Mexican Food, Part Dos

Looks like the IJAT planets aligned last night as we went out for Mexican and I also went for a "fajita". However, I don't like my fajita the traditional way. I almost always order a Fajita Quesadilla when I go to a Mexican Restaurant. These almost never disappoint, but last nights Chicken Fajita Quesadilla did just that. Usually it is prepared just like a fajita would be but placed inside a tortilla and finished off just like a normal quesadilla. For whatever reason they decided to dice the peppers and onions and it totally changed the texture of this meal. Sure it tasted the same, but visually it was quite different once I cut into it...and somehow that changed how I enjoyed eating it. Hopefully next time they, La Nopalera, will prepare this the "traditional" way and leave the creative stuff for the high end restaurants. If it ain't broke...don't fix it.

Top Chef Master Rick Bayless's Topolobampo Restaurant....

The initial plan for tonight was to eat dinner at Frontera Grill in Chicago. This afternoon I tried to call for reservations and was told that it was first come, first serve. So I then tried to make them for Topolobampo, the sister restaurant to Frontera Grill which is attached to the latter, and was told there were no reservations available. We figured to press our luck and try Frontera Grill anyway. We get there and are then told it is a 2 1/2 hour wait. I put our name on the list, but then ask about the other restaurant. Low and behold, the maitre d then tells me he can seat us right now in Topo and we decided to go that route instead. The difference? Frontera is the more rustic and causal fare, Topo is the high end high class four star meal. I now have no regrets about making the choice to go to Topo.

For starters...the Topolo Margarita's. These are the signature drinks that are mixed right that the table and then poured into the glasses. I went through 3 of these and I have to say, it was the best margarita I have ever had. The then brought out the very special guacamole with jicama & cucumbers. This guac had some kicked up peppers in it and was amazing with these vegetables as chips.

The apps then came out. At the last min I decided to order the Sopa Azteca and it was a great decision. This is basically chicken tortilla soup. They pour it into the bowl at the table and this soup had flavors that goes on for days. This is a must have and the soup is as follows: dark broth flavored with pasilla, with grilled chicken, avocado, Meadow Valley Farm hand-made Jack cheese, thick cream and crisp tortilla strips.

We also got the Trio, Trio, Trio. This is a sampling of Ceviche Fronterizo, Ceviche Yucateco and Coctel de Atun Tropical which is then served with fresh made tortilla chips.

It was time for the main course. I got the duck, two others got the pork, and one other got the scallops and lobster. You will see via the pics was is in the first two dishes. I got to taste the famous "mole" and I have to say...it lived up to the hype and then some.

Rick Bayless has earned the title of Top Chef Master for a reason and this mean proves it. I highly recommend you try either of his establishments when you are in Chicago. You won't regret it.

Chicken Fajita Burrito from Fiesta Fresh

This is another great Hilton Head/Bluffton gem of a place. A few years ago, the first Fiesta Fresh opened up on Hilton Head. Think authentic mexican food that is all made with the best fresh ingredients and made fresh on the spot. It started off as a little hole in the wall place that was a locals only spot. A few later and location #2 opened on the island. Now he we stand with Fiesta Fresh #3 open in Bluffton. We were going to Amigo's today for lunch, but it ended up they were closed for Memorial Day. So, we went across to the new Fiesta Fresh and it was as great as always. I got the chicken fajita burrito. This was loaded with rice, beans, cheese, onions, peppers, and chicken. I then added in the jalapeno's, fresh cilantro, fresh pico, a little lime juice, and the fresh salsa. This was pure perfection in a flour tortilla!

Bone Garden Cantina

 This place is owned by the same people that own Vortex. They bill themselves as authentic mexican food. It was pretty good. We got beef tongue tacos, goat tacos, shrimp enchilada, brisket enchilada, enote (corn covered with mayo and cheese). My favorite things were the salsa and the cheese dip with chorizo. The salsa was the best salsa I can remember having and you can't go wrong with chorizo and cheese.

Left: Goat taco, Right: Beef tongue taco

Enote

Shrimp enchillada. Very good.

brisket enchillada

Mother of God.

TakoSushi in Augusta...

It is here that the Far East meets the Southwest. This is one of our favorite places in Augusta and we ate there last night. We started off with the Crazy Roll as an app. I then got the steak taco special with rice and beans that was outfreakinstanding. This was all washed down with their top shelf margarita. http://www.tako-sushi.com/restaurant.html