I
am keeping a list of all the great restaurants in San Miguel. After getting so
sick at one – not on my list - a few weeks back, I’ve slowed my search down to
just a few a week.
I
hit the jackpot by adding both to my list today.
Here’s
why…
Buen
Apetito!
El Meson Hotel - Mesones 80
I’ve
walked by this place a million times and never looked inside. San Miguel Lesson
One: Always look inside.
Patio
3 consists of the Martinez Bar, the AlegriaRestaurant and the Envinarte Wine
Store.
The
interior of this place is amazing and also has an assortment of seating areas
both inside and out. The bonus is that when you sit inside, you get to gaze at
the sky because they also have a retractable ceiling.
I love this about so many
bars and restaurants in San Miguel.
I
was told that the Jalapeno Martini – a drink consisting of Jalapeno, Vodka and
lemon Juice – was really hot. Perfect I thought. It had some heat but certainly
not as much as I had anticipated. It was delicious and I recommend it to anyone
who wants to get in the spirit of being in Mexico. I certainly did after just
one.
We
also had a Matthis Drink which was pure of Mango, peppermint, orange juice with
citron vodka, lemon and the rim done in chili. It was also delish.
The
waiter, Omar, brought us a dish of Tatemada. This was a really good salsa and I
savored the taste. How do you make it?
Grill,
broil or griddle 4 tomatoes and 2 to 4 serrano chile peppers until they are
blistered all over and blackened in spots on all sides, turning occasionally to
ensure even cooking. When cool enough to handle, stem and seed the chiles.
Place
the tomatoes and chiles in a blender and blend until the mixture is consistency
of a textured salsa, or use a molcajete (a traditional mortar and pestle) to
mash. Season to taste with salt.
What
fascinated me is that the wine store, housed in a rather dark, romantic room
with communal tables and couches, only sold wines from the Valle de Guadalupe.
My kind of store. Omar is emailing me the wine menu so I can better educated
myself on the wines before I go there.
He
also gave me a sampling of Emblema 2010 Sauvignon Blanc from Valle de Guadalupe.
It was really lovely and I liked it even more when the chill was off it.
I
have to say that this is one of the most eye-catching and interesting places in
San Miguel. It’s now on my permanent go-to list.
Stay
tuned for more as I return to sample bites from the chef who hails from Mexico
City and is alleged to be a genius in the kitchen.
The Restaurant - Sollano 16
I’ve
heard great things about this place but some people told me it was too
expensive.
So
how do you fix that problem? You go for lunch instead of dinner.
That’s
one great thing about Mexico. Your main meal happens to fall in the middle of
the day and the prices are always much more affordable.
I
had a lunch to die for– the Thai carnitas salad with lime, Serrano chili, red
onion, cilantro and cashews 100 pesos. The dressing was remarkable and simple:
fish sauce, lemon and chili flakes. It was the best salad I’ve had since I
landed and I’ve been craving one for weeks.
My
return trip? The Ancho chili and tequila braised chicken tacos with cilantro
and onions. The woman across from me ordered it and when I saw this dish I was
tempted to ask her for a bite.
I’m
foodie but I’m not that bold. That’s why I went back today.
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