Rating: 💋 💋 💋 💋
Happy September everybody!
Hopefully the days stay golden just a little bit longer, but sadly summer has ended. We are getting in motion for colder weather, fuzzy scarves, and pumpkins. Pros and cons to that, but for me, every season pales in comparison to summer, so it is bittersweet.
With that in mind, I hope that you all had a lovely summer send-off this weekend. I celebrated with dinner at Dos Caminos in SoHo and it was the perfect way to end the season on a high note.
To start, we ordered the salsa trio with the house guacamole, which offered a nice array of flavors to choose from. The chips were a pleasant surprise because, though they did not look like anything special, they had a good flavor with the perfect amount of salt dusting the surface. Plus, they were thankfully not chewy, but instead added a satisfying crunch to each bite. As for the salsas, the green would have to be my least favorite because the flavors were not terribly exciting. It had a nice cool flavor though, which helped cleanse the palate from the other salsas. The orange definitely had a good kick to it, taking the heat up a few notches from the green and adding a bit more fun. The dark red salsa in the middle was a clear favorite, offering a smokey sweet flavor that was perfect. The guacamole, however, was the true star of the show, no surprises there. The chunky spread was well-seasoned, creamy yet salty, and served in the perfect portion for a shared appetizer, bonus points for the cute bowl it came presented in. Even better, we got to keep it for the whole meal and add the guac to our entrees as desired, which I greatly appreciated.
The biggest take away from the dinner was without a doubt the fact that the sangria was outstanding. My mom always says that a good bartender doesn't skimp on the booze in your drinks, but also knows how to mix them well so that an overpowering taste of alcohol will not insult your taste buds. The sangria at Dos Caminos fulfills those requirements beautifully. We ordered the pitcher, which was a very economically sound decision as for &17.50 each we both got about three drinks, so I would definitely recommend for economy's sake. Plus, it tasted fantastic, with a light fruity flavor that was enhanced by the wine, rather than cloaked by it. What's more, the green apple chunks and orange slices that filled the pitcher lifted up the flavor of the drink and topped it all off perfectly.
The only flaw with the entire experience was how the waiter smirked at us as he asked to see photo ID to verify we were twenty-one, and thereafter for the rest of the meal. Like, what was that about? We are over twenty-one and we just proved it so stop looking at us like that!
Still, worth it to get smirked at and get to enjoy the white sangria. It tasted so good I was talking about it hours later. Please, go to Dos Caminos and order some, you won't be disappointed.
Last but certainly not least, I ordered this beautiful chimichanga for dinner. I am a huge fan of burritos, so when I saw they had a "New!" menu item in their traditional plates section that was basically an upgraded burrito, how could I say no? The key to the chimichanga was its simplicity. They did not over stuff the tortilla or the diner; instead, the select ingredients each had their moment to shine and they all worked together to enhance the overall flavor of the dish. I walked away only pleasantly full, not clutching my stomach as it rebelled against an excess of food. Tucked inside the crispy tortilla, the juicy al pastor pork was shredded delicately, nestled among borracho beans and a lovely selection of cheeses. The pico de gallo and crema on top created a perfect balance of hot and cool flavors while adding a fresh taste to the dish. Most excitingly, on the very top, the chef added chicharrón, an ingredient I admit I had never heard of before. Chicharrón is made of fried pork belly or fired pork rinds, so, as you can imagine, it tasted delectable and brought a nice chewy twist to the meal. The chef also understood that less is more, so there was not a pile of chicharrón coating the tortilla, but just a few quality pieces that were a treat with every bite.
If I could only use one word to describe the chimichanga, "succulent" is what comes to mind. Fresh juicy meat spilling out of buttery, fried tortilla and given a zip from a lovely melange of sauce and vegetables - what could be better?
I'll tell you what - nothing! It was almost too much yummy deliciousness to handle - almost, but not quite.
Overall, a great dinner. The outside dining atmosphere on a warm summer night with ambient lighting completed the experience and made for an absolutely lovely evening. Despite the quirky service, everything else was ten out of ten flawless, and I absolutely cannot wait to go back. In the meantime, please go for me! Even better, Dos Caminos has multiple locations throughout the city, so if you're not near SoHo, you can pop into their restaurants in the Meatpacking District, Park Avenue, or Time Square and still enjoy a delicious dinner. Keep summer alive with their sangria!
Anyway, I am off to look for thick sweaters to save me when the temperature drops. Be back soon with more good eats!
XX,
MK
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