Ensalada de la Casa (house salad)
by Celia Cheng
May 27th, 2008
LA ESQUINA
114 Kenmare St
@ Lafayette St
646-613-7100
$$
The house salad at La Esquina is so well balanced and fresh, it’s the ideal starter to a satisfying meal. Organic baby greens tossed with avocado, dressed in balsamic vinaigrette, and topped with queso fresco (fresh Mexican cow’s milk cheese), sesame seeds and crispy tortilla strips, the ingredients are perfectly proportioned, giving you a taste of everything without overdoing anything. It’s a simple but downright good salad, and that’s rather hard to find.
Posted in Mexican , NoLIta , Salad
Ensalada De Jicama (jicama-avocado “ravioli”)
by Celia Cheng
April 28th, 2008
TOLOACHE
251 W 50th St
(B’way & 8th Ave)
212-581-1818
$$
I love avocado, and Chef/owner Julian Medina of Toloache definitely has a way with it, whether it’s in his three different flavors of guacamole — traditional, frutas and rojo — or his out-of-this-world jicama-avocado “ravioli.” The skins of the ravioli are thin slices of jicama, wrapped around pieces of avocado. They are light and delicate, making a wonderful starter salad with mixed greens, orange, radish and almonds dressed with tamarind vinaigrette. Paired with a margarita, this refreshing dish is the ideal start to an excellent Mexican meal.
Posted in Mexican , Midtown West , Salad , Vegetables
Shrimp Chipotle Burrito
by Celia Cheng
April 20th, 2006
LUPE’S
110 6th Ave
@ Watts St
212-966-1326
$$
Since I can remember, I’ve ordered nothing else from Lupe’s but the shrimp Chipotle burrito. I love shrimp cooked with tomato sauce. The black beans, cheese and spicy chili complete this hefty burrito. I make sure to always get a small side of guacamole but that’s because I’m a guac addict. Rice and a side “salad” — bits of lettuce and tomato — accompany. I order this for lunch a lot and it always almost puts me to sleep afterwards, but I can’t help but eat the whole thing each time.
Posted in Mexican
Grilled Corn
by Celia Cheng
January 18th, 2006
CAFÉ HABANA
17 Prince St
@ Elizabeth St
212-625-2002
$$
Café Habana is famous for its specialty, grilled corn. I love corn, but this one is over the top. Squeeze some lime over the grilled corn with chili spices and Chipotle mayonnaise. It’s a great way to start the meal!
