Cecina, Delicious Marinated Beef and Pork in Mexico

(Xhico in Mexico)

Taco of Cecina (Pork, Enchilada Style)

I haven't seen it on the menus much in Mexico City, but cecina is definitely food of choice a little over an hour outside of the city in a pueblo called "Chalco". I went on an adventure with my friend, Antonio. His family lives in Chalco and I was invited over for lunch. An invitation that I could not resist. Though it was a bit of a trek it was worth every bite.

Inside the church courtyard across from the mercado.

We started out the morning for "desayuno" (breakfast) at the Mercado Municipal in Chalco. Like many of the markets in Mexico City, there are puestos (stalls) selling fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meat and poultry. Of course there are also many places to eat inside and around. The main difference was that there were many puestos dedicated to preparing "cecina" for the drones of people packed inside the market. Beef and pork, pounded flat and piled high into a wall of meat separating the patrons from the cooks. As the people line up and are seated into long-narrow tables, the meat is put over a hot fire and cooked to perfection.

Stacks of beef cecina waiting to be grilled

Cecina being cooked up at the mercado in Chalco, Mexico

The cecina is lean cuts of beef and pork that has been cut and pounded into thin slices, marinated and served hot off the fire. We ordered the pork "enchilada-style" which means that it has also been marinated in chilis which gives it a reddish hue.

Cecina meat - Beef (left), Pork Enchilada Style (right)

Fresh made blue corn tortillas are the foundation of taco construction

Tacos of Cecina (beef)

We decided on the puesto called "Becerro de Oro", got a seat and ordered. Antonio ran to go get some cheese at a nearby stand. He insisted that the double-cream cheese was delicious when making tacos with cecina. I was so hungry I could hardly wait as I got wafts of grilled meat arousing my olfactory receptors. Then it came. The beef and pork steaming hot and simply served on a banana leaf. Blue corn tortillas were served along the side with cream and salsas. Everything was complete to let the taco making process begin. I put a slice of meat, salsa, cream and the double-cream cheese atop a tortilla and began to eat my first cecina taco. It was slightly salty, spicy and creamy - everything delicious should be. Even though after two tacos, I was full. I couldn't stop snacking on the meat.

Craving Carnitas, Tacos in Mexico City

Carnitas Taco in Mexico City

Pork is one of my main food groups. I can't get enough of it. After bacon, carnitas is my favorite form of pig meat. The tender, deep-fried pork pieces are juicy and perfect for a taco. Fortunately for me, there's a puesto a few blocks away from me that has delicious carnitas. So when I get my carnitas cravings, pork heaven is just a hop-skip-and-a-jump away.

Chopping the meat for my tacos

Carnitas (Maciza) Tacos in Mexico City

On the corner of Aguascalientes and Insurgentes Sur, where Condesa meets Roma, there is "Ricos Tacos de Carnitas, Estilo Puebla". A giant vat of oil sits under a rack various pork parts - carnitas. Aside from the roast cuts of meat, there is also liver, tongue, pig snout and other offals. I think I'm actually going to give the pig nose a try next time. I've never had it. Speaking of things I've never had, I also tried a green called "papalo". It had a bright but soapy taste.

Various pig parts sit over a vat of hot lard

"trompa" or pig snout is also served

Papalo is a green with a bright, soapy taste that is served with carnitas tacos

Be sure when you our out in Mexico city to try all the street food you can. Order carnitas tacos. If you want pure, clean-cuts of roast meat without the fat, be sure to ask for "maciza". But I actually like mine with a little fat. And skin too if they have it.

Carnitas Tacos with Salsa

Carnitas Tacos with Salsa

Chef on the streets of Mexico cooking up carnitas

Ricos Tacos de Carnitas, Estilo Puebla
Corner of Aguascalientes & Insurgentes Sur
Condesa, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City, Mexico

Street Fried Quesadilla

Quesadilla all done up

I left this art show in Echo Park last night. I was starving and my favorite blue corn quesadilla lady wasn't around. But I saw a woman kitty corner at the intersection with a small cart and steam rising above her. I couldn't wait for the lit red hand to change to the walk signal and I crossed toward her.


I heard her saying, "quesadillas" as I approached. When I go there I saw what seemed to be more of giant empanadas. But they were more of a deep fried quesadilla. She made a tortilla like shape out of dough and stuffed them with cheese and potatoes (she also had cheese and chorizo or just cheese). She folded it in half and dropped it in the hot oil. She then served it to me, what i call, pupusa style - topped with cabbage, sour cream and crumbled cheese. Then she had all these delicious salsas to choose from... Avocado, Tomatillo, Salsa Roja and Habanero, which was pretty spicy. Overall it was delicious but a little messy. I could have used a knife.

WHERE:
Quesadilla Street Cart
Sunset Blvd & Echo Park Blvd.
Echo Park, Los Angeles

Quesadillas on the streets of Echo Park

Salsa bar street cart style

before salsa

after salsa

Deal of the Day - 50% Off Yuca's

Yuca's is a LA favorite for Mexican food. They have delicious asada and their tortas rock. There is the smaller Yuca's stand on Hillhurst where you will find the owner sitting outside the kitchen taking your order on a paper plate or paper bag. Your order will be served on or in your order tag. There is also the larger Yuca's on Hollywood across from Umami Bruger. It has indoor seating and a patio area.

They both serve great food and you can save today with Groupon. Today's deal is $20 worth of food for ONLY $10 from Yuca's.

Get the deal here on Groupon

Deal of the Day: Half off at Cowboys & Turbans

Groupon's deal of the day... $15 for $35 Worth of Mexican-Indian Cuisine and Drinks at Cowboys & Turbans in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.


Get the deal here.

Kids and Cocktails at Casita del Campo!

If you have kids and wanna get them tipsy bring them to Casita del Campo in Silverlake. This kitschy pink mexican restaurant recently ran this ad in the local neighborhood paper the "Los Feliz Ledger". I am very surprised the designer of this ad, nor the editor of the paper picked up on this hilarious read.

Funny ad for Casita del Campo

The ad reads:

Kid's Menu
Happy Hour Special 3pm-7pm Everyday
$2.00 Off Cocktails
$1.00 Off Beer & Wine
$2.00 Off Appetizers

Oh, to be a kid again...

Recipe: Salsa Fresca for one

Salsa Fresca makes a great topping for tacos, great for dipping chips
and goes good on eggs for breakfast too.

Making fresh salsa is easy. This salsa fresca is more of a pico de gallo. There's no real recipe, just basic ingredients mixed to your liking. I was making taquitos but needed something fresh to compliment the deep fried crunch. I made this salsa in less than 10 minutes.

Salsa Fresca

Servings: This is a good way to make it for one or two people for a meal or appetizer without having a surplus of salsa leftover.

Ingredients:

1 Tomato - Chopped 1/4 - 1/2 inch
1/4 White Onion - Chopped 1/4 - 1/2 inch  (Red Onion can also be used)
1/2 Jalapeño - Finely Diced  (Use more of less depending on how spicy you like it)
2 Tbsp Cilantro - Chopped
1/2 Lime
1 Tsp. Olive Oil
Salt to taste

Mix Tomato, Onion, Jalapeño, Cilantro in bowl. Drizzle with Olive Oil. A a little squeeze of lime (or lemon). Salt to taste. Toss and refrigerate for at least half and hour so flavors can blend.

Enjoy with mexican food or on your eggs at breakfast.

Deal of the Day: Half off at Border Grill

see more photos on Border Grill's website gallery

Border Grill in Downtown Los Angeles, is offering a special thru Groupon (one of my favorite sites). You can get $40 worth of food for only $20. Click here to get todays' Deal of the Day.

When you go to Border Grill try the Panuchos with Citrus Chicken and the Yucatan Pork roasted in banana leaf. It's oh so good.

Border Grill is located at 445 S Figueroa St. Los Angeles, California 90071.

Hangover Cure TVC

A trip to TVC is something we often have to do. One of the first things I learned about when I moved back to this part of LA was about Tacos Villa Corona. My neighbors introduced me to it after a hard night of partying. We all woke up in a little pain with an intense hangover. We needed something in our bellies and everyone's immediate first response was "TVC!".

I couldn't muster up the energy to go, but the girls brought me back the most delicious breakfast burrito filled with eggs, potatoes, spinach and cheese. It's even good for vegetarians. Make sure to order the "papas burrito with spinach" and ask for extra salsa. Though you'll be tempted to gobble it down, take your time and cure that hangover. You might want a little hair-of-the-dog too.

Tacos Villa Corona is located in the Atwater Village neighborhood in Los Angeles at 3185 Glendale Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90039. (323) 661-3458

See more delicious food from Tacos Villa Corona on Foodspotting.