Mad Dog & Beans

ABF & I met up for a mid-week dinner at Mad Dog & Beans Mexican Cantina, an upscale Mexican spot along historic Stone Street (in NYC's Financial District).

We'd eaten there quite a few years ago when MD&B first opened, and I remember thinking it was just okay with the food, but they made excellent margaritas.

This visit, however, renewed our interest. We started with a Negro Modelo for ABF, and I ordered the blood orange margarita. This was beautifully presented, a generous serving, and had a sweet vs sour battle where sour was almost winning- in the most delectable way. Even ABF, who doesn't fall under the magic of margaritas, was impressed.

Next, a bowl of guacamole, which I loooove but ABF can take or leave (what? I know, right? More for me!) We ordered it medium spicy, but it was very mild, heat-wise. Flavor-wise, it was one of the best guacamoles either one of us has tasted. Perfectly ripe avocado, strong but smooth fresh lime flavor, just enough texture to make it interesting. We scraped every last morsel out of that dish!!

ABF ordered his favorite- Enchiladas Suizas: shredded chicken with a zingy tomatillo sauce. Fabulous.

I got a little fancy and went for the Tampiquena: skirt steak with roasted onions & peppers, and a cheese enchilada on the side. It also came with rice & beans.

Everything was so good! I don't know what's changed there, but the food went from just good to dy-no-mite. I took half my plate home for dinner the next night and yep, you guessed it: even more of a flavor party!

This visit definitely made us re-evaluate Mad Dog & Beans- and might I add- the guacamole, at 12 dollars, was several dollars cheaper (and SO much BETTER) than you'll find at many other spots around town (I'm looking at you, Rosa Mexicano!)

Mad Dog & Beans

83 Pearl St

New York, NY 10004

(212) 269-1177

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El Centro

In the west 50s, where I once worked during my days at the talk show, El Centro had just opened as I was leaving for my next job (or job search, really). So when a former news colleague suggested meeting up with ANOTHER alumnus of our former TV station, he suggested El Centro. Score!
First off--the margaritas are big, they are strong, and they are worth the 10 dollars!

We started with some chips (sprinkled with fresh lime juice, of course) and a duo of guacamole & salsa. The guac was nicely textured and zippily delicious.

I went with the trio of tacos-- pomegranate-glazed skirt steak, grilled mahi-mahi, and short ribs. They were all good, but the short ribs were by far the best. Delicious! They were tender, flavorful, with the perfect touch of sweetness and caramelization in them. The watercress sprinkled on top gave a nice, bitter kick to the rich fillings. I'd go back and double up on the short ribs, get another mahi mahi, and skip the skirt steak. The only thing I didn't like about the steak was how difficult it was too eat-- long strips of steak that weren't super easy to chew. Trust me--stick with the short ribs!

Cerveza chandelier

The Tex-Mex scene has so dramatically improved in the 10+ years since I moved here, and I'm so happy about it! Places like El Centro are less and less surprising, but always still appreciated. Service was fast and friendly, the margaritas were delicious and strong,everything was very reasonably priced, and I'd highly recommend this spot if you're anywhere near it.

El Centro
824 9th Ave
New York, NY 10019
(646) 763-6585

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La Fondita (Happy Start of Summer!)

Summer has unofficially kicked off, and if you're heading out east on Long Island, ABF & I have a great place to recommend: La Fondita! And as of today, La Fondita is open 7 days a week for the summer!

Thank you, Foursquare, for introducing BBF and me to this jewel of a place! It was close by, affordable, and OPEN, which is rare at that time of year (this was a few weeks ago, not quite full-blown summer season).
La Fondita is located right on Montauk highway, so whether you're coming or going, it's an easy stop.

Everything there is made fresh and it shows--both in looks and flavor. I went with one single fish taco and two shrimp tacos. They're small tacos, so 2-3 per person should do the trick.

Fish taco-- get 2!

That fish taco was phenomenal-- I'd settle happily for two of those on my next visit.

Shrimp Tacos

The shrimp, fresh, crunchy veggies, and homemade tortillas were tops. My shrimp taco was a bit too liquidy and my tortilla fell apart, but that did not stop me from devouring it.

ABF ordered the seafood burrito: a fried fish fillet wrapped up in a freshly-made tortilla. OutSTANDing, though admittedly not so photogenic. I went back for two bites of that seafood burrito-- perfectly-cooked fish, crunchy slaw, and tongue-tingling salsa.

Jarritos & Mexican Coke (real sugar, no HFCS)

 Bonus: they also have one of my favorite sodas: Jarritos, and another favorite of both of ours: Mexican Coke. These are made in Mexico and use real cane sugar, not high fructose corn syrup. If you have not yet tried one of these, make this the summer you do so!

While we contentedly finished our food, we saw a lot of people came into get take out. There's also a decent outdoor seating area that will no doubt be full once the warmer weather gets going. The staff are friendly and welcoming, our food was fresh and arrived quickly, and it's a great spot to fuel up before getting back on the road.

We loved every morsel of our meal at La Fondita, and will be sure to swing by a few more times this summer. I can imagine grabbing a fish taco and a Jarrito at the end of a sunny, sandy day-- bliss!

La Fondita

74 Montauk Hwy

Amagansett, NY 11930

(631) 267-8800

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Zapoteca (Portland, ME)

I know what you're thinking-- I thought it, too! Mexican food in Maine? YES. I'm a risk-taker sometimes, and this time it paid off so, so deliciously.

ABF & I found parking on a drizzly, dark night in downtown Portland. You might almost miss Zapoteca--it's on the fringe of the busy downtown area, but it looked warm, welcoming, and took our walk-in immediately!

I ordered a margarita.. A habañero-watermelon margarita ($10), thankyouverymuch. It had habañero-infused tequila, watermelon purée, agave nectar, a splash of lime juice, and orange liqueur. It was smashing...without getting me smashed! I only had one, but oh, I could see having a few of these quite easily! Smooth, perfectly balanced, with the watermelon and the hot pepper both noticeable and not overpowering each other. Even ABF was impressed.

ABF ordered a pint of the Allagash White, a take on a Belgian wheat beer by Portland-based Allagash Brewing Company. ABF really, really liked this beer-- we picked some up the next day to bring home.

To start: deliciously decadent Queso Fundido Con Champiñones (melted cheese with mushrooms- $12). It was a creamy, stringy pan of local jack cheese, mushrooms, and dark Mexican beer-- wow. They melt it all up in the fire-roasted wood oven and we could not get enough of this.

My entrée, the Relleno de Puerco (roasted poblano pepper stuffed with pork- $16). This was shut-my-mouth good. A tender, fire-roasted poblano pepper bursting with chorizo, pork tinga, and queso fresco, and covered with a tomato-habañero sauce. Oh that sauce. I'd put it on cereal if I could. A nice, building, intense heat that complemented the flavors without obliterating them in heat.

It came with a simple arugula salad drizzled with a slightly hot gaujillo-chili dressing, and creamy refried black beans. Solid dish all around, and while I couldn't eat it all, I probably ate a few bites more than I should have because it just tasted so wonderful.

ABF went with his go-to dish (and one of my favorites): Enchiladas Suizas De Pollo (chicken enchiladas in a tomatillo sauce- $17). This had succulent chicken, the same cheese as in our queso fundido, with a fabulous tomatillo sauce--zomg. Wood oven roasted enchiladas filled with tender chicken breast & local artisan jack cheese. Creamy fire-roasted tomatilla sauce, black beans & a little bit of that guajillo arugula salad.

We loved just about EVERYTHING about this spot-- the amazing, perfectly-turned out food, the service, the low-key atmosphere, and the fact that we could HEAR each other across the table (no deafening sound system, their music was audible without drowning out our words), and of course, the pitch-perfect margarita! Sure, it could be lit a little better (the lighting is a bit shadowy at night and made menu reading a bit of a challenge at times), but that's a small mark compared to all the excellence. And OH the food! This will be one of our first stops when we return to Portland.

Zapoteca

505 Fore St

Portland, ME 04101

(207) 772-8242

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Mi Nidito

We took an off-campus lunch at work today, with tomorrow's Fourth of July making TODAY a half-day--Happy Birthday Eve, America!

Our group went to Mi Nidito (translation: my little nest) on 8th Avenue in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. When I worked in my talk show days, I ordered delivery way too often from this spot. So tasty and so reliable! It's also vegetarian-friendly (no lard in their refried beans, etc), which was good news for at least two people in our party.

The first basket of chips & salsa is free, and there are placards on every table letting you know it's $2.50 a basket after that. You've been warned! The salsa is so delicious that you will likely get a few more--I couldn't get enough of the super-garlicky salsa.

Four of us got there early and we were ravenous, so we ordered the nachos with the meat on the side (as one of us is a vegetarian). These were so cheesy, flavorful, and terrific than I didn't even miss the meat. The meat was good and well-seasoned, but honestly, these nachos didn't need the meat. You can't have lunch at Mi Nidito without having a 'rita, and since it was a half-day, we all ordered a variation on their margaritas (there is truly a mind-warping selection, from flavors, tequila combos, and more).

I stuck with the basic and ordered the Ultimate (first photo in this post), which is a regular 'rita on the rocks with fresh lime juice instead of chemical-y sour mix. Outstanding! One of my coworkers opted for a regular frozen with a splash of strawberry--artsy!

For my entrée, I ordered the chile relleno (stuffed poblano chili pepper) filled with shredded chicken. This has a nice coating of broiled cheese, but was pretty light overall. I love poblano peppers--they taste like thick, meaty, intense pieces of spinach to me. Yum. The salad came with beets (I love beets!) and a tasty citrus dressing, and the beans and rice were okay (no lard in the beans, so they're light, but I'm not a rice fan, so I mostly ignored that).

My coworker CJ (that's her sassy manicure you see in the chips photo) ordered the beef enchilada and said it was scrumptious with a nice kick.

We were pretty stuffed, but we managed to make room for a bite or two of the tres leches cake the manager sent us on the house. It was light, chewy with bits of coconut in it, and the sauce that came with it was super-cinnamon-y deliciousness.

The food was SO good. Yes, it's New York City. It's not like the food in San Antonio or Houston or your typical Tex-Mex havens..but you know what? It's pretty damn tasty. Their lunch specials are reasonable (9.95-10.95), their margaritas are STRONG (1 was plenty for all of us!), and the service is good.

Mi Nidito

852 8th Avenue

New York, NY 10019

(212) 265-0022

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Perro Salado (Newport, RI)

I have family right outside Newport, so when ABF & I were visiting the area, we made plans for dinner with my aunt and one of my cousins. They spoke very highly of Perro Salado (the salty dog, apropos for Newport!), which had Mexican food and killer margaritas. I'm in!

True, in the back of my mind I was a little skeptical about how good Mexican could be in New England, but my experience at Martha's Vineyard's (now-closed) Zapotec was enough to have me keep an open mind. Plus--margaritas!

The restaurant is in a lovely colonial house which still has the individual rooms and doorways intact. What a fun, funky setting!

We started with a round of drinks--their margaritas were impressive. My aunt ordered the house, my cousin ordered the spicy cucumber, and I opted for the cilantro-jalapeno. Woot! I was warned to expect spicy, as the jalapenos are muddled into the drink, and I said BRING IT!

ABF took a sip and said "That will melt your FACE off!" I didn't think it was quite that bad, but it was deliciously spicy, which helped me pace myself instead of drinking the tangy-salty-sour-sweet drink too fast.

ABF wanted a Dos Equis on draft, but they were out, so the server recommended Sol, another Mexican beer. He seemed to like this and said it was pretty similar to Dos Equis.

We ordered a round of guac and chips for the table. I have never seen so much guacamole, with basic chips but a nice sprinkling of pumpkin seeds on the guacamole, too. We laid into it, and yet with four hungry people, we still couldn't finish it. Very generous serving!

ABF ordered the fish tacos--fried mahi-mahi (I think?) on tortillas. He said the fish was good, but the tortillas got wet and fell apart, so he had to eat it with a fork and not in its original taco formation--no big whoop, just a little less hands-on than he expected. I tried a bite of the fish and it was perfectly fried--yum.

I ordered the ropa vieja (beef) enchiladas. The meat was tender, spicy (though not as spicy as the pork, which my cousin K ordered), and delectable. I put a damn decent dent in this dish, and of course I shared some with ABF. Really, really good. Like "I can't believe I'm east of Texas" good. It had a tangy ranchera sauce cooled off by lots of melty, cheesy goodness. THIS was comfort food, Tex-Mex style.

I also had one more rita before we left--this time ordering the highly-praised blood orange version. This was good! Not as sweet as I worried it might be, with a delightful citrus tang to it. I think I still prefer the jalapeno version but if you're not into spicy, try this one. Or like me, try both!

The lighting is very low (hence my use of the dreaded flash), it's a bit noisy inside, and there's not a ton of room, but you'll be so busy eating you will probably not even care.

I would go back here in a heartbeat--thanks, Auntie C, for suggesting such a delicious destination for our dinner!

Perro Salado
19 Charles Street
Newport, RI 02840
(401) 619-4777

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Las Margaritas

My friend CPZ & I went out to Queens on a sweltering Sunday to check out the Museum of Moving Images' Muppets exhibit (so fun!) We were ravenous after and not in the mood for a long trek to find food. We decided to stop at Las Margaritas for their brunch special.

The chips and salsa were delicious--lots of chunky vegetables in the salsa, crisp, not-too-salty chips. This was a good start.

I ordered the scrambled eggs with tomatoes, onions and rice and beans on the side. One bite of the eggs and I was totally turned off. I can't even explain it--just very bland and unappetizing. The beans were tasty, home fries were passable, the pico okay, but this whole dish lacked...something. The guacamole needed a serious kick of lime juice.

Brunch dishes included a drink, and I opted for a mimosa. It was fine, but not anything super special. It had the citrus my guac could have used, though!

CPZ ordered the Bloody Mary--she's a fan of them. It was nice and horseradishy, but they're just not my favorite.

CPZ ordered scrambled eggs with chorizo, and didn't think hers was anything great. However, she liked it enough to take it home and try it again the next day (how did that turn out, CPZ??)

Ever the optimist, I ordered another margarita! This was spectacular. Tart and tangy with just a hint of sweet, this was exactly what I needed on this insufferably hot summer day. And at $7.50, a true bargain in NYC!

The crossbreeze kept us cool as we sipped our drinks and caught up on things (it had been too long since we got together!) The staff checked on us but never rushed us. We may have ordered another round before we left too, you know, just for good measure.

While the margaritas were marvelous, the brunch was a bust. My advice (take it with a grain of salt and some Patron if you'd like): skip the food and just come by for Happy Hour!

Las Margaritas
3801 Broadway
Astoria, NY 11103
(718) 777-1707

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Mugginess & Margaritas

On an overcast, muggy July Friday, Mel & I wandered over to the Dos Caminos on 3rd Avenue, in Manhattan's Midtown East area. It was a summer Friday and time for a margarita!

Mmmm... an icy-cold margarita on the rocks, with salt, is just what the doctor ordered.

We sat outdoors and started with their trio of salsas: mild, tangy tomatillo, smoky chipotle, and super-spicy red on the far left. Delicious, especially with their thin, crispy, and perfectly salted chips.

Mel is a fan of their frozen margaritas, so she got a fruit-flavored one--I can't remember the flavor but she was quite happy with it.

I opted for a more traditional rocks/salt combo. Tart, smooth, and just the sweet/salty combo for a hot summer day.

Dos Caminos is famous for their guacamole, which they make fresh to order and often at your tableside. We ordered medium, but this was barely past mild. Still, fresh, creamy, and deliciously cooling.

Mel & I split the soft chicken tacos. I wasn't expecting these to be so good, honestly--just wanted something to nibble on while drinking. The chicken was citrusy and tender, surprisingly flavorful. What could have been a throwaway item was impressively executed.

As I've mentioned before, Dos Caminos is not cheap, but it's not outrageous either, and you definitely get quality. Salud!

Dos Caminos
825 3rd Avenue
New York, NY 10022-7519
(212) 336-5400

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