San Angel review?

[GAN]

There are some things I admittedly don't know enough about. Some others, I know too much....

 

[DisneyKevin]

Calling the ingredient "weird" borders on insulting to all Mexican cooks who use it, and demonstrates an uncommon laziness in the preparation of the review.

Kevin's preparation for the San Angel review -

Show up at restaurant
Eat bad food in the dark
Record Podcast where I tell you I didn't like the food and why.

End of Kevin's preparation for San Angel Review.

Lazy? Maybe...but its the same preparation for every review.

As a long time listener, I'm sure you've heard us state on several occasions that none of us are trained chefs or have culinary training.

Our qualifications are that we like to eat and we are willing to share our opinions.

Proving that it's okay to put peas in Mexican rice doesn't change the fact that it wasn't good. it was dry and crunchy.

Quoting Marcela doesn't change the fact that Craig has never seen peas in Spanish Rice and that he found it "weird". I and sure that if any Mexican cooks are insulted by Craig's opinion, they will let us know.

It seems very important to you that we acknowledge that Marcela and Rick approve of peas in Spanish rice.

Consider this to be acknowledgement.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Haven't even seen the review yet, but I'm sure I'll enjoy it, as I always do.

One question though, even sight unseen - can't we all just get along?

 

[pjweaver]

This train is on the right track but facing the wrong direction. A dining review is exactly what Kevin said, an opinion. It needs to be taken (figuratively) with a grain of salt. I rarely agree with every review no matter whether it's on the Dis or TV or my local paper, but I pay attention, and when several foodies lean in the same direction, I pay attention.

Some like their meat well cooked, I like mine to moo when I cut it. Some like crispy rice, I want mine light and fluffy. Some like their vegetables crisp and seasoned, I like mine overcooked and bland so I don't feel bad when I don't eat them. The true joy of cooking and eating is that cooking is an art and not a series of strict rules. The same dessert Kevin loved was the one John hated, which shows the value of having a group to provide their input. To take one review, critique, or recipe as gospel is silly, but to argue someone's opinion makes no sense whatsoever.

To temper anyone who will say I'm siding with Kevin, I disagree with his reviews at LTT and to a lesser degree Tony's. To hear his reviews no one ever should go there, but I have an ADR for LTT on every trip.

 

[DisneyKevin]

This train is on the right track but facing the wrong direction. A dining review is exactly what Kevin said, an opinion. It needs to be taken (figuratively) with a grain of salt. I rarely agree with every review no matter whether it's on the Dis or TV or my local paper, but I pay attention, and when several foodies lean in the same direction, I pay attention.

Some like their meat well cooked, I like mine to moo when I cut it. Some like crispy rice, I want mine light and fluffy. Some like their vegetables crisp and seasoned, I like mine overcooked and bland so I don't feel bad when I don't eat them. The true joy of cooking and eating is that cooking is an art and not a series of strict rules. The same dessert Kevin loved was the one John hated, which shows the value of having a group to provide their input. To take one review, critique, or recipe as gospel is silly, but to argue someone's opinion makes no sense whatsoever.

To temper anyone who will say I'm siding with Kevin, I disagree with his reviews at LTT and to a lesser degree Tony's. To hear his reviews no one ever should go there, but I have an ADR for LTT on every trip.

And this is why we often tell people that these are our opinions based on one visit and that everyone interested should visit the restaurant and form their own opinion.

I certainly don't mind that you are wrong about LTT. It's your opinion.

 

[pjweaver]

I certainly don't mind that you are wrong about LTT. It's your opinion.

Then why is the opening dinner for the Dis 10th anniversary being held at LTT? Were you just scamming me so I can't meet you?

 

[Teleclashter]

This is simply wrong. First, I'm not sure what point you are making with respect to the reference to white rice in paella. All Spanish rice, (paella or not) and Mexican rice starts with white rice. As for the inclusion of peas, two minutes of culinary research would reveal that the ingredient is authentic. Universal? No. Common? Absolutely. Calling the ingredient "weird" borders on insulting to all Mexican cooks who use it, and demonstrates an uncommon laziness in the preparation of the review.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/221930/mamacitas-mexican-rice/

http://www.food.com/recipe/spanish-rice-67997

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/...proof-mexican-rice-arroz-mexicano-recipe.html

I consider Marcela's work quite authoritative. I'll rely on her inclusion over the adjective "weird".

But for more, read on, and scroll down to "pilaf":

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/articles/detail/mexican-rice

And can anyone challenge the bona fides of Rick Bayless?

http://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/mexican-red-rice/

On the Caesar Salad, it's inclusion on the menu is obviously a wink and a nod to the fact that the dish originated in Mexico. A quick reference to that bit of trivia would have served the review better than a joke that alluded to its inappropriateness or oddness.

You're right. I wasn't thinking about the fact that Spanish and Mexican rice starts off with a white rice base at some point which makes my stupidity feel extreme, but that doesn't change that I think it's weird to put peas in rice. That's my personal choice. I would tell any chef to their face how I feel about it.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Were you just scamming me so I can't meet you?

Who? Me?

 

[Tonyz]

First off, I agree with the team's overall reaction to San Angel. This has been on the bottom of my list for years despite several re-visits in hopes that things have improved. No such luck. There is a reason why they make you eat in the dark. The food here is as visually unappealing as it is clumsily prepared. That out of the way, there are a couple of criticisms in the review thar deserve retraction. During the review, the team made a joke of the fact that Craig's first course was "indigenous to Mexico", referring to his Caesar Salad and everyone laughed. However, Caesar Salad is indeed indigenous to Mexico having been first created and served by Caesar Cardini in Tijuana. Now, granted, Mr. Cardini was Italian. But his restaurant was in Mexico. So both cultures played a role, but the dish itself was unknown to Italy until having been brought over from Mexico.

The second point of correction pertains to Craig's comment that he had never seen peas in Spanish rice. However, peas are common in Paella. (See below). That said, this is supposed to be an authentic restaurant with its origins in Mexico City, so the debate over the proper preparation of Spanish rice and/or paella should be moot.

I DEMAND retractions!!

 

[Sean91]

Who knew peas in rice could cause such a debate :') Off topic... I love LTT, mainly because it makes me feel all American haha.

 

[Tonyz]

But the "joke" played off of the word "indigenous" and the inflection used when saying the word which brought about the laughter. The clear implication of this is that the dish was out of place on the menu. That is certainly the way it played out among the group. At no point in the review was the joke diffused with a statement that the dish actually originated in Mexico. Viewers can make up their own minds as to how this all unfolded. But to me, the point being made was that a Caesar Salad was an odd choice to find on a Mexican menu.

Is this really bothering you that much?

 

[Tonyz]

This is simply wrong. First, I'm not sure what point you are making with respect to the reference to white rice in paella. All Spanish rice, (paella or not) and Mexican rice starts with white rice. As for the inclusion of peas, two minutes of culinary research would reveal that the ingredient is authentic. Universal? No. Common? Absolutely. Calling the ingredient "weird" borders on insulting to all Mexican cooks who use it, and demonstrates an uncommon laziness in the preparation of the review.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/221930/mamacitas-mexican-rice/

http://www.food.com/recipe/spanish-rice-67997

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/...proof-mexican-rice-arroz-mexicano-recipe.html

I consider Marcela's work quite authoritative. I'll rely on her inclusion over the adjective "weird".

But for more, read on, and scroll down to "pilaf":

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/articles/detail/mexican-rice

And can anyone challenge the bona fides of Rick Bayless?

http://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/mexican-red-rice/

On the Caesar Salad, it's inclusion on the menu is obviously a wink and a nod to the fact that the dish originated in Mexico. A quick reference to that bit of trivia would have served the review better than a joke that alluded to its inappropriateness or oddness.

 

[pjweaver]

Thanks for reminding me why I try to forget the 80's. Then again I try not to remember yesterday. BTW is that Andre the Giant on drums? We went from peas to Liberty Tree, to Styx and I wonder if senility or ADD or SQUIRREL.
So then all my emails to Kevin are now returned as undeliverable and Pete has a restraining order on me coming within 300 feet from his property. I was escorted from Beaches and Cream for telling them that peas do not belong on rice cream, but at least now they know.
Since my mind is slowly slipping I have an appointment to get a tattoo on my arm that reads "San Angel = BAD", but I forgot when my appointment is. The good news is they let me out of my room once a day for Stouffers turkey dinner and a wiggly dessert that they hide my pills in. We are inside the 180 window, but I was able to get an ADR for San Angel in at Epcot, hopefully we can sit by the River of Time or near Candy Mountain. The doctors here think I should be well enough to travel by July, so I can camp out on Pete's yard. Now I must be off to spam the disboards with my insightful comments and flame noobs.

 

[pjweaver]

And that's how I get a thread back on topic.

 

[DisneyKevin]

"flame noobs"?

 

[Tonyz]

"flame noobs"?

I needed an aspirin after reading that post.

 

[Sean91]

I'm disappointed that the San Angel is so poor. It has such a cute, romantic little setting and I love the Mexico market place so I always wanted to eat there, my partner worked in Epcot for a year and always said it had a bad reputation so we never went. We where planning on going during our next trip but after seeing some of the pictures... maybe not.

 

[GAN]

"flame noobs"?

Hmmm...what are those. I feel very uninformed?

 

[KingLlama]

NO JUSTICE! NO PEAS!
NO JUSTICE! NO PEAS!

 

[samsteele]

but after seeing some of the pictures... maybe not.

What about making an ADR for the early afternoon (miss the lunch crowd) & just order an appie to share and 2 of the La Cava margaritas if you enjoy margaritas? Lots of guests do just that. Still enjoy the atmosphere, get a sense of the menu and if a bust you don't feel like you wasted too much of your time and $. Probably snag a water side table as well since you are arriving at an off peak hr. If you love it, you would likely still find a lunch or dinner ADR avail for later in your vacation.