All Accordin': March 2012

Monday, March 26, 2012

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant - SLC, UT!

The Maguey (Mah-GAY) Plant is the main ingredient of Mexico's "Mezcal," a tequila like beverage. And the plant is so much a part of the central Mexican's sense of landscape & homeland, it makes perfect sense that there would be restaurants lovingly named "El Maguey" all throughout Mexico and the USA, too. Popping up where the Mexican diaspora has landed a home-sick soul. Oh, so very true!

And here locally, El Maguey - SLC is a quiet West-side family eatery that comes to mind when hunger demands a steaming plate of Huevos Rancheros or Sopes (little crispy boats of corn meal piled high with a variety of goodies)! Perhaps your Achilles heel is the Gorditas, little pockets of deliciousness in a range of meaty flavors. One of my faves are the Flautas (pictured above) and, man, they are Hot! Crisp! and Sumptuous! Even though my personal preference dictates the use of Mexican cheese, I enjoyed these with mozzarella (after all Oaxaca's String Cheese is a Mozz Style and not an unknown flavor to chef's from south of the border).

The clientele is principally Mexican families. So don't be surprised to find two or three generations at a big table laughing together and enjoying brimming plates. On this second visit, it's easy to see that El Maguey is building momentum and is drawing attention in the community. Yes, there's soccer on the flat screen and much Spanish is spoken but English is very welcome! Service is pure politeness with a smile.

All salsas are made in-house (the Tomatillo & Avocado is savory yet refreshing) and the Horchata, ambrosial. Open in the morning for breakfast (a rarity) and Menudo is served all week long not just weekends. It's only a matter of time and I'll find you there for the Chiles Rellenos... just another weakness of any hungry fanatic of big flavors & low prices!

El Maguey
714 S. 900 W.
SLC, UT 84119
801.359.3365

Home-made salsas pique appetites and flavors perfectly!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

The Copper Onion for Brunch is Tops! SLC, UT

A SLC Sunday at The Copper Onion is a bit of a surprise. Familiar brunch plates are offered on a menu that's short and well thought out. The piece that pops is the twist given those favorites. And the customer service is delightfully spot on!

I ordered Eggs Benedict yet asked that the ham be omitted and spinach substituted to arrive at Eggs Florentine. Done - and with cheerful agility! My two brunch companions ordered Steak & Eggs and Chorizo & Eggs, respectively. And in their enthusiasm ordered a fourth plate of Eggs perched on Pulled Pork smothered in Green Salsa and we shared it all with appetizers of Patatas Bravas (Spain's spicy potato dish) packing flavor out of this world. And Brussel Sprouts cut like slaw caramelized perfectly on the grill just to add crisp to the crunch. The Bloody Marys were tweaked as well, no celery but celery seed gave balance to this brunch classic. And the Apple Pie complete with ice cream and lightly Pralined Almonds sweetly capped a lazy Sunday afternoon. And not being those to leave well enough alone, we finished with Brandy Alexanders because this old fashioned (liquid dessert) cocktail is not readily found anywhere these days... and this Alexander is made with Mexico's Presidente Brandy. Chocolate & Brandy, Ole!

Sunday Brunch?
Oh yes, please! I'll meet you at The Copper Onion!

The Copper Onion
111 E Broadway Ste 170
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 355-3282

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Shahrazad Market & Restaurant! SLC, UT

Duly impressed! We sat down as three friends looking for the flavors of the Middle-East. Each having different degrees of experience with the cuisine didn't dampen our collective enthusiasm. Open to the experience, we came eager to learn more. We knew to expect olives, garbanzos, and large wedges of lemon for squeezing but not much else. As an opening salvo, we received a large rustic Koubz bread (considered a gift from God) with a smooth hummus and a Garlic, Mint, Cucumber & Yogurt dipping sauce that peaked our hunger and fomented conversation. What's in this? Slurp. Wow, that IS good. And more noises of the that ilk...

Shortly thereafter came HUGE platters of steaming food sending heavenly aromas into the air. We dusted it all with the tart flavor of Sumac! And while sipping pomegranate juice and laughing we ripped into plates so different and yet so delightful, we confirmed we'd be back again soon. But next time we'd bring even more friends. A secret this good must surely be shared!

Shahrazad Market & Restaurant
1615 W. 2100 S. SLC, UT 84119
http://www.facebook.com/shahrazadmarket

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Reading the Sky! - Coroico, Los Yungas, Bolivia

This image was captured in the Yungas Cloud Forest. A young woman caught unawares reading in the sky... if only I knew the title! I'd love to read the book that enthralled her so completely as to mute all else in the world. What supreme serenity yet in the same token, what an other worldly place to read at the bottom of Bolivia's Death Road. - clique once on image to enlarge.

Copyright © Mick Huerta 2012. All Rights Reserved.
mickhuerta@gmail.com
All Accordin' - Travel, Culture, Food & Wine!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Sancho Panza Succeeds Again! - La Paz, Bolivia

Restaurant Sancho Panza in La Paz continually endeavors to bring the Spanish Table to South America. And in that noble effort, this most recent offering is simply stunning! Huevos Rotos (Broken Eggs)!

This is one of those plates mamas in Madrid make weekly. Fast, easy and sums up being greater than it's parts. Yet any wet blanket could flippantly insist that this is ham & eggs with fried potatoes, a dish common world over. Admittedly yes, more or less.

A chef worth his salt would attest that "it's not what you do but how you do it." And the Madrileños (residents of Madrid) have combined uncomplicated ingredients and made true alchemy. Then Restaurante Sancho Panza gives an inspired twist with a timbal (mold) & applies a free hand with glorious Serrano Ham, a dusting of Smoked Paprika and the result rendered us mum. With our mouths full we contemplated this sublime fusion of ingredients. My companion commented she'd never had anything quite so good and added it was a complete surprise that simplicity could lead to such a pinnacle dining experience. In ensuing conversation, we thought this same recipe would be fabulous with Smoked Salmon, as well. But that would require a departure from tradition and a different wine than the smooth Bolivian Red, Aranjuez Terruño, that we sipped contentedly.

Pablo Zárate Osuna (Madrileño/chef/owner) has the sensibilities to achieve these little triumphs on a plate. Bravo Don Pablo! Restaurante Sancho Panza succeeds once again in the Sopocachi neighborhood of La Paz, Bolivia!

Copyright © Mick Huerta 2012. All Rights Reserved.
mickhuerta@gmail.com
All Accordin' - Travel, Culture, Food & Wine!

Friday, March 9, 2012

A MATRIARCHY IN THE LAND OF MACHOS - Mexico

I have always loved Mexico's Isthmus of Tehuantepec. It represents the shortest distance between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean and there you'll find women of remarkable beauty, who known as "Tehuanas" are renown throughout Mexico for their colorful dress, assertive personalities and an insistence on equal relations with men. The Tehuanas are the traders and business people of the region who prefer to chart their own destiny.

And the lesson here is that the world is a better place when not dominated by any one group, religion or gender. The Isthmus exemplifies such a place. Frida Kahlo was taken with these women and imitated their colorful manner in a variety of her self-portraits and daily life...

Viva Frida! Viva las Tehuanas! Viva la humanidad!

http://enricomartino.photoshelter.com/gallery-slideshow/G0000Z3j6WyD_ifE/?start=

Copyright © Mick Huerta 2012. All Rights Reserved.
mickhuerta@gmail.com
All Accordin' - Travel, Culture, Food & Wine!

All Accordin'