Saturday Splurge: Tacombi (Manhattan)

There's an unspoken rule on the subway in New York City... you should give up your seat to a pregnant woman. That being said, you know a restaurant's really good when you purposely allow your 'food baby' to stick out, in hopes of securing a seat on the train. Yes, I paraded my belly without shame and yes, I got a seat. Damn was that food good!

If you don't know this by now, you're just not paying attention... I love Mexican food. I'll wear a sombrero even, if that's what it takes to enjoy a taco al pastor or a bowl of creamy queso. So when Adam and I stumbled across Tacombi on Elizabeth Street, I had full confidence that this would be the beginning of a torrid love affair with some tacos.

Tacombi @ Fonda Nolita is what you call a 'taqueria on wheels'. Dario Wolos, a native of Mexico, opened Tacombi in 2010, after being 'discovered' by Food Network personality Aaron Sanchez while serving up tacos out of his Volkswagon Combi on the beaches of Playa del Carmen. Making sure not to lose the food truck appeal, Wolos opened up shop in a 2,100-square-foot garage and parked an actual VW Combi inside. The best part is... that's where they put the tacos together! The roof of the van lifts up, leaving room for at least 3 people to get in there and plate some tacos.

Even when it's crowded, they keep things moving. We got a table within ten minutes, but that didn't stop us from having a few drinks beforehand. The bar holds a colorful display of red and white sangria and a crazy little cocktail of horchata (a traditional Mexican drink usually made with rice, milk, vanilla and cinnamon) spiked with sake. Of course I went for the horchata. The combination was surprisingly delicious...and I'm not even a fan of sake!

While we were happily sipping our adult beverages, the food started to arrive. Wait!?! We JUST sat down! That was faster than a New York minute! We started with the corn esquites, which I can only describe as a steaming hot cup of goodness - toasted corn, cheese, chipotle mayo and lime.

For our taco selection, we went with the beef barbacoa, al pastor de puerco, zucchini and mushroom and maiz y poblano tacos. The tacos range anywhere from $3-6, which I found to be a little on the pricey side when you consider their size. I've eaten a lot of tacos in my life (obviously). I'm not going to say these are 'the absolute best' tacos I've ever had, but they are definitely a solid choice when you factor in the surroundings and the fun cocktails.

Tacombi makes you feel like you've temporarily escaped the tribulations of a hot New York City summer. You can almost see the glistening ocean waves. Did I just hear someone say, 'Which way to the beach, ladies?'?

And, as for the dress code, you might want to call them for verification, but I'm willing to bet your surf shorts will suffice! Surf's up, city folk!





TACOMBI @ FONDA NOLITA
267 Elizabeth St. (between Prince and Houston)
New York, NY 10012
917.727.0179
www.tacombi.com

Holy Tilapia! This Fish is Good!

Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

I was always a salmon girl (pronouncing it with the 'L' for years and years, mind you). It was a 'safe' fish. My mom served it up in such a way that I asked for more. It didn't creep me out. Generally, we got along, salmon and I.

But as my taste buds have ventured out into other waters, my eyes (and heart) have begun to stray. I'm noticing other fish. I know it's wrong, but it just...feels so right!

Alright, I said it!! You got me, ok?!? Tilapia, it's always been you!

But jokes aside, this little fish packs a big punch nutritionally! As opposed to my 'on again, off again' boyfriend steak, tilapia is...

• A lean meat, meaning it's extremely low in fat and calories. One 3.5 oz. serving of cooked tilapia has approximately 3 grams of fat and 128 calories. What little fat it contains is all unsaturated fat, which will not clog your arteries and is actually good for your heart.- Glamour shots, here you come!
• Full of omega-3 fatty acids which actually promote heart health - Gives your heart a running start!
• A great source of vitamin B12, a vitamin essential to metabolic function and maintaining your energy levels - No mid-day power nap necessary, folks!
• Rich in selenium, a nutrient that actually helps to reduce your risk of developing cancer! - Take a hike, cancer!
• Packed with 26 grams of protein per serving! Depending on your body weight, this could be up to half of your daily requirement (based on a 150 lb. person) - Put down the egg cocktail, Rocky!

Tilapia also has one of the lowest mercury levels of all fish, meaning you can eat 2-3 servings a week without worrying about consuming too much (DISCLAIMER: If you are 'with child', always consult your doctor before eating fish).

If your tilapia is frozen, always allow it to thaw in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 2 days this way and allow you the chance to marinate it as it thaws. Talk about multi-tasking!

Try throwing some tilapia over a salad for lunch OR for dinner, substituting tilapia for meat in your tacos! You can broil it, roast it, saute it....whatever your heart desires. I recommend heating a saute pan over medium-high heat. While it's warming up, lightly coat both sides of your tilapia with olive oil, then sprinkle a generous coating of your spice of choice on both sides (I use one of those combo spices from the grocery store that are great for any type of meat). Once your pan is hot, cook the tilapia until it is opaque inside (about 5-7 minutes), flipping it about halfway through. Quick and tasty!


Here are some other great recipes to get you started:

BROILED TILAPIA WITH THAI COCONUT-CURRY SAUCE:
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/broiled-tilapia-with-thai-coconut-curry-sauce-10000000348346/

Image courtesy of myrecipes.com

TILAPIA TACOS WITH CUCUMBER RELISH:
http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/fish-tacos-cucumber-relish-00000000057124/

Image courtesy of realsimple.com

CHILI-RUBBED TILAPIA WITH ASPARAGUS & LEMON:
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/chili_rubbed_tilapia_with_asparagus_lemon.html

Image courtesy of eatingwell.com