasting. This spice was overwhelming and detracted from the taste of the avocado, tomato, and cheese on the taco. I was not as satisfied with the chicken as the pork. The pork had a more balanced flavor and I was able to appreciate all of the ingredients put into the taco, especially the delicious and soft corn tortillas. Also, because the pork was less "wet" it was easier to eat than the chicken. The tacos dishes came with 4 tacos each and after 2 1/2 I was too full to keep going.

The highlight of the meal was the tableside guacamole. Prepared with pomegranate seeds and blended only slightly to retain the distinct flavor of each ingredient, the chunky consistency of the guac hit the spot and I kept wanting more.

For my first experience with Southern Mexican/Arizona inspired cuisine, I was a happy camper. Plus, the menu is extensive and there were many dishes I would go back to try!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!

2009-10-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N. Clark St
Chicago, IL

For weeks now I have been planning a Chicago Taco Adventure. Realizing that there are no good tacos in Evanston, I now must venture into parts of Chicago to get my taco fix.

This adventure is still in the planning stages, so I was very excited (and surprised) when I came across tacos at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

After observing polar bears, meerkats, penguins, flamingos, lions, leopards, and monkeys enjoy their dinner my stomach was growling for some food of my own. At first I was hesitant to go into the usually over-priced tourist trap food court, but the sign pointing the direction to the entrance was very enticing. It listed the cuisines available in the food court and immediately "Mexican" caught my eye. I rushed in and jumped in line to get my tacos.

I orderd the taco platter and asked for a combination between chicken and beef. They were very official in warming up the corn tortillas and crafting the taco so that the wetter ingredients (pico de gallo, salsa etc) did not go in first -- they understood how disastrous a messy taco could be.

The chicken taco was delicious! I was afraid the meat would be too stew-like, but it tasted quite fresh and added a nice level of dimension to the taco. I was not as big of fan of the beef taco -- the ground beef was similar to what you would find in a "taco kit" you buy at the supermarket. Rather than ruin the taco experience, I scraped the beef out of the tortilla and made a meatless taco full of cheese, lettuce, salsa and sour cream. Also, the great thing about the taco platter is it came with rice and beans on the side. A full meal!

I left the food court very satisfied with my taco find and my dire craving for comida mexicana is somewhat satiated.

Stay tuned for the epic Blocho's Tacos Hit Chicago post. Coming soon!

Down with the Chains!

2009-10-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

Chipotle
711 Church Street
Evanston, IL

I do not like Chipotle. I never have. And that was even before eating there. My biggest gripe with the Mexican-style chain restaurant is I believe it drove Burritoville, a NY-only more authentic version of Chipotle, out of business.

Despite my feelings against Chipotle, I let me friends Samantha and Lisa convince me to try it. They are Chipotle fanatics. They crave Chipotle the way I crave Mexican food -- always.

After a disappointing Northwestern University football game, I walked with Samantha and Lisa to Chipotle to see what all the hype was about. Carnitas have become a favorite taco flavor of mine throughout this journey, so I decided to continue the tradition and perhaps add another favorite carnitas taco joint to my list.

I have decided I need to take the "only hard corn tortilla shell" sign as a warning.

The shells were flavorless and even a little stale, the meat was over-spiced, the guacamole was tasteless--boring and flat, and I could barely taste the cheese (which I was hoping would mask the bad the rest of the taco embraced). After finishing one and one half of the three tacos my stomach was already hurting and I knew I would not be satisfied.

Sorry, Sam and Lisa, Chipotle does not make the cut for good ol' authentic Mexican tacos.

Belated tacos

2009-09-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

Frontera Fresco
Macy's Old Orchard, Skokie, IL

Hungry from a day of apartment furniture shopping, my dad and I stopped at Frontera Fresco for a quick bite. The tacos are new to the gourmet Mexican cafe's menu, but my confidence in founder Rick Bayless' restaurants left me assured that these tacos would be good tacos.
I ordered the chicken chorizo taco and the chipotle shrimp. The chorizo was more chili-like in consistency -- ground meat in a very smoky chipotle-esque sauce. Unlike my previous disappointment with chili tacos, this chicken chorizo was very tasty. The shrimp taco was lighter than the chorizo and the Frontera taco sauce, melted chihuahua cheese, lime, and avocado that accompanies each taco made this particular shrimp taco a summery delight. I questioned the freshness of the shrimp because it did taste more fishy than my previous shrimp experiences. However, with enough salsa the fishy taste blended in with all the others. My guess is for ease of preparation these were frozen shrimp. My favorite part: the corn tortillas. So delicious -- warm, soft (but not mushy), and flavorful.

The Frontera Fresco Sandwicheria's are located at Macy's in Skokie and Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA. Too bad they are not more prevalent! I really liked my tacos.

Baja Fresh
5716 W. Touhy Ave, Niles, IL

Day Two of operation apartment move in and, of course, I wanted tacos for lunch. My mom and I reached the point of dire hunger and stopped at the first Mexican place we could find, Baja Fresh. I knew it was a chain but posted throughout the fast-food Mexican joint were signs stating "No MSG....No Lard", I figured it couldn't be too bad. I ordered the carnitas and steak 2 taco combo and then indulged in the salsa bar complete with mango salsa, roja hot salsa, verde mild salsa, and pico de gallo. I was also VERY impressed by the hot sauce selection -- Tapatio and Chiholula (my two favorites).

The tacos came as a whole taco plate with rice and beans. I was not crazy about the rice and beans and the tacos were pretty simple--meat, cilantro, onion. For a fast food taco it was impressive. A quick fix for my hunger that left me satisfied. And there were plenty of healthy options for the non-taco Baja Fresh diner. Plus they seem to be all over the place.

Secret Taco Deli

2009-08-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

Tehuitzingo Deli & Grocery Inc.
695 10th Avenue
New York, NY

When meeting up with Michael Melamedoff, writer and director of "Weakness", there was no question that we would go for tacos. Michael suggested the "secret taco deli" on 10th Ave at 47th street and the mystery of the place enticed me.

Entering into Tehuitzingo I was confused. It looked just like a deli, no tacos around. But if you step beyond the front counter and refrigerators filled with Jarritos sodas, you find a little secret taco deli. At the back of the narrow room you approach a small window and place your order. The menu has many pork offerings along with your typical chicken, rice and beans, and steak tacos. They even have goat tacos! I followed my heart and ordered a carnitas taco and steak taco. In my taco adventures these have been the most rewarding. And in the spirit of trying something new, I took Michael's suggestion and ordered a chorizo con papas (sausage with potatoes) taco. At $2.50 each, the splurge for three tacos was completely worth it.

With my lime Jarritos in hand, Michael and I headed to the park across the street to enjoy our freshly made tacos. The were simple and traditional -- the way I love them. Topped only with cilantro and chopped onion, each taco tasted incredible. I ate the carnitas taco first. The pork was drier than I expected, but with enough salsa on top (I prefer the green tomatillo salsa), the taco was quite enjoyable. Steak was taco #2 and boy, oh boy, was it delicious! Whatever the steak was cooked in or with added tremendous flavor. It took a mere 3 bites for me to finish the taco. The most interesting taco, however, was the chorizo y papas that I saved for last. The flavor of the soft potatoes in combination with the mild spice of the chorizo made for an complete flavor palette. The double tortilla wrapping held up nicely for all three tacos and the slight sweetness of the corn tortilla added to the mouthful of flavors. Fantastic food and even better company. I was so happy.

This secret taco deli is a gem. I could easily become a regular. Do try this place if you are in New York. I will go as far to say you should make a special trip to Tehuitzingo if you are travelling the city in search of tacos. My mouth is watering just thinking about them.

Me encanta Los Mets

2009-08-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

El Verano Taqueria

Citi Field

Flushing, NY

Since I started blogging many people have recommended a number of taco joints worthy of my review and many of these places are in Queens, NY. I (unfortunately) do not make it out to Queens very often, but Saturday night was special.

To honor the World Champion 1969 Mets, the 2009 Mets had a pre-game celebration at Citi Field (the new Shea Stadium). Being a life-long Mets fan I was extremely excited to have a look at the team from way back when, but also the real perk lay in Citi Field's new dining concourse. Hot dogs, pretzels, and cotton candy are still available at Citi Field, but you can also opt for Shake Shack, Blue Smoke, Box Frites, and many more higher-end options. My favorite: El Verano Taqueria.

Eating tacos at a baseball game.

I was in heaven.

And they were good, too! Julia, my dad, and I went for the taco trio -- chicken mole pipian, chile-marinate skirt steak, and carnitas, while my friend, Ellen, kept it simple with two chicken tacos. Each taco came with a different sauce/salsa -- mole, tomatillo, and tomato-chipotle salsa -- and I found that a dip of each sauce made for the most delectable combination.

I'm beginning to find that chicken tacos can get a little boring. Although this particular chicken taco was very good, it did not compare with the flavors of the steak and carnitas taco. There was more depth to the taste of the other meats making them overall more satisfying. I'm hesitant to make such a leap into my love affair with pork, but I do believe that the carnitas taco was my favorite. By far. I enjoyed the texture of the tender pork and the sweetness that was balanced by the kick of the salsa.

These tacos were fantastic, especially considering they were ballpark food. I am uber content with El Verano Taqueria and will return to Citi Field, not just for the Mets, but for the tacos. Yum.

Partial Redemption

2009-08-21T06:24:00.000-07:00

The Original California Taqueria
187 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY

My Taco House experience left me very unsatisfied in the taco world, so the following day I was in search of redemption.

The outside of The Original California Taqueria was enticing, very authentic looking. I figured anything was better than the Taco House disaster.

I ordered a fish taco (my first ever!) with sauteed tilapia and a barbacoa taco (shredded beef). Hesitant to try the fish taco, the smell of freshly sauteed tilapia and the cilantro from the pico de gallo drew me right in. I enjoyed the new taste of a fish taco, but this taco was missing something. Maybe cheese? Hot sauce? I couldn't quite pin-point it. However, I did come to the realization that adding tomatoes or pico de gallo ups the mess factor ten-fold. Thank God for the two soft corn tortillas holding my taco together. If you want to add the tomatoes to your taco, eat in the restaurant so you are not eating on your lap with taco filling flying about around you. I was having trouble handling the mess and coping with the missing flavor so I put the fish taco down and moved over to the barbacoa.

The beef was delicious! In comparison to my salty chicken taco from Taco House, I was in heaven. Yet again, I felt like it was missing something. After pondering the missing taco ingredient conundrum I came to the conclusion that I had been in too much of a rush -- ordering my tacos to go and rushing out as soon as they were ready. I did not give myself adequate time to add hot sauce (they had my favorite, Tapatio sauce, available), tomatillo salsa, or even some salt and pepper.

These tacos were good, not great. I will go back to try my new strategy at The Original California Taqueria because I see great potential.

And a plus for all those of age, the taqueria has a huge selection of beer and wine to accompany your taco, if you so choose.

Never Again

2009-08-21T06:11:00.000-07:00

Taco House
178 Church St.
New York, NY

The Taco House is a fast-food-Chinese-restaurant-turned-taqueria. Not a good combination. I took a chance at The Taco House. Fooled by the letter posted in the storefront window by a customer praising the service and food quality, and compelled by an intense taco craving, I settled for a Taco House lunch on Wednesday. I wish I had curbed my craving one more day.

The chicken was dry and much too salty. The hard taco shell (I should have known that having only hard taco shells was a bad sign) was stale. The tomato and lettuce did not improve the situation; they made the stale shell into a soggy mess. I could continue describing the horrendous taco, however I will spare myself the memory. My hunger pushed me through to finish the taco, but not with pleasure.

And the guacamole was far from the proper shade of green.

DO NOT eat at Taco House. I do not know if they have any loyal customers, but I will not be one of them.

Perhaps the burritos are better? I do not care to try.

Surprisingly Disappointed

2009-08-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

Burrito Box
885 9th Avenue
New York, NY

I frequent Burrito Box on a regular basis. It's fast, (usually) delicious, and won't leave a huge dent in your wallet. I have been looking forward to my most recent trip to Burrito Box because I could finally blog about tacos I rely on. I walked by Burrito Box at 2pm (thinking I had missed the lunch crowd) and was shocked to see a line out the door. Unwilling to wait, I wandered around to build up my appetite and returned to a much calmer Burrito Box at 2:45. To veer away from my usual I ordered the chili con carne tacos, two tacos per order. Unfortunately, Burrito Box only has hard corn tortillas for their tacos (the only soft tortillas are flour). I've learned to live with the crispy taco shells because the filling is just so good, but yesterday was a different story.

I set myself up for a mediocre taco -- ordering something new, taking a risk, not sticking with what I know best. And I got what I deserved! The taco was....eh. Chili is a difficult taco filling because of the inherent slop factor and the added difficulty of a soggy taco shell did not make for a fun experience. I loved the hot sauces and the complimentary chips and salsa, but beyond that I could not finish the second taco. It is difficult to blame Burrito Box on my bad taco experience because I think my strategy, trying something new, was the problem.

I will return to Burrito Box. But I will most likely order the chicken tacos and stay clear of chili con carne.

Not Quite Tacos

2009-08-12T13:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am obsessed with tacos. But I also love all Mexican food, particularly because they seem to use the same ingredients rearranged in different ways to produce entirely different flavors. Also, the abundant use of corn (i.e. corn tortillas) makes it easy for me to eat gluten-free.

Empanada Mama
763 9th Avenue
New York, New York

As a counselor for Northwestern University's Project Wildcat, a new student pre-orientation outdoor program, I must be certified in CPR and First Aid. So yesterday, during my 45-minute lunch break from the Red Cross CPR/First Aid certification class, I wandered the somewhat familiar area of 9th Ave between 49th and 53rd looking for a good taco. Scared that the more I searched the less I would find, I ducked into Empanada Mama, a place packed with both businessmen and passersby. I grabbed to 'to-go' menu and although I did not find any tacos on the menu, I was delighted to find they had corn flour empanadas. Empanadas have always been "street food" to me, easy to eat, delicious, and probably not the healthiest option. I had not indulged in an empanada in months and the words "corn flour" made not ordering one feel like an atrocity. The chorizo empanada (Spanish sausage) sounded most enjoyable and daring (I now enjoy being daring with my food). In addition to empanadas, they also serve arepas, small corn cake/patties topped with a variety of ingredients. The shredded beef arepa was recommended to me by the cashier so I followed the suggestions and ordered a mint lemonade to wash it all down.

Unfortunately, due to the busy lunch crowd, I waited quite a while for my food. The tiny restaurant with a kitchen and bathroom shoved behind the numerous two-top tables, counter, and cashier seemed to be handling the national economic crisis very well. After the near 20 minute way for my lunch, I chose to eat an empanada the way I envisioned it -- on the street. Walking back to the CPR class I attempted to gracefully eat the chorizo empanada while dipping in the delicious red and green hot sauces. The grace was quickly abandoned and I thoroughly enjoyed the green hot sauce -- almost a spicy, cilantro pesto -- combined with the spicy sausage. I did not expect such a crispy outside to the empanada and, mostly for ease of eating, I would have preferred something softer (and maybe even sweeter, in juxtaposition with the spicy sausage).

The mint lemonade lacked the minty punch I was craving for, but the sweetness of the drink was on par. I was glad the actual taste of lemon juice was not overwhelmed by sweeteners. But I do not think I will order it again.

The beef arepa was the highlight of my lunch. It was like eating a Mexican Sloppy Joe. The beef was wet and saucy and the arepa "bun" provided the perfect dry compliment to the meet. The green hot sauce went ALL over the meat. I even double dipped -- combining the green and red sauces in one bite.

Although not quite tacos, the food was still good. I doubt I will become a regular, but it is great to know about when in the neighborhood.

Yet I still craved Mexican food...

El Centro
824 9th Avenue
New York, New York

My dad discovered this Cocina y Cantina Mexicana a few years back when we first moved into the neighborhood. Since then it had been my go-to for affordable, reliable, and incredible Mexican food in my 'hood. Yet with the newly established status as Taco Blogger I had not frequented my local. Around 8:30pm my dad and I made our way to El Centro and we were shocked to find that on a Tuesday night it was PACKED! For the first time in my El Centro enhance life, I waited at the bar for a table. Moments after the chips and salsa (with the perfect amount of appetizing heat) were set in front of us a table was ready.

Looking through the familiar menu I knew I wanted to try something new -- not my standard chicken chilaquiles or steak taco. The other tacos looked interesting, but the grilled shrimp chilaquiles jumped out at me. Chilaquiles, a discovery made at El Centro, are the Mexican casserole -- a combination of corn tortillas topped with avocado, pico de gallo, queso blanco, and crema fresca. Because I adored the ease of chilaquiles, the fact that everything was compiled in one bowl with no need for assembly before eating, it was easy to continue experimenting in my love affair with shrimp. To no surprise, I loved it! The mole negro sauce did not overpower and take away from the dish, it added a subtle (and unexpected) hint of cacao. I ate and ate until there was no more, and considering the hefty portions at El Centro, I surprised myself.

It will take a complete and utter fiasco to stop me from returning to El Centro. Just reminiscing on the experience makes me miss it. And not just the food! The decor is bright and fun -- light fixtures made from Corona bottles, tables with caps from different beers, metal trinkets lining the walls -- and the laid-back atmosphere makes it a place tolerable any night.
The picture accompanying this post is of my sister, Julia, at one of our first visits to El Centro. You get a feel for the decor.

Go to El Centro, you cannot go wrong.

Maybe you'll even find me there, too!

Taco Trio

2009-08-08T20:09:00.000-07:00

Boxcar Cantina

44 Old Field Point Road

Greenwich, CT

Saturday night in Larchmont, NY and I'm craving Mexican food.

My mom, sister and I decide to upgrade from our local taco stand to Boxcar Cantina, an authentic Northern New Mexican restaurant, in Greenwich (20 minutes outside Larchmont).

There were only two taco options on the menu, hard and soft tacos. To maintain continuity with my taco travels, I went for the soft tacos (requesting corn tortillas to keep it gluten-free). The soft taco plate came with three tacos--chicken, pork, and shrimp.

A quick side note -- a few weeks ago I never would have ordered such a dish. I did not like shrimp and pork gave me the heebeegeebees. However, in San Francisco, with Chase and his family, I discovered I indeed DO like shrimp and pork tacos can be quite enjoyable. So this soft taco plate fulfilled my love of tacos and my new food adventures.

Back to the tacos. I was skeptical at first, the tacos arrived with only one tortilla (as opposed to the double tortilla taco wrapping found at most restaurants/taco stands). I tasted shrimp first, adding black beans, Spanish rice, and pico de gallo on top of the shrimp and shredded cheese. Wow! The grilled shrimp with a Cajun-y spice kept the taco light and refreshing, a nice taste for a summer meal. Next stop, the chicken taco which was surprisingly disappointing. All in all it was tasty, but after the mouth-watering combination of flavors present in the shrimp taco, the chicken was bland. I stopped mid-way through in order to try #3, the pork taco. If someone told me that pork tasted like my mom's brisket, I'd have surrendered myself to pork years ago. The sweet pork was properly balanced with the flavor of rice and beans. My only complaint was the "wet" meat made for a messy taco, one that could have used a second tortilla to help control the overflow.

I was too full (and satisfied) to finish the pork and chicken tacos, but brought then home to finish as a late-night snack. Even after a few hours in the refrigerator, the tacos were great.

Beyond the tacos, the food at Boxcar Cantina is totally worth a trip to Greenwich. Those in the mood for authentic Mexican can satisfy their craving at Boxcar and it also appeals to the less adventurous Mexican cuisine eaters. Four stars in my book; I will certainly be back.

San Francisco Tacos

2009-08-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

Gordo Taqueria

1239 9th Ave

2252 Clement St

450 Geary Blvd

San Francisco, CA

While visiting my friend, Chase, in the Bay Area, I knew it was crucial to get a taste of West coast tacos. Unwilling to settle for just any taco, we crossed the Golden Gate bridge returning from our adventure in Marin and back in the city of San Francisco we ventured to Gordo Taqueria, a little taco shop nestled on a block of banks, Japanese restaurants and, of course, Starbucks.

Walking into Gordo you get the feeling of authenticity. The smell of beans, cheese, and deliciously cooked meat is overwhelming and your mouth starts watering. We waited on line for about 5 minutes observing the behind counter expertise of crafting a burrito for the patrons in front of us. Then our turn! Chase was more adventurous than I and ordered (in Spanish) un taco de carnitas tacos (pulled pork). For consistency purposes I went with pollo (chicken).

Then I learned what keeps people coming back to Gordo. On top of two warmed corn tortillas went black beans (or red, or refried depending on your preference), pico de gallo, a mound of meat, and sour cream. The tacos were muy gordos. As many taco lover know, eating such a full and fabulous taco can be quite messy; the team at Gordo has developed a great solution. The taco is wrapped in paper to its mid-point giving you adequate holding space and a little more control over the taco overflow. Although some chicken, beans and sour cream did escape my taco I could not complain (and personally, I think the runaway ingredients somehow taste better.)--the tortillas were soft, yet not soggy from the beans of pico de gallo, the chicken was succulent, and by the end I was full.

As my only San Francisco taco experience this argument is not well researched, however in comparison with the East coast tacos, the West coast knows what's up.

Although not a taqueria or Mexican restaurant by any means, we did also dine at Mission Beach Cafe at 198 Guerrero Street, and it is worth mentioning. If they had one in New York I'd eat there daily. While in the Bay Area try and grab a meal at Mission Beach Cafe and order the truffle fries -- an unforgettable experience.

New Paltz Tacos

2009-07-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

Mexi-Cali Blue
87 Main Street, New Paltz, NY

This little taco shop located in the heart of New Paltz on Main Street grabbed my attention with the catchy slogan "Fresh Fast Food. No Freezers, No Fryers, No Cans".

I had to try it.

Stopping in for an afternoon snack, my sister ordered a grilled steak taco and my mom and I settled for the traditional chicken taco. I stood at the counter watching the son of the owner (who'd attended culinary school) expertly grill juicy strips of steak and chicken. Next to the meat the BLUE corn tortillas were warming (the nomenclature of Mexi-Cali Blue thus revealed). Beyond the delicious taco, the real treat of Mexi-Cali Blue is the assortment of hot sauces available. Opt for the traditional Frank's Red Hot hot sauce, or venture into the world of mango, apricot and lime, jalepeno and black pepper, or even blackberry infused hot sauce to spice things up a little.

Great people, great food. I will definitely return.

Gaby's Cafe, Cocina Continental & Mexican Grill
150 Canal St., Ellenville, NY

Despite the tumbleweed rolling down the empty streets of Ellenville, NY on a Sunday afternoon, the lure of Mexican cuisine drew us into Gaby's Cafe. More of a small town Mexican joint than a cafe, Gaby's adequately satisfied our hunger. With the majority of the restaurant employees huddled around the TV to watch the US vs. Mexico soccer game, we were still promptly seated with complimentary tortilla chips and salsa. We ordered the table-side guacamole special and one order of chicken tacos (includes three tacos). The guacamole, although ordered spicy, was slightly too mild for our liking, but certainly packed a punch. The tacos were served already topped with pico de gallo and guacamole. We all agreed that the table-side guacamole was far better than the guac that came on the tacos (good thing we had some leftover!). Although the soft-corn tortillas did not compare to those of Mexi-Cali Blue (or even the store bought corn tortillas we use at home), the delicious white meat chicken still made for a good taco.

I don't think I'll be rushing back to Gaby's Cafe, but if you drive by, try it! Better hope that a soccer game is on because it creates a great atmosphere.

Discovery

2009-07-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

While traveling with my mother and sister in New Paltz, New York, I came across multiple venues that sold tacos. As a lover of all Mexican cuisine and a self-appointed taco connoisseur I felt it was my obligation to try the tacos at these new-found places. While feasting upon a delicious soft-corn tortilla chicken taco I decided to devote one of my (many) blogs to TACOS. So, now this blog, conveniently re-named BLOCHO's TACOS, will conveniently review my journey from taco to taco.

Vamos!

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2009-07-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

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2009-07-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

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