Showing posts with label Cacao Mexicatessen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cacao Mexicatessen. Show all posts
Crunchy, Salty, Spicy, Savory Treats
In the carb-loaded Comfort Foods series of posts I recently wrote, it dawned on me that a lot of focus was spent on things I eat only occasionally.Day to day, my favorite comfort treats lean on the salty side and comprise mostly Asian food.
It's only fair that some of those favorites get some foodie love too.
In a prior post on Cacao Mexicatessen, I shared many of my favorite dishes there. Somehow I left out the occasional fried soft shell crab taco weekly special.
The taco contains a whole, seasoned and fried soft shell crab on a bed of cabbage, avocado slices, a chile arbol crema, cilantro, scallions and a slice of lime over warm, handmade corn tortillas.
It covers soft, crunchy, fresh and acidic all in the same bite. Even after a 15 minute drive home in a closed container, it looked this good at home and stayed crunchy.
One of my go-to foods when I want to instantly feel better is Thai food. I recently discovered Wat Dong Moon Lek with northern Thai street food, similar to Yai, another favorite of mine. In fact, they told me at Wat Dong Moon Lek that their chef came from Yai. It make's sense.
One of their popular dishes, the Crispy Pork Belly with Green Beans. This dish provides a crunchy meaty bite, crispy green beans, whole Thai basil leaves and a fragrant sauce to pour over the rice that intoxicates.
While we are on Thai comfort food, it's hard to leave out Jitlada's southern Thai food. How can I pick from the dozens of uniquely tasty and fiercely spicy dishes at Jitlada?
Let me begin with a match made in heaven - fried salad! The Crispy Morning Glory Salad of deep fried, lightly battered Chinese greens with fresh shrimp, sliced red onions and spicy house dressing appeals to all senses with its crunch and freshness rolled into one.
The Crying Tiger beef or pork brings that grilled flavor to tender cuts of meat. This dish, featured on Food Network’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate: Hot & Spicy” episode appears on almost every table at the restaurant.
The burger comes "protein style" a la In-n-Out Burger's secret menu, wrapped with iceberg lettuce. Toppings include sauce, tomato slice, onions and Thai basil.
My barometer to judge all Thai restaurants is usually crispy catfish, something I've eaten with my family throughout my life. Jitlada's version called Krabee, bone-in catfish with dry chili sauce, green beans and crispy basil holds its own.
And finally, who can resist, a platter of of whole fried seabass with basil leaves and a chili mango sauce (or Thai red curry), served by super charming Proprietor Jazz Singnasong? My friends' expressions upon arrival of the fish says it all!
These mostly Asian, mostly seafood (well, surf and turf) dishes represent a handful of protein comfort foods around town that I enjoy. Each place offers many additional choices.
My barometer to judge all Thai restaurants is usually crispy catfish, something I've eaten with my family throughout my life. Jitlada's version called Krabee, bone-in catfish with dry chili sauce, green beans and crispy basil holds its own.
And finally, who can resist, a platter of of whole fried seabass with basil leaves and a chili mango sauce (or Thai red curry), served by super charming Proprietor Jazz Singnasong? My friends' expressions upon arrival of the fish says it all!
These mostly Asian, mostly seafood (well, surf and turf) dishes represent a handful of protein comfort foods around town that I enjoy. Each place offers many additional choices.
Cacao Mexicatessen - Weekly Specials Menu
Cacao Mexicatessen in Eagle Rock has been a regular go-to place for me when I'm in the mood for a quick but homemade tasting bite.
When people ask me what I like there, I only have to say two words before I find them writing it down or entering the name into their smart phone - DUCK CARNITAS. As Food Critic Jonathan Gold described it, it's a cross between carnitas and confit. Intense and delicicous.
In this brightly colored, always busy family-run restaurant, beside Trader Joe's in Eagle Rock, that everybody should be lucky to have in their neighborhood, hardly anything on the menu disappoints. The Hecho en Eagle Rock signs and t-shirts always amuse me as do the deli offerings that you can take to go.
They have all the Mexican specialties, a great assortment of tacos, guacamole, aguas frescas, solid coffee, Mexican hot chocolate, a kids' menu. After ordering at the counter and looking for a seat, I personally enjoy their cajeta latte and cajeta flan, cajeta being goat's milk caramel that has a bit more bite then super sweet, regular caramel.
Probably a year ago or more, I met a long time dear friend here simply because they offer a full vegetarian menu. And by vegetarian I don't mean a few side veges and green salad. They serve squash blossom tacos and quesadillas, squash, hibiscus, wild mushrooms, huitlachoche (corn truffle) and panko breaded avocados!
With breakfast, lunch, dinner, happy hour and more, there are numerous things to try on their menu.
Recently I met a friend there and tried out two of their specials. Their weekly specials, which they post at the counter and will email to you every week, come to my inbox. And I suggest you subscribe as well. They even include discount coupons in the weekly mailers.
These in particular were well worth the trip, and I'm even scouring the emails for their return.
Taco of the Week - Sea Urchin & Blackened Sea Scallop
At $6.75 each, this seems somewhat pricey for a taco, however given the ingredients and flavor, they are worth it.
The scallops are fairly large and blackened with chile arbol. The scallops sit on a small pool of serrano chile-soy salsa, all on top of a tortilla de jicama taco shell! That crunch and freshness adds so much to the very fresh seafood. The jicama is already pliable like a tortilla, but the salsa makes it even more yielding.
The generous helping of Santa Barbara sea urchin tops the scallops and a topping of micro-cilantro and a slice of lime garnishes it all.
Next, we shared the other special - Pescado Encachahuatado
This flavorful, satisfying dish consisted of crispy skinned Icelandic Arctic Char, topped with Crema de Cacahuate, a creamy peanut sauce. The fish sits on top of a light and fluffy cilantro lime rice and cebolliatas, or grilled scallions.
On top of the sauce, a generous portion of pico de gallo, a tomato, jicama, cilantro, onion, chile and lime salsa adds appropriate acidity to the well balanced plate.
Finally, we wrapped up the delightful meal with elote de la calle - steamed white corn coated with a thick spread of queso cotija (Mexican cheese), crema and powdered chili. All served up on a stick.
As creamy as it is, the corn still retains its crunch and sweetness. This dish is one of my favorite Mexican street foods and Cacao's version is spot on.
I enjoy taking shots of the table after eating or the empty dishes. AS you can see, this corn was devoured and fully enjoyed.
These dishes inspired me so much, I tried to emulate their Arctic Char a few days later. My version swapped the creamy sauce for fresh lemon, dill, sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Sides included crimini mushrooms and an avocado salad.
It's always great to thoroughly enjoy a meal, then get inspired to cook something like it.Thanks to Cacao for the delicious choices!
