100 days of culinary crossings. crossings.
Our friends Terry and Steuart called us yesterday, having just returned from a month-long stay in Europe, craving Mexican food. They agreed to venture out to Aurora to find it.
LA CUEVA, on 9742 E. Colfax Ave., might have been the obvious first choice, as it is familiar, comfortable and serves, frankly, delicious food. But, being that this blog is about crossings, familiar and comfortable just don't cut it.
After doing some research, I really wanted to go to this place called TITI'S FAMILY RESTAURANT, 15490 E. Colfax Ave., which has a reputation of cooking fantastic, authentic Caribbean and Latin American specialties. But, I also read that the owners recently changed its name to CARIBBEAN BREEZE LATIN GRILL and that the menu had changed, but then, again...? The information on line was very confusing, but we still thought we'd drive the distance to check it out.
Alas, we couldn't find it. Among the projects and the new strip mall developments, TITI'S/CARIBBEAN BREEZE seems to have disappeared. So, instead of driving all the way back to a more familiar option, we chose to stay in the neighborhood.
EL PELICANO lured us with its beacon of light
A large restaurant, El Pelicano is truly a "crossing the border" experience: it really is Mexico. The decor consists of expansive, colorful, hand-painted murals and a ceiling covered in fishing nets and plastic, nautical bric-a-brac. The place was busy, filled with families, kids running about. A trio of musicians serenaded tables throughout the night. The service was very quick, knowledgable and friendly. The atmosphere is great.
Our food: fried chips come with a seafood dip in addition to salsa. The drink on the right is an agua fresca tamarindo
guacamole and ceviche mixto, with big chunks of pulpo (octopus)
plato de carne asada, served with a chunk of queso fresco on the beans and and creamy cilantro dressing on the salad
two tacos--"El Gobernador", shrimp and monterey jack stuffed in a pasilla pepper, wrapped in a tortilla and fried; "Pescado Estillo Vallarta", breaded fish, cabbage, tomato, onion, avocado and a cream sauce on a corn tortilla.
dessert--massive flan and brain-sized fried ice cream.
The fried ice cream was actually really good, we thought. 
EL PELICANO serves a huge menu with a crazy assortment of seafood creations, including lobsters and crab legs, whole fried tilapia and snapper.
Take note of the stuffed pineapple: that's for next time.
The El Gobernador was the better taco - breaded fish on the other one wasn't so great. In general, we are a long way from the gulf and bringing seafood this far, for cheap - as noble a cause it is for El Pelicano - resulted in less than wonderful food. When in Colorado, go for the Carne.
ReplyDeleteYes, well, alas...at times the adventurous spirit of this "culinary crossing" may lead less to inspiring food and more to memorable experience.
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