Sunshine Deli now has tlacoyos!
Posted: July 12, 2008 Filed under: Food | Tags: lunch, mexican, tlacoyos, white plains Leave a commentWent by for lunch today and was about to order some tacos. But I saw a plate of, what looked like Tlacoyos. So I asked the guy behind the counter and he said they have them as a special fairly frequently. This is good news – I haven’t had tlacoyos out here in the tristate area. I’m sure they sell them somewhere – I just haven’t noticed.
Tlacoyos are sort of like huaraches, but thicker and smaller. Sort of a hybrid between a huarache and a Salvadoran pupusa. It’s a thick masa, stuffed with beans or chicharron, then flattened and griddle fried.
Sunshine’s were very good. Mine were filled with refried beans, slathered with their chipotle salsa, cotija cheese and topped with chicken (on my first) and beef (on my second). Very good. Crisp edges, chewy interior. I didn’t ask if they had chicharron, but probably should have. They were $2.50 each.
Like some of the other great food at Sunshine, it doesn’t appear on their menu. The problem there is that their specials aren’t listed anywhere, and there’s no regularity to when they make them (cochinita pibil is a perfect case in point). So when you go, just be sure to ask what their specials are.
[originally posted on chowhound]
Great food in Mexico City (Santa Fe) – Los Canarios
Posted: June 2, 2008 Filed under: Food | Tags: canarios, mexican, Mexico, mexico city, pescado, Santa Fe, tacos Leave a commentSo, a few weeks ago I posted a question about food in the Santa Fe region of Mexico City: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/519004. From the sound of it, Santa Fe seemed pretty devoid of excellent food options, unlike the rest of Mexico City.
I ended up changing my hotel to be near Chapultepec, but I did have to work in Santa Fe for a few days. And while there were a few mediocre meals, I did have one very good meal at Los Canarios in Santa Fe.
It’s an excellent restaurant with a spacious Hacienda feel to it. Five of us ate there for lunch and every one of our meals was very good. Perhaps my favorite of everything though were the appetizers: pescado al pastor tacos. I’m not sure the kind of fish (forgot to ask), but it was cubed white fish, marinated and cooked ala al pastor (though likely not on a spit). It was amazing. Hand made tortillas (both yellow and blue corn), marinated and slightly charred fish that was deeply flavored, but still tender, all adorned with pickled onions, cilantro and guacamole. Appetizer, but best part of the meal for me.
I had the snapper (veracruz style), which was wonderful, and, though I can’t remember all of what my colleagues had (all locals btw), they were equally satisfied.
It wasn’t cheap… the bill for five of us ran around 1,600 pesos. But given that the service, food and ambiance are on par with some of the nicer places in the city, it was very reasonable.
So, if you are stuck in Santa Fe and can’t make it to Polanco or other areas in the D.F., don’t fret. There IS pretty good food around.
[Originally published on Chowhound]
El Charrito: Taco truck in Stamford. We have arrived!
Posted: April 5, 2008 Filed under: Food | Tags: connecticut, el charrito, huarache, mexican, stamford, taco, truck Leave a comment
I take back all my badmouthing of Stamford’s Mexican places. I take back my cursing of Mexican food in general in Connecticut. And, temporarily, I take back all the bad things I’ve muttered about living in this cold Mexican wasteland these past 7 years.
At least for now
Because today as I was doing errands, I found El Charrito, a taco truck parked in West Stamford.
I actually first ate at this truck about a year ago. I saw it parked in the Shop Rite parking lot and had a good taco. Then I never saw it again.
Today, I drove by and slammed on my breaks when I saw it parked there. It’s hard to miss – a big yellow truck with a big old sign on the side that says, “El Charrito.”
The husband and wife that own the truck are extremely friendly. The wife, a Stateside born Puerto Rican, who speaks perfect english takes the orders and will help you navigate what’s good that particular day. The husband, from Mexico, does all the cooking. And he’s good.
Today I had a huarache with carnitas. Man, it was awesome. Not just passable, but truly good. Think of a huarache as a thick tortilla, pan fried, about a foot long and 5 inches wide, topped with black refried beans, meat of your choice, shredded lettuce, crema and salsa. Man it was good. the carnitas was good and tender (not as rich as the best carnitas, but better than any other that I’ve had in Stamford). The huarache is all hand made from fresh masa, as are the sopes. For only $4.50, the huarache makes a great lunch. As far as I know, it’s the only place in Stamford that sells huaraches.
Huaraches and sopes were the special today.
Their regular items include tacos, tortas hot dogs, hamburgers, quesadillas, etc. Plus, they have horchata too. Tacos are $2.50… not sure what some of the other items are priced. They also sell something called sincronisadas, which is something like a big old ham, cheese, beans quesadilla.
They said they are there from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. And, you can call ahead and order your food so it’s ready when you get there. 203-940-0922.
They said the truck is parked in the same spot each day – across from Sachs Plumbing, on the side of that triangular jackie robinson park. For the address below, I’m going to approximate…
I hope it’s as good next time I go.
[Originally posted on Chowhound]
Casa Villa in Stamford – An Update
Posted: April 2, 2008 Filed under: Food | Tags: casa villa, connecticut, mexican, stamford, tacos Leave a commentI thought I had posted about this, but apparently hadn’t. not enough sleep in this household, clearly.
anyhow, I finally made it back to casa villa for the first time since they reopened following a car going through their front window.
See, I’ve been going to casa villa for at least 7 years, when it was called Favi’s. I actually think it was better then, but all along the problem with this place is that it’s so darned inconsistent. I’ve actually had a few great tacos, mostly mediocre, and some decidedly poor ones there. But, even given that, if someone pins me down and asks where to go for tacos in Stamford, I’m afraid I still have to answer Casa Villa (oh how I miss rolando’s). (oh, and while ole mole has some good things – albeit tailored to an american palate – their tacos totally suck).
So, I was hopeful that following the reopening, Casa Villa would have upped their game in the kitchen. So, with the middle daughter (4 yrs old) in tow, we went there a few weeks ago. I ordered two tacos – al pastor and carnitas – and my daughter ordered a chicken taco.
The al pastor taco wasn’t bad. It was a little overly salty, which always ticks me off. Mexican places do this to al pastor to compensate for the fact that they are using a weak adobo for the pork. It was pretty good, but being a little overly salty really annoys me.
I honestly can’t remember my carnitas taco. That means that it was OK, but not great. Around here, an OK carnitas isn’t a bad thing, frankly.
But I have to say I was pretty surprised with the chicken taco. It wasn’t dry at all and had really good flavor. Shocking. I NEVER order chicken tacos because those two things never seem to come about. But I found myself pawning my al pastor taco on my 4 year old while I ate her chicken taco (dad’s prerogative). Though, she got the better of me when she spilled her water on my taco. so there you go.
Anyhow, Casa Villa remains as it always has been. A decent local place for an authentic taco. Just don’t expect the same taco from visit to visit. But if my last visit was a guide, go for chicken.
Some day before I leave this part of the country to head back home to my motherland (so. cal) I will see a great taqueria pop up in Stamford… even if I have to open it myself. Until then, I’ll go to casa villa… or, actually, drive down to Port Chester.
My Sunset Deli love affair continues – oaxacan tamales!
Posted: February 1, 2008 Filed under: Food | Tags: mexican, new york, Oaxacan, oaxaquenos, sunshine deli, white plains 1 CommentSunshine Deli is just amazing. I know I’ve talked about them a lot already, but each time I go, I find new surprises.
This time, it was Oaxacan tamales (oaxaqueños). While these are not the best Oaxacan tamales I’ve ever had, just the fact that Sunshine Deli in White Plains sells them puts them in a different category altogether. I can’t remember what other tamales they have, I haven’t tried them yet, but I believe they also had rajas con queso, chicken and pork.
Anyhow, for anyone willing to venture there, here’s my summary of what to order:
Tacos
- Cochinita Pibil. (achiote paste rubbed pork shoulder, roasted in banana leaves). I’ve only seen them there twice in the 10 or so times I’ve been there, but if they have them, DEFINITELY get them. Awesome.
- Al pastor. It’s thin, deep-red chile/adobo marinated pork that is roasted on a vertical spit. It’s accompanied with pineapple. Very good.
- Asada. Tasty beef, accompanied either by guacamole or sliced avocado, depending on the day. Good.
- Carnitas. Quite good, though not as good as Los Gemelos in Port Chester or Michoacano in New Rochelle.
- Chorizo. This was just OK in my opinion. Could be better.
- Pollo. Also just OK, but it depends on what kind of chicken they’ve made that day.
Other goodies
- Quesadilla con huitlacoche. Quesadilla made with corn masa, filled with oaxacan cheese (i think at least) and that wonderful inky black huitlacoche. I don’t know of another place around that sells anything with huitlacoche (the black truffle-like fungus that grows on corn).
- Albondigas. Mexican meatballs in a rich chipotle-based broth. Excellent. These are the traditional mexican meatballs – with rice and hard boiled egg. Very satisfying on a cold day.
- Oaxacan tamales. See above, but these are a treat. They aren’t superb, but they are the only ones to be found anywhere outside of brooklyn and queens.
- Huaraches. Their huaraches are good, but not as great as some of the other foods there.
- Tortas. These too are good. I like their carnitas torta, but, like the carnitas tacos, I think you can find better tortas around. But still very good.
Salsa
This comes with anything you buy, but their house salsa is a great smoky chipotle salsa. Awesome stuff with deep flavor. Got some kick, but not overwhelming and lots of complexity. Great with everything they sell.
Here’s the address:
Sunshine Deli
31 Lake St, White Plains, NY 10603, USA
[Originally posted on Chowhound]
Adam Christensen 