12 February, 2007

Lupe's East LA Kitchen, New York - Review

New York #93
So for lunch, I left the choice of the venue to my NY colleages (we were expensing lunch for everyone as it was a celebratory meal to welcome a new team member) and they chose "Lupe's", which is an unassuming little Mexican place (staffed by what appear to be genuine South Americans) situated on the Avenue of the Americas...(and was packed with lunchtime guests (an excellent sign))!
New York #94
We started off with a plate of nachos with guacamole (which was wonderfully fresh, creamy and sweet) and an extremely ripe tomato salsa...
New York #95
...which I followed up with Chicken Tamale (had to have it, I had Googled it after Brent Spiner used the phrase "The Full Tamale" in the movie "Indepenence Day" and was always curious to taste one), as it turns out, it's spiced chicken and something unidentifiable, (but definitely vegetable-ish) which is brown and mushy moulded into sausage shapes and steamed in the green leaves that normally surround corn on the cob - I probably didn't make it sound that amazing but it was actually delicious, especially with the addition of some sticky, spicy BBQ chilli sauce drizzled over the top...it came served with a little salad (could have done with some more tomato in there) and the best refried beans I have ever eaten (the last few times I have had them basically put me off them completely), but these were amazingly creamy, actually had good texture and were perfectly seasoned, oh and a little rice (that tasted vaguely of tomatos, but didn't make up for the salad)...
If every Mexican place was as good as this, I would be a convert, but I think the cuisine requires a level of skill to get *right* that most people who actually sit down to cook it really don't either appreciate or possess (especially if they start by picking up an Old El Paso box, criminally if they are doing it professionally ;) incorrectly thinking they can cover up their lack of skill with loads of chilli...this place really is a diamond in the rough (especially for Manhattan, which certainly isn't famed for it's Mexicana)...Try it! ;)
New York #96
Oh, and just opposite where we ate is what has to be the narrowest restaurant in the world, it doesn't even look like there is even room for the customers to go inside, they have to huddle under the blue plastic awning!
New York #97
In other news I got a text from my sister, she has arrived safely in the city, so tonight we go to eat pizza at Lombardis! Hurrah!

More later... ;)

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