Tasty Tuesday :: Chilaquiles

A Mexican favorite of ours is chilaquiles. Made with crispy corn tortilla triangles, called "totopos," this dish incorporates green or red salsa, a scrambled or fried egg, and pulled chicken. The mixture is then simmered until the tortillas start to soften, and it is topped with queso fresco, sour cream, or crema before serving. What you end up with is a culinary staple that warms the heart, and because chilaquiles is made with such simple ingredients, it is a popular dish for many households that carry these items in their refrigerators and pantries. Ours included.

And although chilaquiles is a satisfying meal during any part of the day, it is typically served during breakfast for one good reason: it is said to be cure for the common hangover. Why? It is believed that spicy foods, like chilaquiles, help in the body's recovery process as it reacts to capsicum, a potent and well documented pain relieving chemical found in most chiles.

In this picture: Chilaquiles from Antigua Bakery located in the Highland Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, CA.

My Taco | Highland Park

Even before we stepped up to the counter to place an order, the kids already fell in love with My Taco. The reason? They learned that Taboo and aple.d.ap of The Black Eyed Peas are frequent visitors of this family-owned restaurant, and the proprietors have the pictures to prove it ... Not that they need to, of course.

But, as cool as it was to note that members of one of our favorite bands are fans of My Taco, it took a little bit more to win me and the Mrs. over. Needless to say, it didn't take long once our orders began making their way to the table. Take, for example, the Carne Asada Fries, which were piled high with steak, guacamole, sour cream, and melted cheese. Then, there were the Pork Belly Tacos. They were every bit as good and succulent as they looked on the plate next to a generous helping of beans and rice.



The real attraction that grabbed hold of us, however, was their house specialty: The Barbacoa de Borrego. In simple terms, this is a very rich lamb stew that's made with a secret blend of seasonings combined with a variety of different chiles and a goat consomme. And it's paired nicely with corn tortillas, chopped cilantro, diced onions, and a yahualica salsa. Share it with friends or keep it to a personal party for one, this is a styrofoam bowl of heaven that will warm your soul.

The inspiration behind My Taco is its owners, Jorge and Maria Gardano. They opened their kitchy taco stand in 1994 in Highland Park, a neighborhood known affectionately as the "Taco Capital of Los Angeles" with over thirty different taco stands, food trucks, and eateries dotting a 3.9 square mile area. As you can imagine, the competition was pretty stiff, but the Gardanos placed a lot of faith and value on hard work. With the support of their families, including their own children, their success was inevitable.

As noted in Inside Pasadena, the Gardanos describe My Taco as a place where their customers can experience "homemade tastes with a traditional family environment. Many of our recipes are compiled from favorite dishes that we make at home. We hope you enjoy our restaurant and food."

BTW, if the weather is warm during your visit, be sure to order any one of their freshly made agua frescas. There are as many as three to choose from, such as horchata and tamarido, and they're a very cool alternative to compliment the spiciness of their food and their flare!

My Taco

6300 York Blvd., Suite 4

Los Angeles, CA 90042

OOTK's "12 Days of Christmas" | The Seventh Day

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

7 different kinds of vintage, hard-to-find, imported soda

In this photo: Plantation Style Mint Julep Soda from Galco's Soda Pop Stop. With over 500 different kinds of pops on the shelves, Galco's is the mecca for all soda pop enthusiasts.

Location:

Galco's Soda Pop Stop

5702 York Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90042

OOTK's "12 Days of Christmas" | The Fourth Day

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

Four pork belly tacos

In this picture: A pork belly soft taco from My Taco located in the Highland Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, CA. A true local gem, My Taco is a great spot to get some Mexican soul food as well as their delicious carne asada fries. If the weather is warm, make sure to order an agua fresca made fresh on premises.

My Taco

6300 York Blvd, Ste 4

Los Angeles, CA 90042

323.256.2698