Pujol | Polanco | Mexico City

Pujol is a restaurant located in the Polanco District of Mexico City that consistently achieves a spot on the list of best restaurants in the world. Chef Enrique Olivera takes inspiration from Mexican street food and elevates it to haute cuisine. Indeed I recognized ingredients and dishes we had on our street food crawl show up on this outstanding tasting menu. It was pretty cool to draw the parallels and at the end of the day to have had both sets of experiences in one incredible city!
The must try dish at Pujol is the signature mole madre, mole nuevo, where fresh mole sauce is encased in an outer layer of mole that has been aged for – at the count when we were in: 1112 days. The flavor profile of the two moles absolutely blew me away. The entire tasting menu was enchanting, I especially enjoyed the prelude of bontanas and the fanfare of sweet treats at the end. To drink - mezcal, of course, with a glass of fresh orange rimmed with worm salt. 

I. Street Snacks - Bontanas
Gordita de chicharron, chile de catarino, pice de gallo, erizo (uni)
Chileatole de calbacita milpera (type of squash), chile mulato
Tostada de chia, pure de aguacate (chia and avocado chicharron)
Elote con mayonesa de hormiga chictana, cafe, chile costeno (baby corn, chicanta ant, coffee.)

II. Escamoles (ant larve), macadamia nut, piel de pollo (chicken skin)

III. Tartar de tasajo, limon en conserva, rabano, berro, aguacate
(Dry beef tartar, preserved lemon, radish, watercress, avocado)

IV. Tostada de camaron (shrimp tostada), recado blanco, mayonesa de chipoltle

 V. Pesca del dia, mantequilla avellanada, papa, mayonesa de limon en conserva, apio (Fish of the day, beurre noisette, potato, lemon mayonnaise, celery)

VI. Mole madre, mole nuevo 1112 dias

VII. Final Feliz - Happy Ending - avocado ice cream, sweet cocoa drink, a spiral of churros!

From the street food stalls to the sophisticated dining room here at Pujol, the food in Mexico City is something very special. And now, we are departing DF and onto Riviera Maya!

Pujol

Calle Francisco Petrarca 254

Miguel Hidalgo, Polanco

11570 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

[Restaurant images credit | Araceli Paz]

Pedro's Tacos

I've discovered a new favorite lunch spot! Pedro's Tacos is nestled unassumingly on Bromfield Street next to Silvertones; it has been around for a couple years and draws lunchtime regulars to its California-casual inspired takeout counter. (The original Pedro's is a drive through window in Orange County catering to the surf crowd.) Bob and I went all out with Combo Plates (extra $2.99) which add cheesy refried beans, zesty rice and a fountain drink to any order. Served in two soft corn tortillas, warm from the griddle + loaded with fresh ingredients; both the Famous Fish ($4.89) and the Carne Asada Tacos ($4.99) nailed it. Flaky battered cod fish with crisp cabbage, salsa and dressing + tender marinated steak with creamy guac and salsa for the win! They also serve up an awesome burrito ($9.49) - try the garlic marinated shrimp and rice. Don't forget some crispy tortilla chips ($2.49) and guacamole ($1.99) on the side and a cinnamon sugar loaded churro for dessert!!

Pedro's Tacos

55 Bromfield Street

Boston, MA 02108

*this meal was complimentary, all opinions are my own*

Masa Taqueria + Tequila Bar | Woburn

I have always been a fan of the South End's Masa for spicy cocktails and margaritas, tasty southwestern inspired food, and their fantastic brunch.

Last Saturday I paid my first visit to their recently revamped Woburn counterpart, Masa Taquieria & Tequila Bar (formerly Masa Southwest Bar & Grill). They've updated their menu, décor and website - all that's left seems to be the outdoor signage. The interior transports diners from a typical suburban strip mall to somewhere much more sophisticated; yet the vibe still remains casual and relaxed. Comfy chocolate leather booths meet white exposed brick walls which are home to a large collection of colorful Mexican posters - notably retro travel adds, accented by rainbow painted wainscoting. Zorro chandeliers and punched metal Southwestern light sconces envelope the space in a warm glow. 

They have some new interactive touches - a Hola! sign you can clip into a memo stand if you need the waitress' attention and a mini index card of the menu to select your food. 

A tres chile margarita ($11.50) was in order first. The jalapeño infused blanco tequila + anaheim + poblanos (the thres chiles!) brought a fantastic heat. This marg was a perfect pairing with creamy guacamole (small/$5) where large slices of ripe avocado are laced with red onions, garlic + lime and served with high quality tortilla chips. 

They have a large selection of tequilas, plus tequila flights and a few mezcals, although we stuck to cocktails this evening. The high noon ($10.5) with high west bourbon, lemon, luxardo, and domaine de canton was good - definitely on the sweeter side. The habanero watermelon margarita ($12) was a favorite I recognized from the South End's menu; habanero infused resposado tequila, triple sec and watermelon puree are a winning combination. (I even replicated this at home for a fourth of july party one year - a big hit!)

Off the specials menu Bob enjoyed the Grilled Swordfish over sautéed kale and butternut squash polenta. It was juicy and tender, a well executed piece of fish. I was excited about my Small Taco Combo ($26) which included six tacos, one tamale, rice, beans and grilled mexican corn. The tacos are miniature - two or three bites worth and are also offered individually for $2.75 - $3.75. I ordered: chorizo with cranberry salsa, portobello mushroom with cotija cheese, charred shrimp with sweet pepper slaw, slow cooked chicken with roasted tomato salsa, crispy cod fish with garlic aoili and carne asada with pico de gallo. I honestly don't think they can make a bad taco! And I loved the opportunity for variety. The rice and beans were surprisingly lackluster. I liked the corn tamale and the street corn though, so overall the taco combo was solid.

The churros ($7) shaped to resemble heavy crullers were deceiving! Not to worry, the first bite revealed a light and airy, ever so slightly crisp and piping hot churro, alongside a rich, warm, bittersweet chocolate sauce for dipping. For dessert, these are a no-brainer. 

Masa Taqueria + Tequila Bar
Woburn Plaza Shopping Center

350 Cambridge Rd.

Woburn, MA 01801

*this meal was complimentary, all opinions are my own*

Besito | Chestnut Hill

Besito translates to "little kiss" and at this small chain of authentic Mexican restaurants newest Chestnut Hill location, there is no lack of love. You taste it in the beautifully presented cuisine, you feel it from the eager-to-please waitstaff who greet you in Spanish, and you embrace it all around you in the culture rich atmosphere.

I love Mexican food. I wanted it all - tortilla soup, tableside guacamole, not to mention a number of sensational sounding appetizers. In an effort to reel it in, we decided on the ceviche del dia featuring fresh shrimp, avocado and mango, served with crispy tortilla and plantain chips. I sipped on a Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita, which nicely balanced the elements of cool and refreshing with a pinch of heat. 

Entrees showcased incredible, wide ranging and well developed flavors. The Filet de Res ($28) has a serious wow factor. Marinated in Negro Modelo, the butterflied steak is cooked a perfect medium and comes presented on a wide, circular cast iron skillet surrounded by a rich chipoltle sauce, balanced by quernado salsa, queso Chihuahua, queso fresco, nopales (cactus) and sweet plantains.

The Salmon Manchamantales ($23) is roasted and served with plantains in a pineapple pico de gallo. Besito's manchamantales mole is excellent. This earthy, complex sauce is certainly rivaling the mole we ate in Tulum, Mexico not too long ago! Additionally, black beans and rice studded with pepitas come with the entrees, served in little cauldrons for the table to share.

For dessert the delicious Tres Leches Cake is a must. The dense sponge cake is soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated, condensed, and placed atop a sweet, heavy cream. I sipped a smokey Mezcal while Bob enjoyed a spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate.  

At the end of the meal you are presented with parting gifts - crispy Churros and tiny little Mexican Worry Dolls. Traditionally you tell all your worries to the doll and place it under your pillow before bed, in the morning you wake up worry free.



Besito is a true testament to the owners deeply rooted passion, stemming from years of travel to Mexico. You can also visit them in Huntington, New York, Roslyn, New York, West Hartford, Connecticut, and in Burlington, Massachusetts at The Burlington Mall.

Besito Mexican Restaurant

Mall at Chestnut Hill

199 Boylston Street

Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

*this meal was complimentary - all opinions are my own*