TAQUERIA EL MEXICANO

by Carlos C Olaechea Thu, May 3rd, 2012 at 10:00am

Nevermind that it’s just a minor holiday in Mexico! May 5th is an American excuse to celebrate our neighbor to the south with tacos, mariachi bands, and tequila! Here is a humble list of some of the Cinco de Mayo happenings in South Florida. This being First Course, good food is naturally part of the celebration...along with the tequila.

Miami

Mercadito Midtown (3252 NE First Avenue Miami, FL 33137)
Perhaps Miami’s best gourmet Mexican restaurant, Mercadito will be putting on its own Cinco de Mayo celebration with $40 sharing menus that include creative guacamoles (pineapple or mango, anyone) and tacos, as well as as a drink special called the ponche zaragoza: tequila reposado, orange, grapefruit, guajillo, Grand Marnier, and Yucateca. For more information, visit www.mercaditorestaurants.com/midtown

Rosa Mexicano (Several Locations)
Enjoy a special Cinco de Mayo menu that will include such specialties as Budin de Pollo, hamachi tacos, and fish cooked in the Pibil fashion (rubbed with achiote and cooked in banana leaves). Don’t miss the guacamole prepared tableside, as well as their unparalleled selection of tequilas! Both the Brickell and South Beach locations will feature live music and giveaways. Visit www.rosamexicano.com for more information

While not advertising any special Cinco de Mayo celebrations, be sure to check out Paquito’s in Aventura for their tequila bar and kitschy atmosphere, Talavera in Coral Gables for its beautifully-prepared authentic Mexican cuisine, and Taqueria El Mexicano for its great inexpensive tacos and cheap margaritas.

Broward & Palm Beach

Rocco’s Tacos (several locations)
Known for their tasty interpretations of Tex-Mex favorites, Rocco’s Tacos will be hosting crazy Cinco de Mayo parties at all of their locations that will include drink specials, live music, DJs, a mariachi band, free tequila pourings, and moustache contest. The winner at each location will receive $250, and the best moustache from all locations will win $250 along with $500 in Rocco’s Tacos gift certificates. Visit www.roccostacos.com for more information

Tijuana Flats (several locations)
If you’re planning on hosting a Cinco de Mayo fiesta at home, but don’t have the time to cook everything yourself, Tijuana Flats could very well be your “salvador”. Catering orders placed on May 4th and 5th that total $100 or more get a free $20 gift card. The fast food Tex-Mex restaurant known best for its assortment of proprietary hot sauces will also be offering dine-in beer specials. For more information, visit www.tijuanaflats.com

Dos Caminos (1140 Seabreeze Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316)
Located in Fort Lauderdale Beach, Broward’s destination for upscale Mexican dining is offering $8 Milagro margarita specials and $45 margarita pitchers this Friday and Saturday. Knowing Dos Caminos, the libations will be far from ordinary! Visit www.doscaminos.com for details.

Broward County has no shortage of kitschy Tex-Mex restaurants with their own Cinco de Mayo Celebrations. Be sure to check out La Bamba, Cielito Lindo, and Tequila Sunrise for celebrations and specials this Saturday

FIRST COURSE

Where To Get REAL Tacos In South Florida

by Carlos C Olaechea Tue, October 4th, 2011 at 10:00am

Today marks Taco Day, a day which any self-respecting food enthusiast would look forward to celebrating because, when done right, this Mexican gift to gastronomy is the perfect vessel for a seemingly endless variety of intense flavors. While South Florida is known more as a hub for Cuban cuisine than Mexican, our little slice of paradise is not completely devoid of authentic Mexican cuisine if you know where to look for it and what to look for. First of all, like most ethnic cuisines, you won’t really find authentic Mexican fare in a conventionally chic setting (with one or two exceptions). Second, if you see a hard taco shell or commercial flour tortilla, chances are that what you’re eating isn’t exactly authentic. Most importantly, however, is recognizing a good selection of fillings, such as carnitas (pork confit), al pastor (achiote rubbed pork and pineapple), chorizo (mexican sausage), cochinita pibil (Yucatan-style braised pork), tongue, tripe, and the occasional nopal (cactus paddle) and huitlacoche (corn fungus). Being that Miami is a melting pot of Hispanic cultures, it’s also important to recognize the difference between Mexican tacos and Central American tacos, which can be very different. So, without further ado, here are my picks for tacos in South Florida:

Taqueria El Mexicano: Calle Ocho is losing some of its Cuban identity as more and more Central Americans and Mexicans are taking over, with delicious results. These days you are likely to see as many taquerias and fritangas on SW 8th Street as Cuban cafeterias. One place that continuously makes the top of the list (and you can see the plaques all over their walls) is Taqueria El Mexicano, which has some of the best tortilla chips I’ve ever had - thick, layered, and most likely fried in lard. The tacos here are legendary, and at under $2 each, a pretty cheap addiction. All of the tacos here are great, but this is definitely the place to have cochinita pibil. 521 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, FL 33130-3413. (305) 858-1160

Bargain Town Flea Market: A trip down to Homestead is a surefire way to find authentic Mexican cuisine, and this flea market located right on US 1 offers an authentically unique taco experience . Outside the multi-level building, there is an open-air farmers market with all manner of Mexican produce and spices, and just beyond is a row of taco trucks and covered picnic areas resembling a Mexican Oktoberfest. In front of each truck is a man slicing strips of achiote-rubbe pork and grilled pineapple from a spit to make tacos as pastor, while a team of women busily makes tortillas by hand to be toasted on the griddle as they receive orders. This makes the wait a little longer than most places - especially given the throngs of market-goers - but it is well worth it. 24420 South Dixie Highway, Homestead, FL 33032. (305) 258-6676 ‎

Mercadito Midtown: When I mentioned that there are one or two exceptions when it comes to authentic Mexican in a chic neighborhood, I had this place in mind. Midtown Miami is the newest location of this international chain of upscale, gourmet Mexican “tapas” restaurants, but don’t let the modern interiors, trendy location, and well-heeled clientele deter you, for the taco creations coming out of this kitchen - while innovative - are 100% Mexican in flavor, and the corn tortillas are made fresh on premises. Do not pass up the chance to try the skirt steak tacos with grilled pear, shaved brussels sprouts, and crispy leaks. Mercadito Midtown also offers one of the best lunch deals, and a killer Sunday brunch. 3252 NE First Avenue, Miami, FL 33137. (786) 369-0430

Taqueria y Antojitos El Guanaco: A compilation of taco joints in South Florida would not be complete without mentioning Salvadoran tacos, whose tortillas are noticeably different from the Mexican variety. At El Guanaco (slang for Salvadoran), they not only toast each tortilla to order, but hand shape it as well, yielding a crispy exterior and a soft, almost creamy interior. The fillings here are run-of-the-mill carne asada, chicken, and al pastor, among a few others. If you can, save some room for a pupusa, which is a Salvadoran specialty that is kind of like a stuffed tortilla and is also made to order. 331 Northeast 44th Street, Oakland Park, FL 33334. (954) 351-0792