The Return Of The Shabbos Post

I realized I hadn’t done a traditional Shabbos post in quite some time. Between the holidays, a trip back home, and dining out, we haven’t really sat down for a Friday night meal at home in a while. Well, this past Friday we brought Shabbos back…with all the fixins’. Starting with the bread center piece.

Rosemary beer bread

I’ve posted about this bread before, and I’ll say it again….so quick, so easy, and so delicious. My favorite part is that crusty, salty top…I literally eat around the outside to make sure I don’t miss out on any of that crunchy goodness.

We’ve had a package of beef stew meat in our freezer for quite some time. As the weather is now extremely cold, a beef stew seemed to be the perfect way to welcome our long weekend. I followed this recipe to make my first ever beef bourguignon. The kitchen smelled amazing with the aromas of thyme, rosemary, garlic, and of course…wine!

Shabbos dinner

I imagine this will be even better when we eat it as leftovers later in the week. A simple side of roasted parsnips and turnips and of course, the bread, went very well with the thick and luxurious sauce.

As cold as it was outside, we were brave and ventured out to meet some friends for dinner at Barrio Chino, a Mexican restaurant in the LES. This small spot was packed to the brim…loved the casual vibe and fun service. We immediately started with their famous margaritas. Adam bravely went with the habenero grapefruit margarita, even after the waitress warned us it was so hot, most people sent it back. She suggested trying it half spicy…I couldn’t even take one sip! They were very nice and let Adam send it back and they fixed it up so it was spicy, but drinkable. My plain grapefruit margarita was deliciously fresh…no mix used here!

Sorry for the dark pics...very poor lighting in this cozy restaurant

These were some of the best chips I’ve ever had. With perfectly fresh guac, spicy salsa….we were off to a good start! We decided to share a salad to start and we both went with the fish tacos as our main. Our friend chose the vegetarian enchiladas….a definite MUST order on my next visit!

Ensalada de nopales: mixed greens, cactus, avocado, beets, queso fresco in a balsamic vinegar, citrus, and olive oil dressing

Pescado: achiote and citrus rubbed tilapia served with avocado salsa and pickled onions

Enchiladas Verdes: traditional green enchiladas stuffed with sauteed zucchini and mushrooms and melted oaxacan cheese, served with black beans topped with queso fresco

The salad, while tasty, was slightly overdressed and really, nothing so special. The fish tacos on the other hand…I proclaimed to Adam they were some of the best I’ve ever had (and I’ve had my fair share!) The fish was grilled perfectly, nice onion and avocado topping, and the corn tortillas were STUFFED…I don’t mind getting messy! I’d rather have to use a fork to help me get all the delicious filling into my mouth then be left with a barely filled corn tortilla. And as I said, the enchiladas are definitely not to be missed. Best strategy…SHARE! We were actually so full by the end, we didn’t even make it to our beloved Big Gay Ice Cream Shop…I know, shocking! Don’t worry…I see a trip planned in the next couple weeks!