Mirra

-Grubbing in Chicago
Indian and Mexican Merge in Bucktown

First thing I do when learning of a new restaurant is check the menu to see if it’s worth putting on my hit list. I’m looking for things outside the norm. That might be a regional dish you don’t see at many other spots or it could be a creative dish you’ve never seen anywhere else. Simply put I’m looking for places that stand out in a crowded field. Today we’re going to visit a spot that stood out - Mirra. 

Recently Opened in Bucktown

Mirra is the brainchild of Chef Zubair Mohajir and his biz partner slash executive chef Rishi Kumar. Mohajir was born in Chennai and grew up in Doha while Kumar is Singaporean. Together they’ve teamed up to create one of the most interesting menus in Chicago combining Indian and Mexican ingredients. Before we get into my visits let me just say that this isn’t some Chipotle like fusion concept putting typical Indian dishes in a burrito or turning them into tacos. I wouldn’t even call this fusion food simply bc some people hear that and shake their head assuming half baked attempts at combining two cuisines. Mirra is far from that. It's a vibrant fusion of cultures from the lens of a kitchen. Simply stated I think it’s one of the most interesting restaurants in the town right now. 

Huevos Rancheros Lababdar

We’ll start with brunch which they just introduced this past summer. Every now and then I’ll come across a brunch menu that’s the opposite of monotonous and only then am I down to overpay for eggs. My other issues with brunch are I prefer to eat sweet at the end the day and not the beginning of it and I don’t like to wait until dinner to get a little bit of spice in my life. Simply put brunch is boring to me but not at Mirra where the cuisines of India and Mexico merge especially well when it comes to a mid morning meal. I’m pro-fusion when it comes to food because it can make for interesting dishes with unique flavor profiles when the people doing the cooking have a good understanding of the cuisines they’re blending. Well they certainly seem to have that here which is why I’m always keeping my eye on the menu to see what’s next. On a recent visit I was tempted by the Huevos Rancheros Lababdar made up of two soft eggs sitting in a tomato-tinga masala with Salsa Macha plus avocado and a fenugreek roti to soak it all up. It tasted new to me in terms of the flavors they were combining and bc of that I wasn’t sure about this dish at first but I liked it more and more with each passing bite. 

Idli Crab Benedict

It’s pretty much standard to have some sort of Eggs Benedict dish on your brunch menu and Mirra does but it’s not normal by any means - two perfectly poached eggs are placed atop a plate of crab sukkha which is a spicy and aromatic crab dish considered to be a delicacy of the Mangalorean cuisine from the coastal region of Karnataka in India. As far as I could tell there wasn’t much that was Mexican about this dish but I respect that they don’t go overboard. The menu definitely leans Indian with a bit of Mexican preparation as you can see in an order of the Shrimp Pakoda tacos. Pakoda is a popular way of frying fritters in India and at Mirra they coat wild gulf shrimp with seasoned garam flour batter and fry them. The shrimp come out crisp with a nice bite and work in-sync with avocado crema, salsa macha and a crisp cabbage slaw, all on a slightly chewy made on site blue corn tortilla. 

Shrimp Pakoda Tacos

The dinner menu at Mirra is equally intriguing. I highly recommend starting off with the Mirra Mezze plate which comes with four different dips - house Achar, Salsa Tatemado, Sikil Pak, and Guacamole - plus Tlayudas and Papads for dipping. The achaar is intensely tangy while the salsa tatemado is nice and smoky and the sikil pak is nutty and the guac nice and creamy. It all blends together so perfectly well. I've eaten this as a complete meal in and of itself on a hot summer night and it was perfect.

Mirra Mezze

I’m a big fan of crispy tacos of any type so I had to try the fancified version made with Hudson Bay Scallops, Mexican Green Curry, Nopales Pico, and Crispy Fenugreek Roti. I thought these were good but the scallops had a slight fishy taste to them. Rasul’s Roti Quesadillas is perhaps the most joining dish on the menu. Roast Mushrooms, Amul Cheese, and Chettinad Masala is stuffed into a house made roti before a trip to the griddle. It’s been a mainstay on the menu since day one. According to a blurb I read in Chicago Magazine this dish is “an homage to a signature dish at Rasul’s El Ranchero, a now-closed Northern California restaurant that broke new ground by bringing together the foodways of the area’s Punjabi and Mexican immigrant communities.” I love a dish with a fun backstory. 

Crsipy Tacos at Mirra


Rasul's Roti Quesadillas

Softshell crab is another menu mainstay though they’ve switched the recipe up since I tried it. On my visit the fried softshell crab was being made with a Salsa Negra, Madras Mix, Yoghurt, and Mint Chutney. It was a delightful dish but they’ve since switched the ingredients to a fried soft shell crab with Gujarati Inspired Khavsa and Almond-Vanilla Salsa Macha. I’m going to go ahead guess that the new version is just as good if not better than the old one. That said whatever is on the menu at Mirra when you visit is going to be interesting so you really can’t go wrong no matter which way you go.

Soft Shell Crab at Mirra

Mirra
1954 W Armitage Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 729-6214
Website

Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine

-Grubbing in Chicago  
Oaxacan Food in Lakeview

Chicago’s biggest food strength outside of its homegrown cuisine is its Mexican food scene - it’s arguably the best in the country east of LA. This is driven by the fact we have a perfect mix of both mom and pop taqueria types and also a large group of classically trained chefs cooking up cutting edge Mexican cuisine. But even still there’s room for growth and a newish Mexican restaurant in Lakeview is focusing in on Oaxacan cuisine, which has always been somewhat lacking in Chicago (the majority of Chicago's Mexican population hail from three states - Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero).

Recently Opened in Lakeview

Istmo opened on Clark just north of Belmont last summer. It’s the product of Chef Carlos López Muñoz who hails from Oaxaca. Istmo de Tehuantepec is the largest region in the state of Oaxaca and according to a story I read over at Eater Muñoz became interested in Mexican gastronomy while living in Finland, where real deal Mexican food is basically non existent. The Chicago chapter of his life story starts out at the Michelin-starred Mexique where he staged for Chef Carlos Gaytán after returning from Mexico upon completing his culinary studies down there. He also worked with Rick Bayless. Say what you will about Skip’s brother but him and his restaurant(s) have pushed Chicago's Mexican food scene forward with all the chefs that have come and gone thru his kitchen(s). Many of whom have gone on to open their own spots. Istmo is the latest and one of the more interesting due to a couple things 1) it’s very regional choosing to hone in on the flavors of Oaxaca and 2) it chose to roll with breakfast and lunch upon first opening, though they recently introduced a dinner menu.

a peek inside

The inside of Istmo feels like a spot you might come across in a hip and happening Oaxaca City neighborhood. It’s modern and bright and a very nice place to meet up with friends and or family. Visit on the weekend and you’ll feel a very uplifting energy upon entering. Locals have very much shown up for the modern takes on Oaxacan breakfast classics like the Enfrijoladas ($19). This dish traces its origins back to pre-Columbian times in Oaxaca and is one of the most popular versions of enchiladas in all of Mexico. Silky black bean sauce is poured over handmade corn tortillas topped with queso and crema and served aside plantains and a fried egg. You can add grilled steak, chicken tinga or green chorizo made locally by Santa Masa Tamaleria though it’s a pretty perfect plate of breakfast as is.

Enfrijoladas at Istmo

On another visit I tried the Huevos Divorciados ($18) which translates to “divorced eggs” which is a humorous name for this Mexican breakfast favorite featuring two eggs sitting in two different salsas, and they're not on speaking terms. The version at Istmo is made with a green tomatillo salsa and a red roasted tomato salsa split directly down the middle with a fried egg on each side plus a few slices of avocado, also split down the middle. It comes with fried made in house tortillas which have that distinct corn flavor plus creamy Oaxacan black beans and again it’s an exciting plate of breakfast and a meat free one at that. If you’re really hungry I suggest adding a side of their extra flavorful Papas Bravas breakfast potatoes ($7) which come doused in a spicy and smoky Guajillo and Chipotle aioli.

Papas Bravas

Huevos Divorciados at Istmo

If you want some red meat in the morning I suggest trying the Garnachas Istmeñas ($13) which was the most intriguing menu item to me as I’m always on the prowl for dishes you won’t find elsewhere and these tasty treats are a regional specialty of the previously mentioned Isthmus region of Oaxaca. Little boats of heirloom corn are patted out and cooked before being filled with red adobo marinated steak and topped with queso istmeño (a dried age cheese). They come with a cup of pickled vegetables on the side and are served two to an order so they make for a good appetizer option. I do find the prices at Istmo a bit off putting as nobody really wants to pay $25 for a meatless breakfast these days but that seems to be the norm. That said Mexican breakfast is underrated and the prices here are no different than other popular brunch places though the food feels much more personal. 

Garnachas Istmeñas at Istmo

Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine
3231 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657
(872) 315-2034
Website

Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood Pt. 2

-Grubbing in Chicago
Five of a Kind: Logan Square Favorites

Another calendar year is winding down and with it I have a collection of delicious dishes from Logan Square to share. Some readers may remember a post from last year where I declared Logan Square the city’s best food neighborhood and that's still the case today. If you want a little bit of it all when it comes to eating options Logan Square is your top spot in Chicago. Today’s post is a collection of five great things I’ve ate in the neighborhood of late - all from places I've previously featured on here.

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Superkhana International

I’ve never been a big brunch person but brunch has never been quite as exciting as it is these days. Omelets, Eggs Benedict, Pancakes and the likes just don’t excite like the Breakfast Dosa Hash at Superkhana does. For the uninitiated Dosa is a thin and savory crepe common in South Indian cuisine. It's made from a fermented batter of ground black gram and rice and is commonly served as a meal with pickles, chutney, and a variety of fillings. Masala Dosa comes with a flavorful spiced potato curry and is one of the most popular ways to enjoy it. At Superkhana they serve it with cabbage, curry leaf, a sunny side up egg, fried potatoes, and chile crisp and it’s been my favorite breakfast dish in town for a few years now even though it’s a vegetarian dish. But so what it has way more depths of flavor than a plate of bacon and eggs can bring. I just love what Chef Yoshi, Chef Zeeshan and their team are doing over at 3059 W. Diversey - one of my favorite restaurants in town.

Breakfast Dosa Hash at Superkhana International
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Best Intentions

Speaking of my favorite places in town, Best Intentions is another Logan Square spot on that list. I love what they did at 3281 West Armitage in turning an old neighborhood dive into a new neighborhood dive. Best Intentions has everything I want in a local bar - the drinks are reasonably priced and can range from a bottle of High Life to a well crafted cocktail - there’s a really nice sized patio and an outdoor bar to boot - and most importantly they have some damn good bar food. The burgers and fries are top notch but of late I’ve been planning my visits around the Filet ‘O’ Friday - their take on the Filet-O-Fish. It’s a pretty classic rendition down to the square shaped filet of breaded cod they use. The fried to order fish is dressed with a miso tartar sauce plus shredded lettuce and chile oil on a toasted potato bun and it’s the best fish sandwich in town right now (Friday's only).

Filet 'O' Friday Sandwich at Best Intentions
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Bar Parisette

Back in February I posted about ‘atta girl at 2829 W. Armitage which was a collabo between the Table, Donkey and Stick team and a chef from the now defunct Cafe Marie-Jeanne which was in Humboldt Park. Well despite my mostly glowing review it didn’t last long due to the head chef being a bit of a head case and it closed in May. But the team behind Table, Donkey and Stick did a bit of a rebrand and opened Bar Parisette this past July. The French bistro inspired neighborhood spot is led by Chef Madalyn Durant who was recently nominated in the Rising Chef category by the Jean Banchet Awards. I visited this past summer and had one of this year’s better burgers there. The ‘Cheeseburger Maison’ starts with a thick patty of high quality beef topped with a smoked onion mayo, shredded lettuce, pickles and cheddar, on a house baked sesame seed bun. The bun is incredible and I hope more spots start to take that part of the burger more seriously. Also of note are the fantastic fresh cut fries that come with it. I really liked the burger at ‘atta girl but the one at Bar Parisette is just as good.

Cheeseburger Maison at Bar Parisette 
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Izakaya Nomonomo

The family behind Ramen Wasabi continues to low key be one of Chicago’s best restaurant groups. They’ve built a bit of a mini empire over at the corner of Milwaukee and Maplewood where they also run Nomonomo Japanese Pub + Grill next door to Ramen Wasabi and Nomonomo Sushi across the street. I’ve been a repeat visitor at both places of late. We enjoy the happy hour deal(s) at Nomonomo Sushi which has $8 spicy tuna rolls and $14 Hamachi Kama (fried tuna collar) on Tues-Sat from 5p-7p. When it’s nice out they open the windows and you can people watch on Milwaukee and the rolls are always fresh. We also like hitting up their izakaya across the street which is kind of the opposite of the sushi spot in that it’s dark inside and instead of fish they focus on Japanese bar food including grilled meat skewers. As the weather starts to shift you’ll want to take note of their ‘Tan Tan Udon’ which is a Japanese version of Chinese Dan Dan Noodles using nikumiso pork, scallions, sesame, bok choy, chili oil plus thick and chewy udon noodles in a spicy bright red broth - good slurping.

Sushi, Fried Fish Collar, Udon at Nomonomo Sushi and Izakaya Nomonomo
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Bungalow by Middle Brow

You may already know this by now but ‘Tavern Tuesday’ is a thing over at Bungalow by Middle Brow in case you didn’t (2840 W. Armitage). Count me among the impressed when it comes to their take on one of the the hottest food trends in the country at the moment. It’s just called thin crust in Chicago but "tavern thin pizza" is a thing throughout the Midwest and now the rest of the country too due to hip spots like this putting their own spin on the preferred style of pizza among Chicagoans. They usually make a really great Neapolitan style pizza with a bit of sourdough starter except for on Tuesdays when tavern style thin takes over the menu. You can choose from a handful of offerings including a traditional version made with sausage or a more novel offering like the Cacio e Pepe. Whichever option you choose it’ll be a contender for the thinnest and crispiest pizza you’ve ever had. We got both of the aforementioned options and each of them was like a pizza mixed with a pasta. The sausage is loose like you might find in Northwest Indiana and the Quad Cities region and while I prefer it in chunks, this was like a hearty Bolognese spread on some crackers and it slapped. The Cacio e Pepe was giving off all the flavors of the Roman classic but in pizza form. It was rich and sharp and it was loaded with fresh pepper. This was the first time I’ve ever had a tavern thin pizza paired up with a seasonal salad. You won’t find any Old Style here but their signature Bungalow lager is a much better partner for your pizza. Only on Tuesdays in Chicago's best food neighborhood - Logan Square.

Tavern Thin Sausage Pizza at Bungalow by Middle Brow
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Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood Pt. 1

See ya next time @chibbqking

Roux

-Grubbing in Chicago
Southern Grub in Hyde park

Roux is a newly opened southern style cafe in Hyde Park. It's the newest project from Charlie McKenna of Lillie Q's. I recently had to meet someone who works at University of Chicago and he suggested we grab an early lunch from here. Breakfast and dinner are served simultaneously.

Newly Opened in Hyde Park 

First things first it's a very nice space that's just off campus so it should see some traffic from both students and locals alike. The menu is Southern inspired and for the most part it's pretty standard stuff as as far as the menu offerings go. You order before sitting down and then they bring your food to you. An appetizer of deviled eggs was decent but imo tasted too much like just mustard. You only get three which always annoys me as it's easier to share when it's an even number of stuff but these weren't grab another good. I had much better luck with my fried green tomato tartine which stacks a piece of Texas toast with pimento cheese, bacon, fried green tomato with an egg on top. It was pretty excellent but I burned the shit out of the roof of my mouth due to the fried tomato being piping hot. An order of shrimp and grits looked better than it tasted as there wasn't a ton of flavor to it. It was kind of plain. The beignets were pretty good, fresh fried dough usually is but we'd asked to have them after the food other items and instead it all came at once. Not a big deal but attention to the little things is always a big plus. I'd say the addition of Roux to this stretch of 55th st. is an overall plus as well. 

Brunch at Roux 

Roux 

1055 E 55th St
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 770-4785
Website

Lula Cafe

-Grubbing in Chicago  
A local legend in Logan Square

So you'd think that with all the Chicago restaurant experiences I've shared on here I would have posted about my favorite neighborhood place by now. By which I mean my favorite restaurant in the neighborhood where I stay. Lula Cafe is by extension one of my favorite spots in the city. The type of place I consider lucky to have around despite a large collection of other spots more than worth their own weight. But Lula Cafe is special in that it's the type of spot I can recommend for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Aside from full fledged diners that serve the purpose of lots of food for a low cost there's just not many chef driven restaurants where they're doing a high level cooking for all three meals.

Locals Favorite in Logan Square

As of this post Lula Cafe has indoor dining (with proof of vaccination) for both brunch and dinner as well as a takeout window (with a slightly different menu) that's open from 9-3 Thursday-Monday. Today's post comes from a collection of visits. Lula Cafe has called their Kedzie location home since 1999. They're not just one of Logan Squares best restaurants but it's one of it's oldest too in terms of fine dining, although I wouldn't let that moniker scare you away as Lula Cafe is a chill, comfortable place to eat food that's prepared with the same love and care as you'd find at some of the city's Michelin star holding spots. My favorite time of the day to visit might actually be the morning bc their breakfast offerings are as strong as anywhere in town. Always on the menu items like the breakfast burrito and buttermilk pancakes are excellent examples from their respective parties. Another reason I love Lula Cafe is the menu is always switching up and it's fun seeing what's new with each visit. 

Breakfast (tamal + breakfast sandwich) at Lula Cafe

I'm not sure how long the takeout window will last but they already brought it back once after shutting it down earlier this year. It may be weather pending. But for now we've had a very mild Fall and I always find myself tempted to stop whenever I'm passing by on a walk or whatever. I did this recently for their turkey sandwich which I had been eyeing all summer. I don't order out a ton of turkey sandwiches but I had a feeling that Lula would do a really good one with turkey that was roasted and sliced in-house as opposed to Boars head brand or whatever. They call it the Lula '99 Turkey Sandwich in an ode to it's place on the menu during their opening year. It comes with avocado, tomato, lettuce, red onion, sprouts, and chile aioli with the option to add cheddar and/or bacon for $1 each. I'm not sure where they get their bread but every component of this sandwich is super strong. Their commitment to market fresh and in-season ingredients is showing in this one. 

Lula '99 Turkey Sandwich 

I credit Lula for helping me understand entrees without meat can be as satisfying as those with. On a recent visit we tried a pappardelle with a walnut bolognese off the ever changing menu and it was as good if not better than any meat based bolgognese sauce I can remember. One menu item most always available is their signature spaghetti made with pancetta, queso fresco, and sweet and spicy chile ‘salsa rosa’ as they call it. I've ordered this for pickup a couple times since pandemic began. Lula is a spot I've come to appreciate more than ever with all that's happened in the restaurant world. 

Spaghetti at Lula Cafe

Lula Cafe

2537 N Kedzie Blvd
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 489-9554
Website

Kasama

-Grubbing in Chicago

New to the 'Scene'

Here's another hot spot with connections to Chicago's Michelin starred Oriole restaurant. The recently opened Kasama occupies the old Winchester space in Ukrainian Village. It's ran by a husband and wife team who worked at Oriole prior to opening Kasama. As reported at Eater they sold out of food completely on their first day as legions of friends and fans came out for the couples chef driven Filipino food cooked by him and fresh baked pastries cooked by her. The menu is small but mighty.

 Recently Opened in Ukrainian Village 

For now Kasama feels like it does when you just move into somewhere new. Much of this is due to the current pandemic and thus there is no indoor dining at the moment. That said they have a beautiful patio in the back that customers can use and there's not going to be a better time this year to use it than right now. So I suggest taking advantage of it while you can. But even if you're looking for takeout the food seems to be the type that can withstand some travel. The pastries for sure.

 a peek inside 

Customers can browse a menu in the doorway and then walk in where you're immediately greeted by the pastry display case and someone ready to take your order. The baked options are pretty overwhelming and from the looks of them you cant go wrong picking any of them as you'll read down below. As for the Filipino food there's only a few options but I feel like that could change as they settle in. For now they do a classic Chicken Adobo as well as a vegetarian mushroom version. My mind was made up when I saw they're also offering a traditional Filipino breakfast of longanisa and or tocino (thinly sliced marinated pork) with a fried egg and garlic rice. One of my favorite ways to start the day and this version was as good as it gets. Particularly the house loganisa which ate like a hot link.

 Filipino Breakfast at Kasama

We also got some delicious pork lumpia egg rolls paired with a chocolate chip cookie from that kick ass pastry case. Speaking of which that ham and cheese danish (pictured below with a luscious cinnamon roll) is Paris quality good. Eater said it may be the best new bite in the city and that's not a claim I'm going to dispute. The combination of raclette, and shaved Serrano ham on a danish is indeed one of the best thing's I've ate of late. I really hope we can get our act together as a country and get covid contained so that places like Kasama can get back to what they had planned before it's unwanted arrival. Because what they've done under the circumstances is really damn impressive. 

Lumpia Shanghai and Pastries at Kasama 

Kasama
1001 N Winchester Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 697-3790
Website

Caribella

-Grubbing in Chicago

Tropical Brunch in Logan Square

I'm not a regular participator in brunch like others. But I do enjoy going out for it now and then. One such spot I'll always welcome a weekend meal at is Caribella on Fullerton (byob) in Logan Square. I wouldn't say it's overlooked but bc Fullerton is the type of street it is sometimes it's hard to spot. I think they used to have a previous location somewhere else in the area though. The menu as the name might suggest has Caribbean influence from the likes of the regions Spanish speaking nations.

 Locals Favorite in Logan Square 

Caribella does both breakfast and lunch and brunch by extension. One of my favorite warm weather snacks is coconut shrimp. Big in places like Key West and the Nayarit region of Mexico. Which is why I consider it tropical food. Caribella makes a very nice housemade batch. Same goes for the mango habanero sauce they're served with. Other popular menu items seem to be both French Toast and pancakes topped with tropical fruits, sandwiches like jibaritos, and both skillets and omelettes.

 Coconut Shrimp at Caribella 

My go-to order from here is to split the Caribella Skillet with my wife and then we like to get something else to go with it which switches by visit. The skillet is unique in that instead of potatoes they use diced up fried plantains mixed with a hint of garlic, avocado, pepper, onion, and tomato. Typically it's served with a smoked turkey sausage but we order it with traditional bacon. It really does a remind of a dish I'd be served if I was dining at the equivalent of a hip little breakfast, lunch, coffee place in somewhere like Puerto Rico or Mexico. On a cold winter day that's just whats needed.

Caribella Skillet (with bacon) at Caribella 

Caribella
3311 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 360-8873
Website

Weekend in Coachella Valley

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
- Exploring the deserts of Palm Springs and Indio

We went to a wedding late last year in the Palm Springs area. Aside from weddings this stretch of dessert in Southern California is also known as a retirement haven and sometimes a party destination (Coachella Festival). We ended up flying into LA and stayed there for a night so we then spent two nights in the Coachella Valley area. As far as food was concerned it wasn't all that exciting. I was hoping to get to a popular spot called Rooster and The Pig but time wasn't on my side. That said I was still able to check a handful of spots out. We ended up seeing quite a few of the towns in the region other than just Palm Springs. The whole area reminded me of South Florida minus the water. As always the best place to look for food in a resort heavy region like this is wherever the people working at all the hotels, golf courses, and resorts are eating. In this case there's a strong presence of people from the state of Mexicali in Mexico. If you go to a Mexican restaurant in Coachella Valley they're likely to serve a popular dish called Chiles Gueritos Rellenos De Camaron. Get them.

Palm Springs, CA

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 Tyler's Burgers (Palm Springs)

This popular burger spot was maybe the only place within Palm Springs I wanted to try save for the previously mentioned Rooster and The Pig. Palm Springs is by no means a culinary destination. But Tyler's serves a destination worthy cheeseburger. Tyler's opened in an old building but it looks and feels very new. It's an adobe tucked in between two patios. Inside isn't all that big. They opened in the mid 90's hoping to recreate the burger experience of the owners youth. Back when Tyler was a lad there were no short cuts in making a great burger and there are none here. People line up for these excellent no frills Southern California style hamburgers. I was able to get seated outside right away and decided to pass on the famous potato salad everyone else was eating. The burger was probably about a 1/3 lb of fresh beef ordered with American cheese with all the fixings. Super satisfying.

Cheeseburger at Tyler's Burgers

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 Wexler's Deli (Palm Springs)

Next stop in Palm Springs was a popular LA transplant. Wexler's is doing the Southern Cali deli inside a hip hotel on the main strip. The restaurant is right next to the pool so nothing but Southern California vibes to be found here. Well those and deli favorites such as this tasty lox platter that was perfect the morning after the wedding. Just be ready for resort type prices. You can do much worse.

Lox Platter at Wexler's Deli

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 Shield's Date Garden (Indio)

As always I made sure to see if there were any unique regional eats in the region. It just so happens to be the area where more than 90% of America's dates are grown. You can find quite a few date farms dotting the barren highways of the Coachella Valley. One of the most famous is Shield's Date Garden in Indio. The company was founded in 1924 so they've been a part of the area for a long, long time. We stopped into the cafe where you can buy all sorts of date related products be it boxes of dates or bbq sauce and all that other crap popular at gift shops on fruit farms. We were there for their famous date shakes. They serve these at lots of spots in the Valley as it was created by a local farmer back when. We walked in to two employees scooping date ice cream into cups which are whipped up in one of the many milkshake machines. Obviously they sell lots of these. It tasted like peanut butter.

a peek inside the Date Cafe 

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 Arriola's Tortilleria (Indio)

I found this spot browsing the restaurants in town. I could tell from the pictures and reviews that it was my type of place. Super popular with the longtime locals. Arriola's is a tortilla factory that also has some hot foods to takeout. Lots of locals like their nachos which are made with fresh fried chips, red enchilada sauce, and melted nacho cheese. The way they make them so that each chip is tossed in both cheese and sauce looked appealing. But so did their other specialty consisting of homemade pork tamales with the same red sauce and cheese and chile Colorado (stewed beef with red chile).

Tamale Boat at Arriola's Tortilleria

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 Burger Box (Indio)

I found Burger Box at the bottom of the yelp barrel. It looked and sounded like a classic drive-in surviving on it's last legs. I guess it's on a stretch of road that used to be extremely popular for car travel in the same way Route 66 was. These days there wasn't much over there except for some train tracks, factories, and motels. Burger Box has been a part of the valley since 1954. I had a call to make between having a double cheeseburger or the popular pastrami sandwich. But it wasn't that hard considering I had a burger earlier that day. I opted for the pastrami which is chopped up and griddled on the flattop and served on a long roll with melted cheese. Classic Southern Cali style peppers on the side. I also tried a green chile pork burrito that was more like an egg roll which was cool considering it was less than $2. Also deserving of a mention are their fried spuds which are no doubt fried in beef tallow. They were excellent bc of that. The prices are ridiculous with the meal coming out to $8. It's a true relic from the past. I'll be sure to try the burger if there's ever a next time.

Pastrami, Burrito, and Fries at the Burger Box 

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Raspados Kio's (Indio)

Because of the presence of people with ties to Mexicali in the area you can find lots of Raspados shops around town. I read Raspados Kio's was the original and still the very best. Raspados for those who didn't know is a Mexican shaved ice treat. While popular throughout Mexico they say Mexicali is the raspados capitol. I got to chat with one half of the ownership in the wife who was so very nice. She suggested I try their house special raspado which she said they created. It's called the Coco Nunez and it was shaved ice with shredded coconut, walnuts and oats mixed in. I wasn't sure at first but after that first bite I understood why it was the most popular as she told me it was. Awesome.

Coco Nunez at Raspados Kio's

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See ya next time @chibbqking