Mexican Bite by 2 Chicas de La Mission
Tania and Taigi, 2 chicas from San Francisco’s Mission district---a.k.a The Burrito Capitol of the World, had it tough in the 90's in New York City. It was practically impossible to find a half-way decent Mexican bite---forget burritos. Today, New York is bursting with Mexican food. The next food trend yes but don't all live up to the hype. Take it from these 2 Mission girls who set out to review every Mexican morsel they can get their lips on and the reviews won’t always be nice.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Brooklyn Taco Battle
Check these 3 chefs attempt to make the best fish taco w/ a twist...hmmm I don't think so. You judge for yourself. Click the link...
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Zefe's Mexican Restaurant on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn
I've been meaning to try Zefe's. The menu looked official. They open at noon on the week days. We were starved by the time the food came. It didn't take too long but it seemed like an eternity. We ordered family style so I got to try both dishes. I got something simple, 4 flautas ( 2 stuffed w/ potatoes & 2 stuffed w/ chicken) with rice, beans, and salad. The honey bunny ordered a more serious main dish---a little more riskier. He got the Camarones Al Mojo De Ajo (Shrimp w/ garlic sauce) with rice, beans, salad, and fries. Oh, to drink I got a fresh carrot juice and he got a Agua de Jamaica because they were out of the Agua de Tamarindo.
It was casero-style (homemade) food. Not great but they pulled it off. The rice was fluffy just how I like it. We really enjoyed the potato flautas, yummy. They didn't add Mexican cream on top like I imagined but they were still good. I will say, the deep-fried shredded chicken ones were not good at all. Neither was the shrimp in garlic sauce. The shrimp wasn't clean. We both agreed they tasted like they were fried in OLD recycled oil. The fries were from a frozen bag, nothing special. It wasn't super heavy though. It passed for an authentic basic flavor. The juice was super fresh and Jamaica drink was overly sweet.
There is a bunch more dishes we want to try. Maybe more simple dishes like tacos, sopes and sopas, huaraches, huevos con nopales (eggs w/ cactus), or their cemitas. There is alot of authentic dishes to try and since the rice and beans passed we'll find the right dishes for us---next time. Overall I'd order from them again.
Till next time,
MG
Brooklyn's Maya Taqueria on Vanderbilt Avenue
I was repulsed to say the least and within minutes of leaving the $3.00 taco behind, Rene' encouraged me with "Just give it a try. How bad could it be??" In shock the taco was drenched in orange sauce, I wiped away the offending chipotle' and ate the three shrimp, bite by dry bite. It was lesson in humilty to say the least, as it took everything to restrain from demanding a refund. I was two seconds away from offering to be the restaurant's "taco consultant," as I fancy myself a purveyor of fine Mexican food.
I've travelled through Mexico and grew up in the Misison, therefore I knew the offending item I'd been served was not a taco, but an imposter of sorts---a hybrid...If this taco were a leopard, it had no spots...it was like an eagle without talons, naked and strange. I didn't want my tortillas fried like corn chips, but I needed them soft, piled high with shrimp, and tomatoes, cilantro and sliced radishes. I wanted to fold the tortilla over myself and feel the drip of shrimp juice down my face...but instead, I got three pieces of overcooked shrimp, shoved between two tortillas with lettuce...and let's not forget the offending neon orange sauce.
The next day, I received an email from Rene' proudly proclaiming that Maya Taqueria had received 4 stars on Yelp.com. And while she may be right, surely none of those people grew up in the Mission...In my dreams, I close my eyes and see the El Tonayense taco truck on the corner of 15th and Harrison. I walk up and order two carne asada tacos and a grapefruit Peñafiel. For a moment, all is well in the world...but I am in Brooklyn...and this is just a dream.
Hasta Luego,
Mission Taj
Dish:
Freshness:
Authenticity:
Rice: DT
Beans: DT
Salsa:
Guacamole: DT
Ambiance:
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