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carsusan0-blog · 5 years ago

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A Healthy Hedonist’s Guide to Mexico City

Mexico City has been top of my travel wish list for some time.

It seemingly has everything: walls of crazy colors, vibrant vegetation on (and inside) every block, dirt cheap accommodations and uber rides, a thriving contemporary art scene, and ALL THE TACOS. Needless to say, when I got invited to a wedding in Guadalajara this fall, I made stopping in Mexico City an essential leg of the trip flanking the weekend of festivities.

If you’re visiting Mexico City as a gluten-free goddess like myself, you will have an epic few days of eating your way around the city. Since the cuisine is primarily reliant on corn, there are very few risks of cross-contamination, though if you have a sensitive immune system like me, it’s a high possibility that you will return home with some sort of critter, even if you stick to the fancy restaurants. It’s the price of admission!

Tummy troubles aside, I have no regrets. The street food around the city rivals the best restaurants, and it’s hard to resist sampling some of the region’s typical dishes straight from the “specialists.” Still, we also made it a point to tick off some of the most popular upscale eateries off our list, and those too did not disappoint.

A few things to note: though the city is much safer than it used to be, it’s still best to use uber versus taxis (again, they are insanely cheap) and not walk around alone at night in certain areas. We stayed at a lovely B&B in Condesa for under $100 a night. I’d highly recommend making that neighborhood or Roma your hub. Polanco is fancier, has less of a personality and isn’t as central.

Like Los Angeles, the city is quite spread out, but if you bring walking shoes you can still cover a lot on foot—most sites are about a 30 minute walk from Roma or Condesa (or a $4 uber).

As for the food scene, like most big cities, you can find great versions of any regional dish, but I’d recommend not leaving without trying chilaquiles for breakfast, tacos al pastor (Mexico City’s most famous taco), pozole rosso, and sangrita, a tomato-based drink that’s served alongside the best sipping tequilas to cleanse your palate. I could have drank a jug of it with every meal.

Rarely will you find a flour tortilla, which means less risk that there’s an issue with tortilla chips being thrown into the same fryer, but if you’re celiac, it’s still worth inquiring about cross-contamination and mole preparations, since it’s an everything but the kitchen sink sort of dish. I’d highly recommend, if you’re worried and don’t speak much Spanish, that you check out my friend Jodi’s gluten-free travel card for Mexico City and her travel guide for Mexico.

Read on for some of the best restaurants we ate at in Mexico City, sites and activities that shouldn’t be missed, and some other helpful recommendations I got before our trip, including where to find the best gluten-free and vegan options.

With health and hedonism,

Phoebe

THE BEST UPSCALE AND TRENDY RESTAURANTS IN MEXICO CITY

Pujol (Polanco)

If you’ve sought out restaurant recs from any gringa “foodie,” Enrique Olvera’s world-renowned spot for artistic tacos was probably top of the list. He was featured on Chef’s Table a few seasons back, and like my globe-stalking of this Slovenian star, I knew that I needed to add Mexico City to my travel list just to taste his 1,000 day mole. The restaurant lived up to the hype and may just be one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. It’s especially enticing for gluten-free folks since you’re able to eat 95 percent of the menu (save for dessert).

Reservations need to me made a month or so out for the Taco Omakase or the Tasting Menu. We did the latter, which I was kind of bummed about because the concept of 10 courses of tacos might be my dream, but it ended up blowing my mind. Chef Olvera’s food is pristine, but unfussy. Surprising, yet comforting. It’s exactly what you didn’t know you wanted to be eating.

Our favorite dishes were the octopus, softshell crab, quail egg papadzul, and all the street snacks. Also, order the tamarind margarita and thank me later.

Contramar (Roma)

This daytime seafood spot, with waiters toting giant clams and crab claws, feels like you stepped off the wrong plane and ended up in Miami. It was described to me as where the Mexi Mad Men go for their power lunches, and I was so into this idea, and the tuna tostadas included in it, that I went not once, but TWICE during my stay.

In addition to the atun, you should also try the crab tostadas, fish al pastor tacos, and if you have enough people, the whole fish with green and red salsa, which comes with a basket of warm tortillas. Everything is incredibly fresh and expertly cooked. They also served one of the best sangritas (little shot of bloody Mary-like mix that’s served alongside sipping tequila) that I tried in Mexico.

Paramo (Roma)

If you’re in Mexico City on a Sunday, make a reservation at this cozy, Mexican speak-easy, which is one of the few places on our hit list that was open that night. It’s a fun, lively crowd – a mix of locals and tourists – and between the exposed brick and twinkle lights strung along the ceiling, feels like somewhere in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The service is a little slow, but luckily the delicious cocktails will keep you entertained. It’s a great spot to take a group since you can order any of the tacos as cazuelas—larger casseroles of the filling that you can share and DIY in your own warm tortillas.

Rosetta (Roma)

I know, I know. You didn’t come all the way to Mexico City for Italian food. But if you’re looking for an escape from the parade of tacos, Rosetta has a charming ambience that’s very much of the city: a candle-lit interior that’s covered in plants, including trees that are taller than most on the exterior sidewalk. They have plenty of vegetarian options, among them a mean mushroom risotto and a delicious beet appetizer with pink mole. Make sure to make reservations in advance, or try going for lunch when it’s easier to walk in.

THE BEST CASUAL RESTAURANTS AND TAQUERIAS FOR LUNCH AND BREAKFAST

Fonda Mayora (Condesa)

We ate at this little breakfast spot in the Condesa / Hipodromo neighborhood on our last morning before leaving for the airport. They had a great chilaquiles and rancheros, along with plenty of other options. If you have a stomach of steel, you can even try the green juice!

Lardo (Condesa)

A sister restaurant to Rosetta, this chic daytime cafe strikes a great balance between Mexican influences and more familiar dishes. For breakfast, the black rice porridge with mango is delicious, as well as the poached eggs in red sauce. They also serve an assortment of teas and homemade nut milks for your coffee. The interior is beautiful and I almost attempted to steal one of the stools and bring it back in my carry on.

Los Creadores Del Taco al Pastor (Condesa)

We mostly ate our tacos on the street in Mexico City, but after missing out on the city’s most famous taco—al pastor—we decided to pop into this taqueria that pretty much serves only that…since they claim the invented it. I’m sure Eater has sussed out the best al pastor (a shawarma-style pork with slices of pineapple) in the city, and that this is not it. But we couldn’t tell! I loved every bite of these juicy little guys, especially with the salsa and pickled vegetables served on the side.

La Clandestina

This mezcal bar was a great place to stop before or after dinner if you want a chill place to have one more sip of smoky libations. It’s in Condesa, right near many of these restaurants. I loved the spicy margarita, and a friend of mine ordered an interesting one with avocado and basil!

OTHER EATERY AND BAR RECOMMENDATIONS

We didn’t make it to even a fraction of the recommendations on our list. Here are some more in the same area that we want to try next time:

San Angel Inn — In the south of the city, which is why we didn’t make it, but incredibly charming for lunch in their courtyard among MXC elite. Very romantic!

Lalo – Another great breakfast spot similar to Lardo.

Masala y Maiz – In a slightly more far flung neighborhood near Casa Barragon. We were told to go for lunch and check out the cool interior and cuisine, which is Indian meets Mexican!

Azul – A spot for healthier Mexican favorites with great veggie enchiladas.

La Buena Tierra – Another veg-centric place for vegetarian options.

Tacos Veganas – A completely vegan taco place in Condesa!

Marrakech Salon – Sweaty silly fun drag bar, Mexican queens singing in Spanish standing on top of the bar in sequin dresses…on my list for next time.

COOL STORES WE VISITED

Goodbye Folk

If you’re into vintage finds or custom shoes, you should definitely stop in this little shop that sources great hipster shirts and sweaters, and also locally-made leather shoes and boots. It’s not too far from Rosetta and Arena Mexico if you need somewhere to stop on your walk to either.

Onora

In the upscale neighborhood of Polanco, this home store is small but packs in a lot of beautiful, artisan finds. If I wasn’t going straight to dinner at Pujol, I would have walked out of there with an entire dinner set and pile of linen napkins.

Lago DF

Also in Polanco, this trendy boutique has lots of local clothing designers if you’re looking for a chic caftan. They also have some vibrantly colored tequila glasses and other home goods.

THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MEXICO CITY

The Best Markets of Mexico City

One of the most fun things to do is eat your way around some of the various markets. San Juan is the largest, and you can find a few tours during the day or at night through Eat Mexico if you want to really cover a lot of territory. A friend of ours raved about the nighttime taco tour. Mercado Medellin near Roma is a smaller indoor market but much more of a local’s affair. It’s a great place to pick up some dried chiles to take home with you or sample al pastor tacos. Mercado Roma is a more upscale hub of food stalls from restaurants around the city – similar to Chelsea Market in New York. They have an outpost for La Otilia, a gluten-free bakery! I didn’t love their cookies, but it’s a good option if you’re craving a sweet. Mercado de Artesanias is the craft market that is overflowing with finds. Great as a weekend activity if you like to shop and want to find some incredibly affordable wares.

Casa Barragon

This is the home of the most famous architect in Mexico, and definitely worth a visit. Tours book up months in advance, but if you are willing to risk it, I’d recommend just showing up early and hoping that the people there take pity on you, as they did us! The hallmark of his designs is that you can’t tell what kind of colorful treasures reside on the interior. This was one of the highlights of our trip.

Arena Mexico / Luncha Libre

If you’re skeptical of the magic that is Mexican wrestling due to the mediocrity of the movie Nacho Libre, please keep an open mind. This was the most fun thing we did in Mexico City and I am still giggling thinking about it. You will be surrounded by locals drinking, booing, cheering, you know…telling the wrestlers to go F themselves. It’s a rip roaring good time, especially on a Sunday afternoon in between meals. The stadium is small, so you really can’t go wrong with your seat, but I would recommend facing the side of the arena where the players walk out. The Luncha Libre show is on Tuesdays and Weekends. You can buy tickets at the booth right before the show – they don’t really sell out. Just try to avoid the annoying scalpers outside, who can be quite aggressive.

National Museum of Anthropology

We were told that this was a museum not to be missed, but honestly, we were a little lukewarm on it. If you like antiquities, old pots and the like, you will have a great time. It’s vast and very well organized. The building is also very cool. We were probably too hungover to fully appreciate it. It was also a Sunday, when tickets were free, and it was a zoo.

Xochimilco

My biggest regret is not making it to the floating canals on the outskirts of the city. As we learned at the Anthropology museum, Mexico City used to resemble Venice when it was first settled, meaning most of the city was built on the bottom of a lake bed that once housed a complex system of canals and waterways. Xochimilco is what’s left from that period. It’s a fun place to ride around in colorful, very instagrammable “gondolas.”

I was only in Mexico City for a weekend and was mostly interested in eating, so there are many sites that I didn’t get too. Also keep in mind that Mexico City has a great contemporary art scene (most of which Charlie has already done a million times) and many museums worth visiting.

Have you been to Mexico City? Tell me your favorite restaurants and sites! I will add them to the reader rec section and also to my to-do list for next time I go down there.

Source: https://feedmephoebe.com/a-healthy-hedonists-guide-to-mexico-city/

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

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clickwish2-blog · 6 years ago

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Taco Tuesday Problems: So Many Tacos, So Little Time

If there’s one cuisine we could never live without, it’s Mexican. A strong statement, we realize, but tacos are a perfect food, and so we celebrate Taco Tuesday extra-hard. You have two options: Peruse the rankings of our favorite tacos and be inspired, or scroll through our favorite taco recipes of all time and take it from there.

Recipe: Tacos Al Pastor On The Grill

Tacos al pastor translates to “tacos in the style of the shepherd.” The spit-roasted pork found its way to Mexico via Lebanese immigrants and their shawarma. To that end, real al pastor is made on a giant vertical spit the same way that lamb on your doner kebab or gyro is cooked.

Recipe: Spicy Roasted Cauliflower Tacos

Make the chipotle sauce with sun “cheese” and skip the honey to make this vegan.

Shield your eyes before you look at Empellòn chef Alex Stupak’s uni-on-uni taco, for it is totally glorious.

Recipe: Empellón-Grade Sea Urchin Guacamole Tacos

This taco was born out of a shared opinion among my cooks and friends that a tortilla is as worthy of precious ingredients as any piece of Raynaud china. When I thought about making a sea urchin taco, I knew that working it into guacamole would magnify the briny sweetness the spiky creature is known for — the fat in an avocado can help stretch and carry flavors just like a knob of butter.

Migas tacos: fuel for mornings in Austin. Here’s a recipe to get you going!

Recipe: Migas Tacos

Tacos filled with bacon and potatoes are popular, but we loved this one, which is twice as local, seeing as it’s inspired by another Tex-Mex dish: migas, a scramble of eggs, tortilla chips or strips, and toppings.

You’ve been craving pork belly tacos for longer than you’re willing to admit. Go for it!

Recipe: Fried Pork Belly Tacos With Pipián Sauce

I had never cooked pork belly myself when I asked Gonzalo to help me come up with a pork belly taco for the Copita menu. Rich and creamy with a crisp, crackling exterior, his creation blew me away. With a tomatillo-laced, nutty pipián sauce and pickled red onions on top, this taco can only be described as out of this world.

Recipe: Catfish Tacos With Charred Corn

Bailey Spaulding, brewmaster and cofounder of Jackalope Brewing Company, and her fiancé, chef Luke Williams, often cook together at home to make dishes like this one. Pair Williams’s recipe for tacos with Spaulding’s Jackalope Bearwalker, a maple brown ale.

No soggy bits allowed! (Photo: Helene Dujardin.)

Recipe: Fried Okra Tacos

A sprinkling of sugar in the cornmeal coating caramelizes as the okra cooks, creating a crisp, golden crust.

Beer-infused tacos to delight your vegetarian friends.

Recipe: Arrogant Bastard Ale Avocado Tacos

Vegetarian tacos are a great alternative to meat-laden variations, and all the fresh ingredients in this recipe really bring a pop of flavor. If frying is not your thing, the avocados can be served fresh. Accompany the tacos with black beans, Spanish-style rice, and an American strong ale like Arrogant Bastard Ale, which has a smack of hop bitterness.

Keep it light and meatless with these mushroom tacos.

Recipe: Grilled Portobello Mushroom Tacos

Mushroom tacos are perfect for the food lover who wants a good taco but doesn’t eat meat. Grilling the mushrooms over live mesquite will give you optimum flavor. The portobello should be grilled through but still have some bite to create different layers of texture. Carnivore or not, you will love this taco.

Paul Qui doesn’t mess around when it comes to breakfast tacos. (Photo: Joel Salcido and Dennis Burnett.)

Recipe: Paul Qui’s Breakfast Tacos

“The breakfast taco was a college staple for [us],” says Qui’s former marketing director Deana Saukam. “It’s cheap, fast and satisfying. Another favorite breakfast taco is anything from El Primo. Pete’s Tantalizing Tacos from Maudie’s are pretty delicious, too.”

This post has been updated from an earlier version.

Source: http://www.foodrepublic.com/2018/08/13/tortilla-time-our-favorite-recipes-for-national-taco-day/

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colleenwomack · 5 years ago

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An Austin, TX Taco Tour

Tacos. The great debate amongst every major city in Texas. Some may say that San Antonio laps up when it comes to street tacos. Some say the only place to get authentic grub is near the border. But recently, Austin has been flooded with little food trucks and trailers that claim to have the best tacos around. I decided to test these places out myself to answer the life-long question: who has the best, most authentic street tacos in Austin?

Now, I haven’t lived in Austin all that long, and I’m really not that cool, so I definitely didn’t find all these places on my own. In fact, I turned to my many friends in the service industry to give me their top five best mom-and-pop taco shops in ATX. I recruited my (mostly) vegan roommate Madison as my side-kick for the day and headed out on a beautiful, sunny, 75-degree Wednesday.

Starting off the list at #5 is Taco More on Riverside.

Taco More was the last stop on our taco tour. By the time we got there it was about 4pm and we were exhausted and stuffed. I was actually so done with the day that I forgot to take a photo of both the tacos and the restaurant (no hard feelings please). It is located about a stone’s throw from Rosita’s Al Pastor, which you’ll read about below. It’s also a sit-down restaurant, which was a different vibe from the other places on this tour. I got a carnitas taco, and Madison got an egg and cactus taco. They cost about $5 all together. The tacos overall were pretty good. The pork was a little too fatty in my opinion and needed some spice, but they’d do the trick if I was really in need.

Overall 4.5/10, however, I might have to give em another shot to be completely sure.

#4 on the list is El Primo on South 1st.

This is a very tiny food truck located in the parking lot of a little bodega. It had one griddle and a couple of picnic tables. If you’re planning to go here, keep in mind that it is a cash-only establishment. They have a selection of breakfast tacos and a few classic street taco options. Madison got a bean and egg on corn, and I decided to try the barbacoa, which totalled to be about $4. Madison’s taco has crispy cheese from the stove which was a nice departure from your typical breakfast taco. My barbacoa wasn’t super flavorful but it was fall-apart tender, and the salsa verde was absolutely fire.

El Primo scored a 5.5/10 in comparison to the others, but if I lived across the street, I would be a regular.

Holding the #3 spot on the list is Papalote on Lamar.

Papalote was Madison’s favorite of the day because they had so many vegan options. The menu is expansive, which allows for a wider customer base. It was the priciest stop of the tour, totalling out to be around $7. Madison got a cauliflower taco that had cabbage slaw, cotija cheese, and avocado. It was well-marinated and had lots of great texture which is what made it such a fun and interesting bite. I got the al pastor taco which had a lot of great flavor. It wasn’t too fatty and was perfectly cooked. Our only complaint was the texture of the tortilla, which was a little tough and dry. Salsa verde slapped. High recommendation.

We give Papalote a 7/10 for their interesting selection and great flavor.

Rosita’s Al Pastor on Riverside takes #2 on the list.

This place has a little cult following south of the river. The line was super long, and as our first spot on the tour, it was a slow start. But let me tell you, the tacos were worth the wait. I got a barbacoa taco, and Madison got their veggie taco. It cost us $5.50. The tacos came as any good street taco should: on a foam plate wrapped in tin foil and put in a plastic bag. Mine had incredible flavor, and was super tender. The salsa verde was the best we had all day. Madison liked her taco but thought that the fajita veggies were a little bit on the greasy side. The tortillas were soft, but not falling apart, and the garnishes were super fresh. My favorite part was just how much food they really crammed into the tacos. They were literally overflowing onto the plate. It was a very strong start to the tour.

Rosita has earned a 8.5/10 from us.

The coveted #1 spot on Colleen and Madison’s taco tour of Austin belongs to Las Trancas on E Cesar Chavez.

This place was hands-down our favorite of the day. To start off, the truck has a cute lot outside with bright blue picnic tables and a little deck. The weather was so beautiful, that sitting out there felt like an absolute dream. I got an al pastor taco, and Madison got a veggie taco with refried beans and fresh avocado. The tortillas were our favorite at Las Trancas because they were soft but a little bit crispy on the edges which made for a more interesting texture. The al pastor was literally perfectly marinated. It was spicy and tender and sweet. Madison couldn’t believe how fresh all the veggies were. This was our second stop, and we wondered if we should just cancel the rest of the tour because we found our faves already. I can’t recommend this place enough. And if you go, definitely get a fruit punch Jarritos because it will not disappoint.

Las Trancas was a 9.5/10 and #1 in our hearts.

#austin #austin tx #atx #tacos #taco tour #taco review #food blog #food porn #food review

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charllieeldridge · 5 years ago

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10 Best Countries For Food: A Travel Guide for Foodies

As foodies, finding the countries with the best food has been our mission for the past 12 years. Ever since we landed in Bangkok and had our first spicy Thai curry and pad Thai on the street, we were hooked. Since then, we’ve spent our time travelling searching for the best countries for food.

We’ve eaten at Michelin-starred restaurants and from the back of food trucks. We’ve met chefs and street food vendors. We’ve taken food tours in pretty much every country we’ve visited and we’ve formed an obsession with food.

While we’re on the road, we’re always waiting for our next meal. Sometimes, when we’re travelling in a country with one of the best cuisines in the world, we wish that we would never get full so we could keep sampling the incredible dishes!

Food has long been one of the best ways to understand the culture. The dinner table is where customs are born. Where friends, families and lovers meet to create memories. Many religions revolve around food, with the Gods appreciating food offerings.

Food is the best way to truly glimpse a nation’s soul and having the opportunity to eat with local people and share their cuisine is a very personal and honourable experience.

If you’re like us and you love to travel and eat, then you’ll love this post. I’ve put together our top 10 countries for food, as well as our favourite dishes from each so that you can plan your foodie travels in 2020.

Here it goes, the 10 best countries for food!

India

Just thinking about the aromas of a spicy Indian curry gets my mouth watering. Pair that with the incredible variety of bread and ancient cooking methods and you have one of the most mouthwatering cuisines on the planet.

India easily makes this list of the countries with the best food because it’s easily one of the most internationally eaten and best cuisines in the world.

Few other ethnic foods have infiltrated the prized spot of a national dish, but the Chicken Tikka Masala (although not strictly Indian) has found that honour in England. But there’s much more to Indian cuisine than tandoori chicken and tomato-based curries.

Flaky paratha bread, fluffy pav baji buns with curry, fragrant biryanis, spicy rogan josh, crispy panipuri and a seemingly infinite array of sweets, Indian cuisine is a neverending journey into the history, culture, traditions and religion of one the most fascinating countries for travellers.

One of the best parts of Indian food is the price. If you’ve had it in your home country, you’d be forgiven for questioning this statement. In the west, Indian food can be as pricy as a steak meal, but in India, it’s not. In India, you can entire meals on the street for under 50 cents.

You can sit down for an all-you-can-eat thali for less than $1.50. You enjoy delicious fresh-squeezed lime juice and belly soothing lassis (yoghurt milkshakes) for as little as 25 cents. India is also one of the cheapest countries you can travel to.

Our Favourite Indian Dishes

I’ve already listed a few incredible Indian dishes, but many of those have been of the meat variety. I myself love a good meat dish, but in India, Dariece and I both go fully vegetarian (there are numerous vegan options as well). As a bonified omnivore, I think this speaks volumes about the quality of vegetarian Indian cuisine.

This is after all the country with the largest vegetarian population on earth and not just because they have over 1 billion people. 40% of Indians are vegetarian and if you see the vast pages of recipes on the menus at vegetarian restaurants in India, you’ll see why.

Apart from the numerous types of curries you can sample, here are some must-try dishes in India.

Masala Dosa: A crispy, flakey and addicting rice and chickpea crepe stuffed with a potato and onion curry, served with a spicy sambar and a coconut chutney, the masala dosa is our favourite South Indian dish by far.

Generally served on a large metal plate, you can usually pick one of these up for under $1 and they are filling enough to constitute a meal. They’re also fun to watch being made as the skilled cooks evenly spread the mixture over a hot circular plate.

Idli and Vada: These are actually two separate snacks typically served around breakfast time. One is a crispy chickpea doughnut (vada) while the other is an impossibly fluffy, soft steamed fermented rice cake (idli).

Both are typically served with sambal and chutney which varies regionally. Sometimes the countries with the best food also have the best breakfast food.

Malai Kofta: India’s answer to meatballs in sauce, Malai kofta is a delicious and decadent dish made of potato & paneer balls that are drenched in a smooth, rich & creamy onion and tomato gravy.

Malai means cream and kofta means balls, so the name isn’t actually that original, but the flavour is amazing. This is a common dish that you’ll find on many menus while travelling in India.

Mexico

The only cuisine in the world to be named by Unesco as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, Mexican food is as diverse as it is spicy and Mexico easily has one of the best cuisines in the world.

Much more than tacos and quesadillas, the food here varies from region to region, but it’s always delicious. Dating back over 9,000 years, this is also one of the oldest food cultures in the world.

Much of the cuisine is influenced by a melding of indigenous cultures and Spanish colonization, but also from their northerly neighbour, the United States.

In fact, food like burritos, chimichangas, taco salad, fajitas and even the famous “Mexican” cocktail, the Margarita, were all invented in the US. But Mexico doesn’t need those dishes to retain its title as one of the best countries for food.

It has rich, luxurious moles and fluffy tamales of the Yucatan, the historic “tacos al pastor” that find roots in Lebanon, and mouthwatering breakfast specialities like chilaquiles, huevos rancheros and mollettes. Travelling in Mexico is a food-lover’s dream.

From Michelin-starred chefs to world-renowned street cooks and even the old grandma at the hole in the wall restaurant that nobody knows about. Mexicans are passionate about their food and they know how to rock your tastebuds with their cuisine.

Our Favourite Mexican Dishes

I’ve already listed most of our favourites, but there are thousands of great dishes in Mexico. We’ve spent over 5 months travelling the country so far and we’re still finding new food to try every time we return. Eating is one of the best things to do in Mexico!

Ceviche: With over 9,300 kilometres of coastline, it’s no surprise that Mexican cuisine features a lot of fresh seafood. There are plenty of amazing dishes to get on the coast, but the ceviche in Mexico is phenomenal.

Small chunks of fish mixed with diced chillies and onions and sprinkled with salt and a tart blast of lime, Mexican ceviche is one of the best in the world.

Tacos El Pastor: When immigrants came to Mexico from Lebanon and Syria in the 1920s, they ended up bringing with them what is now one of Mexico’s most iconic dishes. Tacos El Pastor takes a page from the famous shwarma of the Middle East.

A giant vertical pork rotisserie crisps on the outside before being shaved into thin strips and placed on a corn tortilla with a variety of toppings. You can find Tacos El Pastor all over the country, but one of the best places is in Puerto Vallarta.

Cochinita Pibil: A Yucatan speciality consisting of pulled pork shoulder braised and marinated in an achiote paste, orange juice, and lime mixture and then traditionally cooked underground wrapped in banana leaves inside of a “pib”.

The pit-roasted final product is moist, juicy and packs all of the flavours of the other ingredients that were buried with the pork under the earth. The meat is then typically placed on… you guessed it, a corn tortilla. If you have the chance to take part in a Pib cookout as we did in the Yucatan, don’t miss it.

Italy

I’m actually writing this post from our temporary home in Rome, so it’s quite easy to bang out a few hundred words about the incredibly naughty and indulgent cuisine that is Italian.

After spending nearly 2 months in total travelling around this country and having done 6 different cooking classes/food experiences, we have a pretty good idea about the food here, but we still have so much to learn.

Italian food is so much more than pasta and pizza, although both are done better here than anywhere else in the world. Italian cuisine is all about simplicity and the quality of the ingredients.

Where a North American spaghetti recipe might have 20 ingredients (and erroneously added meatballs which Italians don’t do), the Italian equivalent likely has less than 5. This level of simplicity is what makes Italy one of the top countries for food.

What makes Italian food so fascinating is the passion that the people have for it. Italians are perhaps the most skilled at loving life and this enormous gratitude for the world around them is reflected in their food.

Simple, fresh and bursting with flavour, Italian food is one of the main reasons that people choose to travel to this country. As far as countries with the best food are concerned, Italy could battle most and win with a glass of wine in one hand.

Our Favourite Italian Dishes

Abbacchio Alla Romana: Roman-style roast lamb is one of the best examples of Italian food that’s outside of the pasta and pizza realm.

Incredibly juicy lamb braised and roasted to give it a crispy skin and a fall off the bone interior, served on a bed of potatoes and rocket that has soaked up the juices of the meat, this is probably the best Italian dish I’ve ever eaten.

Bucatini all’ Amatriciana: We first had this during a cooking class in Rome and ever since we’ve been hooked.

Bucatini is the pasta and it’s a hollow, spaghetti-like noodle made from durum wheat flour, while the Amatriciana is the sauce, which takes its spiciness from black pepper and dried chiles and its depth of flavour from guanciale (Italian salt-cured pork jowl). It’s rich, luscious and oh so delicious.

Pizza: It would be a sad trip to Italy without at least trying a pizza. It’s very different from a Chicago deep dish or a New York-style pizza, but similar to other Italian dishes when it comes to simplicity and freshness of the ingredients. Italian pizza is on a whole other level, particularly those found in the pizza capital of the world, Naples.

Bistecca Alla Fiorentina: You’ll have to go to Florence to get the Florentine Steak done right, but don’t expect the chef to ask how you want it done. There’s only one way to cook a steak in this part of Italy — rare.

The steak is typically a high cut of either veal or heifer that has been aged in a cool room for at least 2 weeks before it is cooked directly on the embers or on a grill.

This succulent dish has long been the most popular meal in Florence and it is one that even Italians will travel to the city to try. In my opinion, it’s best served with a carafe of red wine (even if you’re having it for lunch).

China

The food in China is one of the best cuisines in the world. If you’ve ever experienced the diversity and regionality of the country’s authentic dishes (Cantonese, Shandong, Jiangsu and Sichuan, to name a few), you’ll realize how far the real deal is from its North American Chinese takeaway counterpart. It’s almost unrecognizable.

China is unique in that it’s one of the best countries for food and yet, people who haven’t been there hardly know what Chinese cuisine really is.

Anyone who has been to China will quickly notice that there’s a complete lack of chow mein, sweet and sour pork and fortune cookies. These were all adaptations made by Chinese chefs in foreign countries to make their dishes more palatable for western tastes.

While this was a genius business decision, it was detrimental to the West’s understanding of how amazing Chinese food can be.

While not all Chinese food will be to your taste (even the most adventurous travellers might still steer clear of giant centipedes on a stick or thousand-year-old eggs), there are plenty of amazing dishes to try in this incredibly fascinating country.

Our Favourite Chinese Dishes

Guo Bao Rou: I realize there’s irony in me saying that the Western-version of Chinese food is unauthentic and then listing Dong Bei’s regional “sweet and sour pork” as my first dish in China, but it’s so much different than its American counterpart, believe me!

This is a much more delicate and sophisticated version of the dish. It has a light, crispy batter coating a soft, yet toothsome twice-cooked pork modestly drizzled with a sweet honey and ginger sauce and served with a sprinkling of green onion on top. In the year we spent living in China, I probably had this dish more than 50 times.

Sichuan Hot Pot: More a cooking method rather than an actual dish, having a hot pot in the Sichuan province of China is an experience in itself. The piping hot broth is kept simmering in the center of the table while raw ingredients like thinly sliced meat, leaf vegetables, mushrooms, vermicelli, potatoes, egg dumplings, tofu and seafood are dunked into the soup to cook.

The cooked items of the hot pot are then typically dipped in an additional spicy sauce for added flavour.

Soup Dumplings: These are without a doubt our favourite Chinese finger food and when we go to a soup dumpling restaurant, whether in China or in a foreign country, we always eat them until we’re so full that we can barely stand up.

That’s just how delicious they are! Called Xiaolongbao, these dumplings are from the Jiangsu province of China (where we lived) and are usually filled with pork.

A cube of gelatinized fat and broth is added inside the rolled dumpling so that when it is steamed the gelatin melts and turns into soup with the pork inside. I don’t think I need to say more. Delicious!

Liangpi Noodle: This cold noodle dish hails from the Shaanxi Province, but is found all over western and northwestern China. We enjoyed this dish many times in Yangzhou, where we lived when we were teaching English for a year.

You’ll usually find it as a street food meal and it’s excellent for hot days. Liangpi literally means “cold skin” and is doused in delicious chilli and sesame oil sauce and topped with thinly sliced cucumbers, sesame seeds, coriander and fresh chilli.

Thailand

Since our first backpacking trip in 2008, we’ve been hooked on Thai food. It’s light, healthy, spicy, salty, sweet and incredibly delicious.

Unfortunately, when travelling around Thailand, much of the food has been diluted by an influx of tourism and western tastes. On the islands, in particular, it’s hard to find a real authentic Thai meal. They remove the spice and with it goes the soul of the dish.

In Bangkok however, it’s easy to find amazing Thai food. Head to restaurants like Northeast in Baan Nual or in local markets like Khlong Toei or Wang Lang and see what authentic cheap Thai food tastes like.

Or step the budget up a bit and see what the evolution of modern Thai cuisine has created at one of the 176+ Michelin-starred restaurants in the city.

Thai food, when done right, is easily one of the most satisfying cuisines on this list and Thailand itself is definitely one of the best countries for food in my opinion.

Our Favourite Thai Dishes

Thai food has quickly become one of the most popular international cuisines and you can find a Thai restaurant in pretty much every country, so it’s not surprising that some of our favourite dishes are the most well-known. When visiting Thailand, eating is one of the top things to do…enjoy!

Pad Thai: Okay, I couldn’t’ help it. Pad Thai exemplifies the true core of what makes Thai cuisine so amazing. Salty, sweet, spicy and sour, it has all the tastes covered. With bean sprouts, peanuts, chives and lime squeezed on top, it’s easy to see why this is Thailand’s most famous dish.

You can get it with tofu on the street for under $1, or you can have it with prawns and chicken in a fancy restaurant for upwards of $10. No matter what, if this dish is prepared properly and ticks all of the flavour boxes, it will knock your socks off.

Massaman Curry: This rich, but surprisingly mild south Thai curry actually finds its roots in Thailand’s Muslim community. Today you can find the dish all over the country and it’s definitely one of the most filling meals you can have in Thailand.

Typically made with chicken and potato, it’s as much a hearty stew as it is a curry. The subtle flavours of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cumin, bay leaves, nutmeg and mace, give the dish a unique, distinctively un-Thai flavour that is refreshing when travelling around the country eating nothing but Thai food for weeks on end.

Tom Yum Goong: This spicy Thai soup with shrimp is another classic. Pretty much everyone knows about Tom Yum soup, but to have a properly prepared bowl of it in Thailand is a spiritual experience in itself.

I’m not much of a soup guy normally, but give me a steaming bowl of Tom Yum with shrimp set in a spicy broth of tomatoes, lemongrass, galangal, chillies, kaffir lime leaves and onions and I’m set.

This is one of Thailand’s best dishes and again takes advantage of combining spicy, sweet, salty and sour flavours to create something magical.

Greece

Mediterranean food, in general, is easily one of the best cuisines in the world, but the Greeks do it best I think. From the amazing array of seafood meals to the Middle Eastern-inspired dishes like Gyros, Greek food is a culinary culmination of its neighbours and by mixing and melding the cultures, cuisines and ingredients, Greece has somehow come out on top.

Bright citruses, world-class olives and olive oils, fresh fish, fantastic bread and a seemingly endless list of herbs has given Greece a historical leg up on many other cuisines around the world. Considering the food has a history of over 4,000 years, it’s no surprise that they’ve completely perfected many of their dishes.

If you’ve ever travelled in Greece, you’ll know that you won’t go hungry. Even if you’re here on a budget, it seems that Greek chefs won’t let you leave a restaurant after only finishing the main course.

If you don’t order an appetizer and dessert, they’ll probably give you one for free. They are as passionate about their food as the Italians and are feeders, so get ready to eat.

Greek people are also amongst the most hospitable that we’ve met in our travels and their social life seems to revolve around food. If you have a chance to join a family lunch or dinner with a group of Greek friends, don’t miss it.

Free pouring wine, heaping portions of food, laughter and good chats are what travelling in Greece is all about.

Our Favourite Greek Dishes

After travelling in Greece for nearly 2 months in total, we’ve completely fallen in love with the country, for its people, its cuisine, its culture, its history and its architecture. There are so many amazing places to visit, and dishes to try.

We’ve had the opportunity to have a few meals with friends and families in Greece and they’ve remained some of our most memorable foodie experiences.

Appetizers: I know this is the first time I’ve listed a course as a favourite dish in this post, but the starters in Greece are just so varied and delicious that I couldn’t possibly list them all as separate meals.

Just make sure you don’t miss dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), tzatziki, feta cheese, bread and olive oil, greek yoghurt, Greek salad, olives, spanakopita, strapatsada, and keftedakia (Greek meatballs).

Souvlaki: I’m keeping it pretty standard here, but souvlaki is definitely one of the best dishes to try, particularly if you’re on a budget. Delicious skewers of spiced chicken, beef, pork or lamb are placed on thick, fluffy pita bread and served with a side of french fries, some tzatziki sauce and a slice of lemon.

Gyros: I had to include another Greek classic that’s easy on the budget. Gyros, like tacos al pastor in Mexico, find their roots in the Middle East and are the typical rotating shaved meat (usually pork or chicken).

In Greece, they are placed on thick pita bread and filled with tomato, onion, tzatziki sauce and oftentimes french fries.

France

Yes, we finally visited France and can now comment on French cuisine! The holy grail of cooking techniques and what all modern chefs seem to be trained in, French Cuisine has been influenced over the years by Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Italy, but at the core, it is undeniably French.

Centuries of perfecting specific preparation methods have made this one of the most influential cuisines in the world.

It’s this iconic historical reverence that has solidified France’s position on pretty much every list of the best countries for food in the world and travelling to culinary capitals like Paris is a foodie’s dream.

While it has a reputation for being pretentious, when you’re travelling in France and even in Paris you’ll find that there are many casual French bistros that offer incredible food with generous portion sizes at affordable prices.

While the sauces, meats and vegetable preparations are enough to get anyone’s mouth-watering, don’t forget the incredible variety of cheese, bread and wine found in France!

If you’re travelling in the country, get ready to go on a foodie adventure through some of the most regional and diverse dishes found anywhere.

Our Favourite French Dishes

A few of these are dishes that sound expensive to foreigners, but we actually found them quite affordable when we were travelling in Paris.

Duck Confit: Tasting this dish in Paris actually converted Dariece to a lover of duck. In a true, traditional duck confit, every part of the duck must be used to complete the dish.

The method of cooking a proper confit is a centuries-old technique of preserving the meat through a salt curing process and then cooking it in its own fat. Unsurprisingly the end product is a crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, fall off the bone delicacy that is one of the countries finest dishes.

Beef Bourguignon: This hearty, delicious beef stew made with red wine, pearl onions, mushrooms and bacon is a total crowd-pleaser, but it’s a great meal to have on a cold evening in Paris, which is exactly when Dariece had it.

She offered me a bite and I found myself returning to her side of the table with my fork to get more and more of the delicious meal. The beef almost falls apart on the fork as you pick it up it’s so tender and the sauce is bold but layered with incredible precision.

Escargot: This is one that I haven’t been able to get Dariece to love, although she tried it in Paris and didn’t spit it out. The thought of eating snails completely turns most people off, but ever since I first had the delectable snails in pepper broth on the streets of Tangier in Morocco, I’ve been hooked.

I don’t think the French version with garlic, parsley, butter and shallot dethroned the Moroccan version, but it was definitely tasty.

Turkey

Turkish cuisine finds its roots largely in its Ottoman history which is a successful fusion of Central Asian, Middle Eastern, Balkan and Eastern European cuisines.

Compared to the countries that we’ve visited in the Middle East and Central Asia, I think that Turkey has a more diverse cuisine. We’ve tried countless dishes prepared in different ways and we still have many to taste.

Ingredients of lamb, beef, rice, fish, eggplants, green peppers, onions, garlic, lentils, beans, zucchinis and tomatoes as well as nuts like pistachios, chestnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts are common in the cuisine. Mixing these with a dizzying array of spices give Turkish food its distinct flavour.

Breads, cheeses, olive oils and chillis are also a common element of dishes in Turkey, making it in some ways similar, but also so very different from its Greek neighbour.

Our Favourite Turkish Dishes

Turkish dishes are so regional that some meals are only found in specific cities throughout the country. This regionality of the cuisine makes it exciting to travel to different parts of Turkey to taste different food.

Cappadocian Pottery Kebab: This is still one of the most delicious and interesting dishes I’ve ever eaten while travelling. Cappadocia itself has been a mecca for pottery-making since the Hittite period starting in around 1400 BC, so it’s no surprise that the region’s most famous dish is actually cooked in a sealed clay jar.

Called testi kebab in Turkish, which literally translates to “jar” kebab, the Anatolian speciality is usually made with lamb, beef or chicken with potatoes, garlic, onions, celery and carrots all set to stew in a jar and sealed with a thick layer of bread dough.

The dish is then left to simmer in its own juices for hours before being cracked open by the lucky customer who ordered it. The resulting stew is an unbelievably satisfying, meaty, hearty meal.

Iskander Kebab: There are many different versions of kebab in Turkey, but this one is the most popular and likely my favourite. A play on the traditional Döner kebab, the Iskander Kebab hails from the Northeast of the country and consists of thinly sliced lamb smothered in hot tomato sauce over pieces of thick, soft traditional Turkish bread. On top, there is usually a generous heap of yoghurt and butter.

Pide: This affordable Turkish style flatbread is a popular snack or lunchtime meal. There are numerous types, but one of the tastiest is topped with ground meat (typically, lamb), onions, peppers, and parsley — cooked to perfection in a brick or stone oven.

Shish Kebab: The more famous style of Kebab, the shish kebab is the skewered meat that many travellers associate with the word “kebab” before travelling to Turkey. This is a classic dish loved by Turkish people and travellers alike.

Most often found with Chicken, you can also get shish kebabs with beef or lamb. Any variety will be grilled and served on a metal skewer with sides of rice, salad and french fries. You really can’t travel to Turkey without trying this. The budget-friendly ($6+) dish is on pretty much every menu in the country.

Japan

This is the only country on this list where Dariece and I disagree a bit. While she agrees that Japanese food is probably the most beautifully presented, she isn’t as in love with the flavours of Japan as I am. Regardless, there are many dishes here she loves, and there’s no doubt that Japanese food is one of the best cuisines in the world

After much deliberation, we agreed that Japan simply had to be on this list. It is, after all, one of the most beloved food cultures in the world with a history of over 2,000 years of cooking and preparation techniques.

Japanese flavour is subtle, simple, fresh and clean. Japanese culture brings food to a new level. Over meals is where business is done, where friends socialize, where teams cooperate and where bonds are built.

Japanese people thank their Gods in food-related rituals and the tradition of Japanese culinary practices has transcended generations.

Must-Try Japanese Dishes

While Japanese food is much more than sushi, sushi is basically a cuisine in itself. There are so many different varieties of rolls, nigiri and sashimi that you could eat it for months while travelling in Japan and still have much to discover.

On top of that, Japanese cuisine boasts rich ramen soups, savoury meat dishes and countless fish meals.

Sushi: I’m listing this as one must-try meal in Japan, but you should really try many different kinds of nigiri, in particular, “toro” and “o-toro” (fatty and fattier) salmon and tuna, tako (octopus), Ika (squid), uni (sea urchin) and hotate (scallops).

You won’t find Philidelphia cream cheese in rolls in Japan (which is a good thing!), but look out for kappa maki (small cucumber roll), tekkamaki (small tuna roll), as well as varieties of Gunkanmaki (nigiri wrapped in seaweed), Temaki (seaweed-wrapped rice cones), Futomaki (giant rolls with seaweed on the outside), and of course sashimi.

Ramen: You can’t go to Tokyo without eating some delicious ramen noodle soup. Going to a ramen restaurant is an experience in itself. From the busiest places in train stations that are lined up around the corner, to the tiny hole in the wall restaurants with one or two ramen cooks at the counter.

The most famous and most exciting place to get ramen is at Ramen Street in the Tokyo train station. When you arrive in Japan by plane, if you take the train into the city you’ll likely stop here anyway, so it’s definitely worth taking an hour or so to wait in line and try the award-winning ramen restaurants that line the lower level of this chaotic train station.

Okonomiyaki: I could’ve included more famous Japanese foods like Tempura, Yakatori, Katsudon or udon to this list, but Okonomiyaki is such a delicious food and the Okonomiyaki restaurants are such a great experience that I just had to add it here.

Literally translating to “grilled how you like it”, this is Japan’s answer to a savoury pancake made with flour, yam and egg. The Okonomiyaki chefs grill up the pancake and its toppings right in front of you over a massive flat griddle. The ingredients typically include squid, shrimp, beef, green onion, mochi and cheese.

Spain

Tapas, pinchos, paellas, sliced meats, delicious cheeses and some of the world’s best wine (in our opinion), Spanish cuisine is exciting, varied and as much a social experience as it is a culinary one.

Bar hopping from restaurant to restaurant to try different finger foods (tapas and pinchos) and digging into tasty Spanish plates is a large part of what makes travelling to Spain so exciting.

The cuisine itself has been influenced over the years, but in general, the cooking methods have been shaped over centuries of societies that have inhabited the Iberian Peninsula and its territories.

The geography and climate of the region have similarly defined the ingredients that make up the dishes. Together, the ingredients and cooking methods present a complex gastronomical history that has been evolving with the invasions, conquests and international trade throughout Spain’s history.

Today, the cuisine is a culmination of years of influence and change and the country seems to have perfected the art of offering a variety of food while customers enjoy a variety of wines.

In short, Spain is one of the culinary giants of Europe and travelling here is as much a culinary adventure as it is one through history and culture.

Must-Try Spanish Dishes

Pinchos: Many people already know that the word “tapas” refers to small Spanish plates, but even smaller finger-foods are the Spanish pincho, which originated in northern Spain. The word “pincho” literally means “spear or stick” which refers to the toothpick that’s poked through the dish to hold it all together.

Pinchos typically range from €1-€2.50 and there are entire restaurants and bars dedicated to them. At a pincho bar, you will order a drink, grab your own small plate and then walk up to the counter where there are often dozens of “pinchos” with different coloured toothpicks (the colours represent different prices).

You simply take what you think looks good and then when you’re ready to pay, the waiter will count the toothpicks and charge you accordingly.

Paella: This dish is originally from Valencia and some people say it comes from the Spanish words ��para ella”, which literally means “for her”. This is because paella is a Spanish dish typically cooked by the men on Sundays for their women.

Similar to a gender-reversed English “Sunday roast”, paella is a meal that is meant to be shared over chats and laughter. While most Westerners only know the seafood version, the true traditional Valencia paella is actually made with rabbit, chicken and sometimes duck (no seafood).

Whatever variation you have, make sure you have it in Catalonia, the province in which it was born, or better yet in the city of Valencia itself.

Tapas: Slightly larger and more famous than pinchos, and equally delicious are the Spanish tapas. These small plates are perfect for holding you over before dinner. Spanish people eat very late, no earlier than 10 pm, so for tourists, tapas are a great way to eat some snacks while you’re waiting for dinner restaurants to open.

Tapas range from around €4 – €15 so a night of tapas isn’t always that cheap. If you’re on a budget, I recommend starting with the more filling “patatas bravas” which are fried potatoes with a barbecue sauce on top.

Enjoy Your Travels to These Countries With The Best Food

Food, culture, family and tradition are often so intrinsically linked in today’s society that travelling as a foodie is one of the best ways to get a little bit deeper into a country’s true soul.

I highly recommend joining food tours, cooking classes, tastings and wine pairings in the countries you visit to have the opportunity to learn more about the country’s cuisine and how it has shaped modern-day life.

Airbnb Experiences are a great way to join food experiences with local people. We did a chef’s dinner in Paris and a tapas tour and paella cooking class in Barcelona and we could easily recommend them all. Check reviews and make sure those hosting are local wherever possible.

As a foodie, there are so many ways to have gastronomical experiences while travelling these days and we are fortunate to have access to a world of cuisine in most of our home towns. Being open-minded and trying new things is what food culture is all about.

I listed many of the “must-try” dishes in the countries above, but these aren’t always the best. Be adventurous and try new things while you’re travelling. Don’t be afraid to taste those dishes that seem “strange” to your western pallet.

Who knows, maybe you’ll be like us and find out that you love duck heart, cassava root, fried ants and cow cheek. Open your mind while travelling. Your tastebuds and your future self will thank you for it.

Which countries with the best food did we miss?! Leave a comment below.

The post 10 Best Countries For Food: A Travel Guide for Foodies appeared first on Goats On The Road.

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Ed. Note: Check out this Memphis nacho roundup article from Stacey, Editor of Edible Memphis, updated in time for National Nacho Day 2019 with a few new recommendations, too. Menus are subject to change. Call ahead to confirm your nacho order. When people think of Memphis, they automatically think of barbeque. Well, I’m here to change that. Below are several fine examples of why we need to start promoting ourselves as a nacho town! Autozone Park Stacey G. Let’s ease into this with a little barbeque talk. I think we can all agree that the Rendezvous BBQ Nachos at the Redbird’s games is what put us on the nacho map. Tortilla chips, Rendezvous bbq, cheese sauce, bbq sauce and jalapeños, if you like. Nothing goes better with a cold beer and a baseball game. Rendezvous Justin Fox Burks Speaking of the Rendezvous nachos at Autozone Park, they’re also available in the restaurant, naturally, but did you know they also have a pretty fine vegetarian nacho too? Brainchild of the Chubby Vegetarian, the rice and beans nachos include Brim’s chips, red beans and rice, cheese dip, barbeque sauce, and jalapeños. You won’t miss the meat. Really. Central BBQ Stacey G. C-BBQ takes BBQ nachos to the next level. They’ve got marinated slow-smoked pulled pork on a bed of tortilla chips topped with BBQ sauce, cheese sauce, shredded cheese (that’s right, TWO cheeses), jalapeños, and a light dusting of BBQ shake. Adventurous diners can substitute barbeque potato chips for the tortillas, and those who don’t like pork can order them with sliced beef brisket, pulled chicken or sliced turkey breast. Go on vegetarians and vegans, ask for them with the grilled portabella. It’s cool. And for those watching your waistlines or pocketbooks, half orders are also available. RP Tracks The barbeque tofu (yes, tofu) nachos at RP Tracks are legendary. In Memphis we even barbeque (and fry) our tofu. Dang it’s good! Tossed atop freshly made tortilla chips, black bean chili, shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, sour cream and jalapeños, it satisfies vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Vegans may also order it dairy-free. Ed. Note: These have been my favorite for a good long while. Tops The newcomer to the BBQ nacho party is Top’s, and they only have them at a few locations. There are two variations. The “loaded” comes with chips, beans, meat, sauce, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapeños and sour cream. They also serve “regular” with just chips, cheese meat and sauce. I think the most exciting thing about these nachos is seeing what customers will do when given free reign. (Think cheeseburgers topped with barbeque meat.) I have already caught wind of a gal adding slaw. It is Memphis after all. Sweet Grass Next Door Stacey G. Next up, the king of all nachos. The Badass Nachos started as a secret menu item that was only available when the chefs at Sweet Grass Next Door felt like braising briskets or when there were major sporting events. Not surprisingly, it quickly became a neighborhood favorite. Sweet Grass now braises over 100 pounds of brisket per week. They cut and fry some corn tortillas from Tortilleria La Unica on Summer and cover them in red chili sauce (basically, an enchilada sauce), queso, sautéed onions and peppers, braised beef brisket, tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, sour cream, cilantro. Best off all? You can order them on a plate large enough to take a nap on! Carolina Watershed Another newcomer to the nacho scene, Carolina Watershed makes theirs with pork rinds, pulled pork, jalapeños, scallion cream, a provolone, mozzarella and parmesan cheese blend, and serves them with an egg on top – which basically means you can have them for breakfast. Bleu Bleu, inside the Westin Hotel, actually does serve breakfast nachos, at least on the weekends. Nachos Rancheros features eggs sunny side up, baked kidney beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, Monterey jack cheese sauce with jalapenos and homemade tortilla chips. Good morning! Slider Inn Slider Inn nachos are the gold standard in town, and really do taste better on the patio. They come in several varieties—chili, chicken or plain. Super thin and crispy chips are piled high with chicken or chili or both, black beans, shredded cheese, pico, sour cream and jalapeños. They are baked in the oven so the cheese gets a lil crispy, which is kind of the best thing ever. Now, listen up. Take these nachos to the next level in any one of these ways and thank me later: 1. Add guacamole. 2. Substitute buffalo chicken for regular chicken. 3. Substitute steak 4. Substitute falafel, and 5. Substitute the same al pastor meat they use for Taco Tuesday (dressed with cilantro, onion, pineapple, and salsa). I’m not done wowing you—half orders are also available. Tsunami Let’s move into some really fun territory. Asian nachos. Chef Ben Smith was inspired by longtime customer and friend, Margot McNeely, who came back from Puerto Rico raving about some seafood nachos she had. He decided to do his own version with fried wontons, seared tuna, crema, Sriracha, scallions and jalapeños. They are the perfect bite and definitely the lightest and most refreshing nachos there ever were. Wok’n in Memphis The Wok’n in Memphis Mongolian Beef Nachos get their Asian flare from beef. Fried wonton chips are topped with shredded braised Mongolian beef, bell peppers and onions, and finished with Sambal mayo, fried garlic, sesame seeds, scallion and cilantro. Look for them at the Puck Food Hall. Maciel’s Don’t leave Maciel’s out of the nacho party. Theirs come with crispy chips, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, carrots, cilantro, jalapeno, sour cream, chipotle, cheese and your choice of spicy shrimp, pollo tinga, asada, pastor, or chorizo. (Spicy shrimp! Spicy shrimp!) Ciao Bella Ciao Bella makes an Italian version of nachos that is pretty spectacular. They include sun-dried tomatoes, Bolognese sauce, Alfredo sauce, mozzarella, black olives, banana peppers, red onion, and tomatoes over homemade tortilla chips. Grecian Gourmet The Greek nachos at Grecian Gourmet are in the current weekly rotation, and it seems they get better every time I try them. Pita chips are loaded with meat sauce, feta dip, lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, red onion and banana peppers. Also available to add to the party: gyro meat and chicken. Chef Tam’s Chef Tam has not one, but two (!) nacho options on her menu, and they are completely different. First up, the totchos. Seasoned fried tater tots are smothered with their Muddy Mac & Cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, pico and a drizzle of their signature sauce. (The Muddy Mac is already practically a meal in itself — It’s loaded with crawfish, crab and shrimp.) Second, the peach cobbler nachos–Chef Tam’s play on a Southern culture classic. Cinnamon sugar chips are topped with peach cobbler filling and cinnamon sugar dusted vanilla ice cream. Using the chips to scoop up the peaches, sauce and ice cream is like getting that perfect corner bite on a regular cobbler every.single.time. Babalu Babalu Tapas & Taco’s has stepped into the ring with a dessert nacho of their own. Chocolate Nachos consist of cinnamon sugar dusted chips, topped with Nutella and fresh fruit. What’s not to like? Adding a few more favorites… Inspire Community Cafe View this post on Instagram A post shared by Holly Whitfield (@ilovememphisblog) on Dec 26, 2018 at 11:45am PST Inspire Community Cafe in Binghampton offers comfort-food inspired home cooking with fresh ingredients. Go for their nachos with BBQ Chicken, black beans, roasted corn, veggies, and melty, cheesy goodness. Half Shell View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Half Shell (@thehalfshell) on Sep 1, 2017 at 7:49pm PDT The regulars at the Half Shell’s two Memphis locations swear by their giant plate of Baja Seafood Nachos, which pile shredded crab, blacked tilapia, shrimp, and melted cheese onto tortilla chips with all the fixings. Celtic Crossing Photo provided by Celtic Crossing For lunch, brunch, or late night, order a pile of hand-cut fries topped with corned beef and cheese at Cooper Young’s comfy Irish pub. Stix Stix serves up Asian fusion food, including a Japanese teppanyaki grill, sushi bar, and Mandarian menu. For their take on nachos, try these nachos with seared tuna, avocado, soy and spicy mayo. Stix has a location in the Collierville Carriage Crossing mall, and will open a location in downtown Memphis in late 2019 or early 2020. Huey’s View this post on Instagram A post shared by Huey’s Restaurant (@hueysrestaurant) on Aug 9, 2019 at 6:00pm PDT We all know about Huey’s and their burgers and loaded cheese fries, but what about classic nacho noshes? The casual chain serves up traditional beef nachos, when nothing but crisp chips, melted cheddar, ground beef and beans, and sour cream will do. What beloved nachos did we leave off this holy list? No need to throw your plate of melted cheese and chips at us, just let us know in the comments and we’ll check it out. Published August 2018. Updated November 2019. About The Author Stacey Greenberg is a freelance writer who lives in Cooper Young with her two teenaged sons. She’s a contributor to Thrillist.com, Edible Memphis, I Love Memphis, and Memphis Travel. She’s also the author of the award winning blog, Dining with Monkeys (diningwithmonkeys.com). A lifelong Memphian, she loves the fact that she’s never met a stranger here. Are you a home owner in Memphis, with a broken garage door? Call ASAP garage door today at 901-461-0385 or checkout https://ift.tt/1B5z3Pc

https://ilovememphisblog.com/2019/11/lets-have-a-memphis-nacho-party/

#I Love Memphis

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hellyear86-blog · 6 years ago

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16 Of The Best Tacos To Make For Every Meal Of The Day

When you’re the one who has to decide what to make for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it’s easy to get stuck in a food rut. But there’s an easier way to get out of a food rut than by trying out a bunch of new, unfamiliar recipes. Instead, choose one very versatile food, and start exploring the different forms and varieties of that one food.

For instance, one of my very favorite versatile foods to experiment with is tacos! There are thousands of taco recipes out there just waiting to be discovered, including ones for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! I make tacos frequently at home for that very reason, so I thought that for today’s blog post, I’d offer up an ode to the versatility of tacos!

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I’ve gathered together a list of 16 delicious taco recipes for every meal of the day and included it below. The list begins with a few breakfast options, then transitions to lunch and dinner varieties. And that’s one of the beautiful things about tacos—you can fill them with what you want, and eat them whenever you want too. By the end of this post, you’ll not only have plenty of tacos to try, but might also be inspired to start exploring your own unique taco creations! :-)

16 Delicious Taco Recipes For Every Meal Of The Day

1. Potato, Bacon, and Cheese Breakfast Tacos

See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe and instructions. It also has an easy print option!

Cook chopped bacon in a skillet on your stovetop over medium-high heat until it’s crisp and browned, about 4 minutes. Then remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and add cubed russet potatoes to the skillet and the hot bacon fat.

Add salt and pepper to the potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are browned and fork-tender, about 10-12 minutes. (Or you can spreed up the process by using refrigerated hash browns instead!)

Once the potatoes are cooked, add a couple of whisked eggs to the skillet, and stir them constantly until the eggs are set, but still soft.

2. Farmer’s Market Breakfast Tacos

from Layers of Happiness

These cheesy breakfast tacos are loaded with scrambled eggs, maple-glazed bacon, and fresh micro greens. What more could you ask for?

3. Vegan Crepe Breakfast Tacos

from Blissful Basil

For vegans, those with Celiac, or anyone who’s avoiding dairy or gluten, give these breakfast tacos a try! They’re filled with a warm spinach and mushroom filling that is sure to satisfy.

4. Peaches & Cream Tacos

from Mountain Mama Cooks

Care for a sweeter start to your day? These peaches and creme tacos are built on a cinnamon-sugar tortilla base, then topped with Greek yogurt and slices of fresh, juicy peach. Yum!

5. Baked Tacos

from One Good Thing by Jillee

Baked tacos are a perfect choice for a quick and easy lunch or dinner! You can use store-bought hard taco shells if you prefer, but it’s so easy to make your own at home. (Just follow the simple instructions included alongside the recipe!)

6. Leftover Prime Rib Carne Asada Tacos

from One Good Thing by Jillee

I originally whipped up these tacos with some leftover prime rib I had in the fridge, but you can really use any kind of mean you happen to have on hand. The mojo marinade will make anything you use taste simply irresistible!

7. Lunch Box Taco Bar

from One Good Thing by Jillee

Bring your own “taco bar” along with you to work or school for a tasty lunch option! It’s a nice way to break up the monotony of endless sandwiches and salads.

8. Taco Soup

from One Good Thing by Jillee

On a chilly day, sometimes a big bowl of soup is all you need to warm up. But having soup doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice delicious taco flavors! You can have it all with this super simple and satisfying taco soup.

9. Bahn Mi Dump Chicken Tacos

from One Good Thing by Jillee

These crockpot tacos are inspired by Vietnamese bánh mì sandwiches. They’re loaded up with tangy chicken, quick-pickled carrots, cilantro, and more.

10. BBQ Cauliflower & Chickpea Tacos

from She Likes Food

Cauliflower is a perfect choice to use as a taco filling if you’re looking to eat more veggies. It’s a great canvas for any kind of flavor, and it’s surprisingly filling too! Try these BBQ cauliflower tacos and experience it for yourself.

11. Black Bean, Zucchini, & Corn Tacos

from The Fit Fork

Here’s another vegetarian-friendly taco option, or a great choice for dinner on Meatless Monday. These Mexican-inspired flavors are sure to satisfy even the most voracious of meat-eaters!

12. Beer-Battered Fish Tacos

from How Sweet Eats

My husband and daughter are crazy about fish tacos, so I’m sure they would be over the moon about these bad boys! They’re topped with a flavorful mango salsa, and the fish is encased in a golden crust of beer-battered goodness.

13. Grilled Salmon Tacos with Avocado Salsa

from Cooking Classy

Cod isn’t the only fish that makes a fantastic fish taco, and these grilled salmon tacos are here to prove it! Topped with a tangy avocado salsa, these tasty tacos are sure to be a new family favorite.

14. Tacos al Pastor

from Gimme Some Oven

The classics are classics for a reason, so you certainly can’t go wrong with a recipe like tacos al pastor, or “shepherd style.” These ones are made using a crockpot, so you can come home to a dinner that’s nearly ready to serve.

15. Caribbean Chicken Tacos

from Creme de la Crumb

If you’re looking for island flavors, look no further than these Caribbean chicken tacos! One bite and you’ll be transported to a sun-soaked beach resort in your mind. :-)

16. Shredded Beef Tacos

from Gimme Some Oven

Shredded beef is a classic choice for tacos, and it’s sure to be a winner with even the pickiest eaters! Load them up with your favorite fixings for an easy lunch or dinner.

What’s one of the best tacos you’ve ever eaten?

Potato, Bacon, and Cheese Breakfast Tacos

Tacos aren't just for dinner anymore! These breakfast tacos are loaded with potatoes, bacon, eggs, and cheese... what more could you ask for, really?

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 3 people

Calories: 485 kcal

Author: Jillee

Ingredients:

4 slices bacon chopped

1 russet potato cubed

2 eggs whisked

1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

6 corn tortillas

cilantro chopped

Instructions:

Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until browned and crispy, about 4 minutes.

Remove the bacon using a slotted spoon, then add the cubed potatoes to the skillet with the hot bacon fat.

Season the potatoes with salt and pepper, then cook, stirring occasionally until browned and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes.

Add the whisked eggs to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly until the eggs are just set, about a minute.

Sprinkle the shredded cheese and cooked bacon over the top of the potatoes and eggs.

Pile the mixture onto a warm tortilla and serve, topped with cilantro.

Nutrition Facts

Potato, Bacon, and Cheese Breakfast Tacos

Amount Per Serving

Calories 485 Calories from Fat 252

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 28g 43%

Saturated Fat 13g 65%

Cholesterol 168mg 56%

Sodium 496mg 21%

Potassium 528mg 15%

Total Carbohydrates 37g 12%

Dietary Fiber 4g 16%

Sugars 1g

Protein 21g 42%

Vitamin A 10.7%

Vitamin C 4.9%

Calcium 33.9%

Iron 11.9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Source: https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/16-taco-recipes-for-every-meal/

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icleanedthisplate · 6 years ago

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Every Dine-Out Meal of April 2019, Ranked

I ranked the following based on taste alone. I made no consideration for ambiance or the general dining experience or whatever. I included meals I got to go. I included food trucks, and I included fast food. Here’s how it all shook out. Should you be interested in the pictures or reading the few words I had to say about each meal, click on the home page and scroll down or see the archives.

In addition to my regular visits, this month I also ate meals in Kansas City and Northwest Arkansas. The elite meals on this list are the top six. This I tied my record for most meals eaten out at 38, set in July 2015.

Tokyo Black Ramen. Oni Ramen. Dallas, Texas. 4.24.2019.

Chirashi. Kobe Hibachi & Sushi. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 4.30.2019.

AR Kids Read Spellebration Dinner. Cathead’s Diner (Catering). Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.11.2019.

Jalapeno Pepper Jack Cheeseburger w/Fries, Vanilla Milkshake. Braum’s. Alma, Arkansas. 4.13.2019.

The Pedaler’s Favorite Salad. Pedaler’s Pub. Bentonville, Arkansas. 4.13.2019.

Smoked Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread (shared), Kansas City Combo (Burnt Ends, Pork Spare Ribs, Crown Prime Beef Rib) w/Fries and Hickory Smoked Baked Beans. Jack Stack Barbecue (Country Club Plaza). Kansas City, Missouri. 4.16.2019.

Curry Chicken Salad Salad. The Root Cafe. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.19.2019.

Kemuri Lunch Combo. Kemuri. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.29.2019.

Lunch Buffet. Tokyo House. Rogers, Arkansas. 4.12.2019.

Lunch Buffet. Tokyo House. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.5.2019.

Pork & White Bean Soup, 42 Chopped Cobb Salad. 42 Bar & Table. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.22.2019.

Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes. The Root Cafe. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.25.2019.

Buffalo Chicken Salad. Brick House. Kansas City, Missouri. 4.16.2019.

Angus Burger, Chips, Mexican Street Corn Soup. Meld Kitchen + Sandwich Bar. Bentonville, Arkansas. 4.12.2019.

Derby-Style Cobb Salad (to-go). BJ’s Brewhouse. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.29.2019.

Author! Author! Party Catering. Trio’s (Catering). Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.26.2019.

Southern Chicken Caesar Salad. Stickyz Rock’n’Roll Chicken Shack. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.27.2019.

CARTI’s Ragin’ Cajun Crawfish Dinner. Popeye’s (Catering). Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.18.2019.

Street Tacos (Carne Asada, Vegan Chorizo, Al Pastor, Nopales) (shared). Dos Rocas. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.2.2019.

Pineapple Bird w/Pork Rinds. North Bar. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.30.2019.

Street Tacos (Lengua, Chicken, Barbacoa), Elote. Twisted Trompo. Dallas, Texas. 4.24.2019.

Southwest Wrap, Peanut Paradise (Smoothie). Tropical Smoothie Café. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.2.2019.

Southwest Wrap, Peanut Paradise (Smoothie). Tropical Smoothie Café. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.15.2019.

Southwest Wrap, Peanut Paradise (Smoothie) (to-go). Tropical Smoothie Café. Conway, Arkansas. 4.26.2019.

Southwest Wrap, Peanut Paradise (Smoothie) (to-go). Tropical Smoothie Café. Conway, Arkansas. 4.16.2019.

Fish Tacos, Chicken Enchiladas, Churros (Rotary Club Lunch). 42 Bar & Table (Catering). Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.2.2019.

Burger of the Day (Sriracha Burger?). Diamond Bear Brewery. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.3.2019.

Taco Bar w/Beans (Buffet Style). Samantha’s Tap Room. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.8.2019.

Stuffed Cabbage, Beef Brisket. Jewish Food Festival. Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.14.2019.

Chicken Salad Sandwich, House Salad. The Clay Cup. Neosho, Missouri. 4.16.2019.

GCRC Event. Dallas Museum of Art Catering. Dallas, Texas. 4.25.2019.

Pick Three Breakfast (Bacon, Casserole, Potatoes). Platinum BBQ (River Market). Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.27.2019.

Egg White Grill Combo Meal. Chick-fil-A (Airport). Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.24.2019.

Garver KC Client Event. Boulevard Brewing Company (Catering). Kansas City, Missouri. 4.17.2019.

Lunch Catering. Taziki’s (Catering). Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.4.2019.

Continental Breakfast w/Oatmeal. Residence Inn by Marriott. Rogers, Arkansas. 4.13.2019.

Continental Breakfast w/Waffle. Fairfield Inn & Suites Downtown. Dallas, Texas. 4.25.2019.

Eggs w/Cheese (x2), Turkey sausage. River Trail Café (Arkansas Surgical Hospital). North Little Rock, Arkansas. 4.4.2019.

#food blog #food #rankings #lists #ramen

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birdshirt1-blog · 6 years ago

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A Healthy Hedonist’s Guide to Mexico City

Mexico City has been top of my travel wish list for some time.

Like Los Angeles, the city is quite spread out, but if you bring walking shoes you can still cover a lot on foot—most sites are about a 30 minute walk from Roma or Condesa (or a $4 uber).

With health and hedonism,

Phoebe

THE BEST UPSCALE AND TRENDY RESTAURANTS IN MEXICO CITY

Pujol (Polanco)

Our favorite dishes were the octopus, softshell crab, quail egg papadzul, and all the street snacks. Also, order the tamarind margarita and thank me later.

Contramar (Roma)

Paramo (Roma)

Rosetta (Roma)

THE BEST CASUAL RESTAURANTS AND TAQUERIAS FOR LUNCH AND BREAKFAST

Fonda Mayora (Condesa)

Lardo (Condesa)

Los Creadores Del Taco al Pastor (Condesa)

La Clandestina

OTHER EATERY AND BAR RECOMMENDATIONS

We didn’t make it to even a fraction of the recommendations on our list. Here are some more in the same area that we want to try next time:

San Angel Inn — In the south of the city, which is why we didn’t make it, but incredibly charming for lunch in their courtyard among MXC elite. Very romantic!

Lalo – Another great breakfast spot similar to Lardo.

Masala y Maiz – In a slightly more far flung neighborhood near Casa Barragon. We were told to go for lunch and check out the cool interior and cuisine, which is Indian meets Mexican!

Azul – A spot for healthier Mexican favorites with great veggie enchiladas.

La Buena Tierra – Another veg-centric place for vegetarian options.

Tacos Veganas – A completely vegan taco place in Condesa!

Marrakech Salon – Sweaty silly fun drag bar, Mexican queens singing in Spanish standing on top of the bar in sequin dresses…on my list for next time.

COOL STORES WE VISITED

Goodbye Folk

Onora

Lago DF

Also in Polanco, this trendy boutique has lots of local clothing designers if you’re looking for a chic caftan. They also have some vibrantly colored tequila glasses and other home goods.

THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MEXICO CITY

The Best Markets of Mexico City

Casa Barragon

Arena Mexico / Luncha Libre

National Museum of Anthropology

Xochimilco

Have you been to Mexico City? Tell me your favorite restaurants and sites! I will add them to the reader rec section and also to my to-do list for next time I go down there.

Source: https://feedmephoebe.com/a-healthy-hedonists-guide-to-mexico-city/

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inb4vaughn · 6 years ago

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Golf, Food And Fun In Punta Mita Paradise

Not five minutes had passed since the shuttle dropped us off at the Puerto Vallarta airport after three and half days in Punta Mita paradise when my wife uttered the words I knew I’d hear eventually.

“When are we coming back?”

And she’s not even a golfer. I am, of course, and I second her emotion. Third it, even. We gotta get back here, and soon.

After years of somehow avoiding the Mexico mainland (or any other part of America’s southern neighbor) for a tropical visit, we hit the getaway jackpot by taking part in the eighth edition of the Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic, a late fall foray into the best cuisine, hospitality and seaside swinging that Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit has to offer.

Tucked between the towering Sierra Madre mountains and Pacific Ocean, the stunning stretch of coastline starts just north of Puerto Vallarta and includes the Punta Mita peninsula itself which, from the air, looks like a deep green camel’s head drinking deeply of the heaving, azure sea. Title sponsor American Express, Punta Mita’s real estate developer Dine (pronounced deen-ay), the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau and St. Regis and Four Seasons resorts welcome hundreds of sun-seeking customers, clients and other guests to a luxury-steeped swatch of water, beach, manicured jungle and coiffed fairways and greens that, I realized as we sipped Mexican beer and soaked up sunset rays slanting through stacks of purple clouds, is every bit the equal of Hawaii — without the five-hour flight from America’s West Coast.

Speaking of beer: Negra Modelo, Pacifico and a few local brews that most Yanks have never tasted, but should, were just one ingredient in the beverage binge we enjoyed during our all-too-brief stay. After checking in at the Four Seasons and settling into our “standard” garden view suite that was anything but, we grabbed a ride back to the breezeway-slash-lobby on one of the resort’s ubiquitous multi-seated golf carts.

“We’ve got a special shuttle waiting for you,” an attendant told us, pointing to a brand-new Tesla Model X for a quick jaunt to the St. Regis’s Sea Breeze restaurant, sprawling public courtyards and cabanas for the event’s welcoming cocktail bash sponsored by Aeromexico and Delta. After stepping into the sultry evening breeze we were immediately offered champagne, and moments later we found our way to one of several well-stocked bars where the mixologist whipped up a pale pink concoction.

“What is that?” I asked. “Paloma,” came the answer. I held up two fingers, appropriate because the refreshing drink is made with Patron blanco tequila, pink grapefruit juice, a dash of sugar and fresh lime juice — Margarita’s lower-calorie cousin. We were in; the drink became our go-to as each evening’s festivities played out.

Incredible food greets every player at the Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic

And the food? What a way to begin: Several tended stations prepared fresh takes on “true” Mexican cuisine from the kitchens of three renowned chefs from both sides of the border — John Signorelli from the St. Regis Houston, Erik Guerrero from DOS restaurant in Veracruz and Alex Branch from Hakasana Group in Los Cabos. In the dizzying array of tastes and textures, our favorite was a succulent bit of grilled pork belly on a warm tortilla, topped with fresh salsa.

Over the Gourmet & Golf tournament’s two days of competition in the strong Mexican sun, beer took precedence for me and my Guadalajaran playing partners, Pedro and Pedro Pablo, as we encountered the dozen or so food and drink stations dotting both of Jack Nicklaus’s Pacifico (opened in 1999) and Bahia (2009) layouts, breaking up the suds with the occasional mini-margarita, glass of south-of-the-border wine, shot of exquisite regional tequila or, better yet, mezcal, which is smokier — an anejo-based take on single malt whisky. With such libations and all sorts of incredible edible morsels from top-shelf chefs — incredibly fresh ceviche, lightly grilled octopus, succulent veggie burritos, addictive street tacos al pastor — under my belt, concentrating on each shot was tough, especially on the dozen seaside holes between the two tracks, including Pacifico’s famous “Tail of the Whale” hole with its green cradled among rocks and surf on a natural island some 185 yards from the beach-side middle tee. We took turns giving that island our best shots, as did everyone who came through, though, since the tide had come in and the green wasn’t accessible by cart — we’d have needed stroke backstrokes or scuba gear to get there — it didn’t count on the official scorecard.

The Tail of the Whale on Punta Mita’s Pacifico Course.

Actually, our threesome wasn’t officially part of the formal tournament due to a clerical error, and that was a blessing. We could just have fun playing our own balls rather than grinding over every shot and sweating the final team scores, based on a best ball format one day and two-person handicapped scramble the other, as the other 200 or so golfers did. And I didn’t have to stress when I thought my snap-hooked tee shot on Bahia’s handsome, beachside par 4 17th was lost to the waves; I just reloaded, hooked one even further left (this time with an unmistakable splash) and moved on, only to discover that my first ball had ricocheted off a rock and back into play at the very edge of the fairway, leaving a simple wedge home.

AVOID GOLF’S BIGGEST ‘DEATH MOVES’ WITH PUNTA MITA DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION AND GOLF TIPS 25 TEACHER TOM STICKNEY

Ah, yes, the good life in Mexico, and it never waned.

Not when I showed up for each day’s outdoor pre-tournament breakfast feast on the expansive practice range, digging into truly fresh fruit (you just don’t see mangoes like this back home in Reno), made-to-order omelets, colorful Mexican pastries and fried chilaquiles.

Not when we teed off just as the sun breached the tree-line and spread broad, dewy shadows over gently rolling fairways, trickily tiered greens and broad waste bunkers, including a big palm-dotted expanse on Pacifico that ties several holes together. Not when our rounds tumbled down to the ocean in one heart-swelling view after another, or when Mexico’s greatest player ever, Lorena Ochoa, and 1982 Masters champion Craig Stadler — the event’s special guests — greeted us during our rounds.

A crackling fresh salad at Punta Mita’s Gourmet & Golf Classic

Not when I reunited with my wife for several incredible meals, including Chef Atzin Santos’ six-course dinner lineup of Mexican and Spanish delicacies on Friday — again the pastor porkbelly with fermented pineapple and macha sauce was a standout — and Saturday’s delicious and delicate vegan lunch authored by Chef Leslie Durso, both at Bahia, the Four Seasons’ open-air restaurant overseen by Richard Sandoval (I skipped the tournament’s epic awards lunch back at the range, which, I’m told, was off the charts).

Not when we kicked the party up a notch at the American Express Platinum House, otherwise known as Kupuri Beach Club at the St. Regis, sipping yet more signature cocktails and supping on mini-miracles of deep, cross-cultural flavors lovingly prepared by Chefs Antonio de Livier, Yasuo Asai, Abraham Salum, Sergio Chávez, Andrew Ormsby, Betty Vásquez, Alfredo Villanueva and Pato Pérsico.

Trophies are awarded to teams and individual men and women for closest to the pin, longest drive, etc.

In fact, through the weekend, every bite of tender seafood, farm-to-table vegetables and spices and locally sourced meats was a revelation of freshness, chipping away at my stubborn gringo preconceptions of what Mexican food is, and should be. We savored that celebratory closing dinner to the sound of the crashing surf, which in turn was the backdrop for a full stage erected on the beach. As the music began we sipped and swayed and laughed into the night, enjoying every starlit minute among our fellow revelers. It was the second day of December but felt like its own holiday.

But the glorious gluttony wasn’t over. Sunday morning brought a farewell brunch to the Sea Breeze — a traditional buffet inside, yet more delicacy-dealing food stations outside, the Pacific singing its timeless song a short par 4 away, and a warm realization that we’d just taken part in the kind of getaway that should be shared not only by golfers, but by their significant others. All the smiling charm and gentle spirit of the Mexican people, all the beauty of Riviera Nayarit, that state’s best golf without question, and the luxuries of its two finest resorts are brought to bear on one sweet little peninsula. And early next December will bring it alive for the ninth time.

Then again, we may not wait that long. We fell hard for this place, we know how to get there with relative ease, and we know the welcome extends to every month and every sun-seeking soul, whether nor not you’re packing clubs.

Únete a nosotros por el tiempo de tu vida, ¿verdad?

For information on next year’s Punta Mita Gourmet & Golf Classic, visit www.puntamitagourmetandgolf.com; for year-round resort reservations visit www.puntamita.com

The post Golf, Food And Fun In Punta Mita Paradise appeared first on Golf Tips Magazine.

from Golf Tips Magazine http://bit.ly/2AD8tm1

#Golf Tips Magazine #golf irons #golfing tips #golf irons play

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lugoisnumerouno · 7 years ago

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REVIEWING: The Habit

IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THE HABIT OR BURGERS OR FOOD OPINIONS SKIP THIS B/C ITS HELLAAAA LONG ILL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT TIME OK BYE ~ Okay so this review of the Habit was inspired solely because I found out that if you sign up for the Habits email rewards service that you get a free char burger scan code in your inbox. So thus, with that information, this review was born. I have been registering all of my email accounts under different names and I’ve been going to different Habits every single time throughout Santa Clarita and the San Fernando Valley. I am determined to try every single char burger on the menu, which shouldn’t be too hard since they have only 4 different types of char burgers on the menu. There is the teriyaki burger, the grilled onion portabella burger, the Santa Barbara burger and the BBQ bacon burger. So without further ado here is my review of each burger, that was brought to you by my finessing abilities. March 19th 2018 The Teriyaki burger. It is only JUSTICE! to review this burger first. I love the concept of having grilled pineapple on my burger. It makes it sweet, tangy, citrusy and it adds a delicious scent to it. A lot of the times when you go buy tacos al pastor you can see that they cook the meat with grilled pineapple. This gives the meat a juicy sweet flavor that is unmatched. It is different than orange infused meats or lemon infused meats. Pineapples are a happy medium that give meat a tangy, sweet flavor. It was after calc that I decided to get this burger. I saw on Facebook that The Habit was giving away free burgers to people who signed up to their char burger email list. I pounced. If it’s free it’s for me, and I would love to try all of their burgers on their dime. So when I went to the Habit near my house I was surprised that I had to pay 33 cents because I thought I got a free burger. No honey, I got a free char burger with cheese, the basic normal one, if you want an upgrade you have to pay the difference. But that’s okay, I went to my car and grabbed 33 cents from my change compartment and ran back to get my teriyaki burger. Let me tell you it is delicious, you can’t go wrong with pineapple meats. They give you a whole circle wedge of grilled pineapple which by the way is the best and the meat is so juicy and moist. It was fully cooked and it had caramelized onions which are the WAY TO GO! Caramelized onions that are grilled to perfection soak up the juices/fat of the meat and deliver you flavor. The pickles are good but In-N-Out’s pickles are better. The mayo is a must on sandwiches and I am glad to see that it is on the teriyaki burger. Side note: vegan mayo is just as good and is tbh much healthier and is a great substitute if you want to cut out an egg product in your life. The buns on this burger were good and fresh. It was a good burger. But that teriyaki sauce was atrocious, I tried to ignore it but it was bothering me too much which is weird because the first and second time I ordered a teriyaki burger I loved the sauce. This time it felt fake and too sweet, it was too much with the pineapple, maybe if they cut the sweetness of the sauce it would be better. But as for now, the teriyaki burger from the Habit is my go to whenever I visit that joint and until next time peace out mis amigos :) March 21st 2018 The Grilled Onion Portabella Char Burger. I went to the Habit near my school and I ordered a portabella char burger. I was thinking about getting the bacon one but I felt like the portabella was a healthier option and I wanted to try their aioli sauce. The burger was just a burger. The meat though was fantastic, it was warm and juicy. It was thick. And the mushrooms were just mushrooms. I used to be obsessed and in love with grilled mushrooms and I would want them on my steak, on my burgers, in my tacos. I wanted them everywhere but now as an adult I’m not really into them. I don’t think they are disgusting but I don’t savor them as much as I used to. They are kinda bland and they only taste bomb when they are grilled or hidden in soup. But even on this grilled burger, these mushrooms were just mushrooms. Nothing special. The burger had a delicious bun that is characteristic of the Habit and their tomatoes were fresh and I like the way they cut their lettuce. Very different from In-N-Out which gives you giant wedge slices of lettuce so much so that sometimes you have to eat a part of the lettuce first before you take a bite into your burger or else your first bite is going to be 20% burger and 80% iceberg lettuce. The Habit chops up their lettuce, making it easier to eat and more organized and more appealing. I like the lettuce chopped up like that thank you very much. Now for the best part of the portobello burger: the AIOLI SAUCE. DELICIOUS AF. The only reason I would order this burger ever again would be to taste that delicious sauce. It was white with things inside of it, tbh I couldn’t get a good look at it I was too busy chomping down on my burger. I loved the sauce so much that I licked it up off the wrapper with my finger. I loved this sauce. My go to Habit burger is the Teriyaki burger and if I had to choose one burger out of the ones that I have tried so far: The Teriyaki burger or the Portobello burger, I would still choose the Teriyaki burger but hands down the Portobello has the better sauce of the two. I would order the Teriyaki and get the aioli sauce on the side. Also the very nice cashier was such a sweetheart to me, I wanted to be her friend. She let me have a free drink :) (I filled it up with half Sprite half water). So to wrap up today's trip to the Habit, the Portobello burger is Veronica approved because of the sauce. If you are indifferent about mushrooms and don’t care for aioli sauce then skip this burger but if you are curious then try this. The mushrooms were just mushrooms, they could have done them better. Maybe if they cooked the mushrooms WITH the hamburger meat and let it soak up the juices and let it become charred with the burger and maybe added something spicy it would be bomb. BOMB. run me my check @theHabit, I just gave y’all a winning idea. (Also: when I was eating my burger I ordered it “for here” and I was eating my burger and reading up on the ingredients on the Habits website and one of the employees got really close to me and I instantly shifted my phone away from them because I felt embarrassed and didn’t want the employee to see that I was checking up on them on their website….OOPS ) Btw the difference I paid was 94 cents. March 23rd 2018 The Santa Barbara Char Burger. There was a lot of anticipation and hype behind this burger. I searched up photos of this delicious looking snack online and it looked massive. The burger itself looked like a whole meal, there seemed to be a substantial amount of guac and the sourdough bread looked fresh and toasted at the same time. I took my brother out to get a burger as well, he got the regular ol’ char burger with cheese and his complaint was that there was not enough mayo and that the burger tasted better without the pickles. My sister didn’t get anything and just napped when we were there. The Santa Barbara Char burger was everything that I expected. The guac was amazing, it had chunks of avocado which I loved and it was a hefty amount of guac that was spread out evenly which I appreciated. There's nothing more annoying than pay extra for guac and getting a tiny little spoonful, this was the opposite, the Habit was generous with its guac. (Actually I’m not sure if you could call this a guac, it was just mashed up avocado chunks, it’s not the guac you would imagine with chopped tomatoes and onions etc.) The tomatoes were delicious and sweet and the lettuce was shredded and the burger came with two hamburger patties and two slices of cheese. The patties were thick and juicy, they retained their moisture and were grilled. The burger also had grilled onions, which could have been better. I feel like the Habit serves you grilled onions that they have pre grilled, so when you eat your burger your grilled onions are disappointingly cold. Anyways the SB burger comes with 2 slices of cheese and 2 patties, a good amount of avocado, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and grilled onions all on toasted sourdough bread. The sourdough bread makes this burger unique. It gave it a lighter taste to the burger and it was delicious, it was perfect. The sourdough bread is what makes this special, it also looks more like a sandwich than an actual burger. The sourdough bread is perfect on this. This was a messy burger and it was a lot so it will definitely fill you up. I had to take half of it to-go. You can add jalapeños from the bar to this and ask for the aioli sauce (on the side if you haven’t tried it before) if you want to be extra. It's a good, fulfilling burger that was definitely worth it and I would get it again. However, can it be better? Yes, yes it can be. Now is it better than the teriyaki burger? Maybe, it's definitely in that realm bc I’m in love with grilled pineapple but I love the complexity of this burger and plus its a lot more burger. However that being said I might have just found my new go to Habit char burger. :) - NONE OTHER THAN, YOU MAJESTY, VERONICA

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