|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
San Felipe claims to be the originator of fish tacos. Hey, I had just come from Ensenada and they claim to be the originator of the aforementioned delicacy. Perhaps I was confused, but not so confused as to pass on Tacos Playa for delicious seafood tacos.
Photo: Loncheria La Playa features inside, as well as sidewalk dining, but on this chilly December day in 2004, nobody has chosen to dine at the tables placed on the sidewalk. Loncheria La Playa is located along Ave. Paseo de Cortez, appropriately named, as the street runs not far above the high tide, the malecon, and has an terrific view of the azure blue Sea of Cortez.. It's along this street where many of San Felipe's restaurants are located, and it's no surprise that almost all of them serve fish tacos. Loncheria La Playa doesn't really stand out from the crowd, as it's very basic and unpretentious. I came in because as I walked by the restaurant, I got "good vibes" coming from the place, not to mention the pleasant odor of frying fish. Plus, it just looks like a place where you'd want to eat...
Photo: Daughter and Mom hard at work cutting up vegetables, a task that seems to preoccupy many workers at small, family-owned Mexican restaurants in Mexico. Loncheria La Playa is a mom, pop and daughter operation and, like most smaller restaurants in Baja, completely open in front to the street, and to the Sea of Cortez. The counter and kitchen are in front, near the door; in fact, Pop has a window to look outside while he cooks. Tacos Playa has ample indoor seating, but if you're inclined to do so, there are some very pleasant tables outside, under small palapas, where you can munch your food and savor the salt air and the sights of San Felipe. Pop is the cook, Mom makes salsa, chops vegetables and works the cash register, and Daughter buses tables and cleans up. Truly, a family operation.
Photo: Framed by bottles of salsas and other condiments, Dad cooks my fish in the tiny kitchen, that looks out to the street, and to the very blue Sea of Cortez in the background, as seen through the open door and window.
The fish is already pre-cut into strips. Pop dips the fish in a pan of batter, and then places the fish in a propane-fired wok-like bowl and deep-fries the fish for a total of about 3 minutes. When the fish is almost ready, he places a couple of small corn tortillas on the nearby griddle, toasts them until bubbles appear, flips them over, and toasts them until they're done. All of this is timed-out to be ready when the fish is cooked. He then takes the fish out of the oil, places it in the tortilla, and tightly rolls up the taco in a piece of butcher paper.
Photo: Dad dips a piece of fish in batter before placing it in the large, wok-like bowl of hot oil. That's all there is to the cooking part of the kitchen, the salsa and other tasks are performed on counters located in the rear of the restaurant. The cook has a great view of the Sea of Cortez, and the action happening on the malecón. While Pop was cooking the fish, Mom wasn't just standing around, as she was busy placing condiments in little plastic containers, as I'd placed my order para llavar, which means "to go" in Spanish. I ordered a fish and a shrimp taco, and with my tacos, I got the following condiments in little containers: Salsa cruda, chopped cabbage, white onion strips, tomatillo salsa, red salsa, and creamy guacamole. All of this for $25.00; slightly less than $2.00 in U.S. dollars. It doesn't get any better than that.
Photo: In my hotel room, I unwrap my tacos, apply garnishes, and prepare to enjoy a delicious dinner. I went back to my hotel room, drank a beer and proceeded to devour my feast. Oooooooh baby! Were these seafood tacos are good! The fish was cooked just right, and not at all greasy, and the condiments were fresh and tasty and really complimented my meal. When you visit beautiful San Felipe, and you're in the mood for an outstanding fish taco, at a very reasonable price, Loncheria La Playa should be on your agenda. Loncheria
La Playa Copyright(c) 2009 eRench Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. This site has been on the web since January 19, 2005. Web page design has been created by eRench Productions, Inc., custom photography for any occasion...
|
