Carne asada and chicken milanesa tortas.
Dish of the Week: Mexican tortas
Where: Taqueria Distrito Federal
Every once in a while, a sandwich comes along that’s so delicious, you don’t mind if it drips hot sauce all over your clothes. The chicken milanesa torta from Taqueria Distrito Federal is that sandwich.
Tortas are definitely what Cookie Monster would call a “sometimes food.” Mexican tortas (not to be confused with frittata-esque Spanish tortas) typically consist of meat, avocado, tomato, beans, lettuce, cheese and mayonnaise stuffed inside a crusty telera roll. Taqueria Distrito Federal’s version is big and messy, a riot of colors and textures: crunchy bread, creamy beans and avocado and pillowy melted cheese. Aside from chicken milanesa (a breaded chicken cutlet), other fillings include ham, grilled chicken, carne asada and steak milanesa.
The Taqueria knows that sometimes there’s nothing better than pairing a fat with another fat. To wit: the rolls are toasted, buttered and then smeared with mayonnaise. And if that wasn’t enough, I would be totally remiss if I did not recommend getting the milanesa specifically. Sure, you might be tempted to order grilled chicken for the sake of your cholesterol, but that would be wrong. Chicken or steak milanesa is really the way to go. The cutlets are pounded nice and thin, and have an crisp, salty herb and breadcrumb crust. Pair it with the Taqueria’s firey, tomato-based sauce and you’ve got a Mexican twist on Chicken Parmesan or Sicilian steak. A squeeze of lime and a few slices of fresh cucumber pull the entire canvas of flavors together, tempering the heat and cutting through the richness.
Like good tacos, a good torta is fairly hard to find in D.C. While the Taqueria’s tortas rarely steer me wrong (in fact, they tend to steer me toward a nap on the couch), the mammoth tortas from Super Tacos left me cold. Do you have a favorite place to grab a torta in the District? Let us know in the comments.
Small Bites
Our beer cup runneth over
As if there weren’t enough opportunities to try great beer on the calendar, Eatonville will be hosting a three course dinner with beer pairings on Wednesday, April 20 as part of their Food and Folklore series. Beer writer Greg Wiggins will discuss craft beers, and the meal will feature libations from nearby Dogfish Head, Flying Dog, Victory, Tuppers’ Hop Pocket, Port City and Clipper City breweries. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased online or by calling the restaurant.
Oysterfest is back
Hank’s Oyster Bar is hosting their annual Oysterfest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. A $75 ticket gets you access to all the raw and barbecued oysters you can fit in your tummy, washed down with craft beers from Troegs, Allagash, and Brooklyn Brewery. Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling Hank’s D.C. (202-462-4265) or Hank’s Old Town (703-739-4265).
The tax man giveth and the tax man taketh away
Didn’t get a refund this year? Never fear, you can snag a deal at Bibiana, 701 Restaurant, or the Oval Room on Monday, April 18. Each restaurant will be offering a 3-course lunch menu for $20.11 on Tax Day.
At least it’s not another Comfort One shoes
Prince of Petworth reports that Capital Teas will be taking over the space vacated by Coffee and the Works on Connecticut Avenue in Dupont Circle. Capital Teas is based out of Annapolis and also has locations in Georgetown, Bethesda and National Harbor.
