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Dish of the Week: Tacos
Where: Tomatillo Taqueria
Transplants to D.C. from the Southwest have long been asking, where are the good tacos/Mexican food? Many point to Taqueria Distrito Federal or Taqueria Nacionale. One of the best tacos that I've found in town is actually at Bar Pilar, with cubes of veal tongue, a fantastic spicy sauce, cilantro, and radish. Unfortunately, it's not always on the menu. But thanks to a tip on Don Rockwell, I've found Tomatillo Taqueria. This taqueria opened three weeks ago in The Big Hunt. Really. The. Big. Hunt.
The operation is run out of the large bay window from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For $6, you have a choice between three tacos or a burrito. Filling options include barbacoa, carnitas or chicken along with pinto beans and vegetarian black beans. Free toppings include pico de gallo, tomatillo salsa, roasted tomato habanero salsa, queso fresco, onions and peppers. Guacamole is an extra $1 on top of a burrito or taco.
These tacos may have garnishes that are a departure from typical California tacos, with an overstuffed quality similar to Chipotle. But the wonderfully moist, flavorful meat makes these far superior to most other tacos in this city, which so often feature meat that's been allowed to sit drying out in chafing dishes. Be forewarned that the line moves a little slowly, but it'll seem well worth it once you have meat juice and salsa running down your arm.
Small Bites
Chocolate chocolate chocolate ack
A complimentary tasting of Fleurir Chocolates will be held at Biagio on October 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The local chocolatier creates flavors that include carrot cake, cheesecake, and Irish coffee.
Delicious nectar
We're big fans of Troegs beer, and Commonwealth will be hosting a Troegs beer dinner on October 20 starting at 6:30. The $45 three-course menu consists of seared scallop salad, mole-braised leg of lamb with roasted root vegetables and chocolate stout cake. It will be paired with six beers: Dreamweaver, Hopback Amber, Rugged Nut Brown Ale, Java Head Stout, Troegenator, and Dead Reckoning Porter. To make a reservation, call 202.265.1400.
Chatting it up
The Smithsonian is hosting a series of culinary events this fall that are worth checking out. Some of those include a history of sake, and a talk by Lidia Bastinich. Be sure to reserve early, as the tickets to an Alton Brown event next week is already sold out.
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The best I've had so far are at La Mexicana Taqueria and Bakery in Alexandria. All the tortillas are handmade by a little old lady in back and they make the guac fresh. They do chicken and barbacoa but my favorite is the tongue tacos.
The best I've had downtown was at a little Salvadorean place Marion Barry told me about. They specialized in pappoosas, which are a thick, tightly bound flatbread stuffed with delicious roast infant.
Oh Baby!
i know i'm going to get yelled at for even bringing this up, but is there a possibility that the tröegs dinner would be served with a vegetarian option? i love me some tröegs!
I know this is wretchedly middle class of me, but my favorite taco in the city is at Oyamel...
"Confit of baby pig with green tomatillo sauce, pork rinds, onions and cilantro"
And they're cheap at happy hour
How about a WMATA Taco? Smoked rail kill scraped right off the tracks and served warm in a corn tortilla with a side of "oops" salsa and "Delayed" gauc.
If you're in Dupont Circle - I can't recommend The Well Dressed Burrito enough. Coming from New Mexico, it's the closest I've had to the real thing!