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.
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.
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?I certainly don't mind that you are wrong about LTT. It's your opinion.
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.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.
Were you just scamming me so I can't meet you?
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.
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.
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.
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.
"flame noobs"?
"flame noobs"?
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.but after seeing some of the pictures... maybe not.