Casa Enrique's Mole Comfort

Anyone who knows me can vouch for how much I love Mexican food.  It's one of the most deliciously flavorful meals I can virtually have on any given day, and I enjoy both making Mexican food at home as well as having it when dining out.

Naturally, I was craving it recently and immediately thought of Casa Enrique in LIC. Since Dan hasn't been there yet, I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity for him to try it, and for me to indulge in something spicy and comforting.

Guacamole - Even though I've tried this here the last time I came, we just couldn't resist.  Loving the texture of this guac, it was both chunky and a little smooth with some punchy flavor from the jalapenos.  I like that we got it moderate to a little spicy, which tickled our tastebuds and got us excited for the next course.

Mole de Piaxtla - It's hard for me to resist a rich, chocolatey mole, so this dish was a must for me.  The chicken was super tender and deeply flavored by the thick mole sauce, which was pretty mild but created an almost stew-like consistency.  The modest side of rice, which came on the side was yet again a tasty vessel for that magical sauce.

Service and Cost:
Very happy with the level of service we received, it felt good to be well taken care of and checked on throughout the evening.  Although the staff was attentive, we never felt annoyed or pestered.

Costs are moderate and we paid about $60 including tax and tip for two entrees, guacamole and one sangria.

3 Mmmms

Casa Enrique - 5-48 49th Avenue, LIC NY 11101
347.448.6040
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue

The 8th Annual Taste of LIC is Coming

One of my favorite, local summer tasting events is the upcoming Taste of LIC.  I look forward to this event each year, as I relish in getting a flavor (and sometimes a sneak peek) of a number of local culinary stand-outs from LIC, Astoria and the neighboring area.  

It's a lot of fun to not only find your trusty staples here such as Tournesol, Manducatis Rustica, and Vesta, but also newcomers such as S. Prime Steakhouse, Casa Enrique, Van Alst Kitchen and others.

Aside from it being a good way to taste great local food, it's always fun to come out and mix and mingle with local business owners, as well as to meet old and new friends.  The whole thing is one big (well-organized) party.  Here are the details and how you can score your tickets.

8th Annual Taste of LIC
Tuesday, June 4th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - general admission
$50 per person - purchase your tickets

Please find a list of participating restaurants, food & beverage partners.
I can't wait to see you there!

Last Minute Cinco de Mayo Roundup

Since it's Cinco de Mayo tomorrow, and lucky for us it falls on a Sunday, there's no excuse to not celebrate.  It's a huge weekend in general actually, with the Kentucky Derby and Greek Easter happening as well, so whatever you're celebrating, here are some festive suggestions.

Mojave - In honor of Cinco de Mayo, they're featuring $4 shots of El Jimador tequila, $9 Herradura margaritas or 4 shots for $25.  Their outdoor garden will be open too so if it's warm enough, it'll be great to celebrate al fresco.   22-36 31st Street, Astoria.  718.545.4100

Pachanga Patterson - Even though their brunch and dinner menu will remain the same tomorrow, they'll feature their infused tequila shots in the spirit of Cinco de Mayo.  A few personal food recommendations include the steak tacos, chicken hot dogs and the veggie jenga.  33-17 31st Avenue, Astoria.  718.554.0525

Casa Enrique - I love this relatively new Mexican cafe in LIC that's clean, simple and serves some of the best mole I've had.  Featuring their regular menu tomorrow, it's definitely worth going in for a margarita or sangria and enjoying a fabulous sit down dinner with a group of friends or your significant other.  5-48 49th Avenue, LIC.  347.448.6040

5 Burro Cafe - Recently having the pleasure of trying this dive cafe in Forest Hills, it's a total must, if not tomorrow, just anytime.  Although the space is small and there's often a bit of a wait, the no frills, delightful Mexican food is totally worth it.  The guacamole with chunky red peppers serves as a yummy beginning, while the tacos Al Pastor send you right to heaven with tender marinated pork with a spicy pineapple salsa.  72-05 Austin Street, Forest Hills.  718.544.2984

Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden - Get out your party outfit, for the beer garden's Cinco de Mayo Festival, which boasts live music, raffles (and prizes), as well as live entertainment.  Enjoy the beautiful weather by camping out in this awesome outdoor space.  I usually bring a set of games such as Apples to Apples, Cards Against Humanity, and Jenga to keep our group entertained.  29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria.  718.274.4925

Casa Enrique Surprises and Delights

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the new cocktail offering at LIC Latin eatery, Casa Enrique.  And recently, my We Heart Astoria friends, Meg & Mackenzi as well as Bradley from Amuse Bouche had the chance to try it out.  I'll admit that I enjoyed the food a lot more than the drinks, which were pretty standard, but overall I liked my experience very much and would love to come back.

Atmosphere:
Classy, sleek and almost all white, Casa Enrique is full of modern touches that go so well with the nouveau neighborhood in which it's located.  I like that it's super close to the subway, yet far enough from Vernon Blvd, where it feels private and nice and quiet.

The inside is laid out in an interesting fashion, with a large communal table up front (where we sat), and more traditional two and four top tables towards the back of the restaurant.  I noticed the beautiful flower arrangements, which were supplied by LIC flower extraordinaire, Floresta--providing a much needed pop of color in the simple monochrome environment.

Food:
Even though the menu isn't huge, there are plenty of things to choose from, especially if you enjoy Latin classics such as enchiladas, mole, carne asada and the like.  However, besides the simple dishes, there are some funky looking things on the menu as well such as cow tongue.

Guacamole - We started with a classic bowl of guac, which was simple and tasty.  I loved the slightly chunky consistency and the side of totopos (aka fresh, crunchy tortilla chips).  There was also a side of these wormy looking crackers that looked like cheese doodles but tasted anything but.  Instead, they were light and airy and didn't leave you with nasty, orange fingers.

Enchiladas Moles - I adore mole and when I saw how meticulously it's prepared here (boasting many vibrant ingredients), I had to try it.  First off, the sauce was a gorgeous chocolatey-brown color and the taste was just out of this world.  Rich, earthy and a little spicy, the mole was a delicious sauce that coated the enchiladas from the outside and was just a wonderful thing to dip into once you broke the middle and got access to the tender chicken meat.  The mole is made with a mix of dry peppers, almonds, raisins, plantain, sesame seeds and chocolate - ooh la la!

Dessert - Although I didn't go for the dessert myself, my friends really enjoyed the molten chocolate cake and the chocolate budino (or pudding), which came with fresh whipped cream and crunchy wafers.  All was gone at the end of the meal so I think operation full, satisfied tummy fully accomplished. 

Service and Cost:
The service was pretty relaxed, and although we sat a bit far from the rest of the diners in the other room, we were definitely noticed and served promptly.  Although our waitress did a good job of asking us if we needed anything, she wasn't rushing us out to leave and I had the feeling that we could've lingered longer if we wanted to.

Costs are moderate and include:

Appetizers - $8-$12
Tacos - $8-$14
Entrees - $13-$22

3 Mmmms

Casa Enrique - 5-48 49th Avenue, LIC NY 11101
347.448.6040
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue

Casa Enrique Rolls Out New Cocktail Offering

Image by Casa Enrique

Casa Enrique, LIC's new modern Latin eatery has garnered nice attention, and some of my fellow foodie friends have certainly sang its praises.  While I still have yet to get myself over there, it's definitely on my list - and now even more so with this delicious-sounding cocktail menu.  Check out their new drinks (and eats) below:

Margarita - classic, mango, strawberry or tamarind
Aguachile - tequila, Cointreau, orange juice, agave, jalapeño, cucumber, lime juice
Chimbombo Margarita - a classic margarita with a kick of spicy sauce
Sangria - red wine, brandy, cachaça, orange juice, lime juice
Mojito - Bacardi light rum, fresh mint, lime juice, sugar
Michelada - Modelo Especial, Valentina sauce
Selection of Mexican beers, tequilas, and sparkling, rosé, white and red wines

Sopes de Chorizo - homemade thick corn tortilla, chorizo, black beans, avocado, cream
Pastor Taqueria - pork taco marinated in chilies and pineapple
Mole de Piaxtla - mole sauce made of more than 30 ingredients over braised chicken
Chamorro de Borrego - lamb shank braised in chili pulla, huajes & epazote
Pastel Tres Leches - sponge cake made of three kinds of milk, goat milk caramel

Casa Enrique - 5-48 49th Avenue, LIC, NY 11101
347.448.8180
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue

Taste of LIC is Around the Corner

Image by The Chocolate Factory

I'm pleased to tell you that one of my favorite tasting events is back again next week, which is the Taste of LIC.    Not just another typical tasting frenzy, this one combines the deliciousness of over 50 restaurants, bars and cafes in and around LIC (a lot are from Astoria too!).

It's always a highlight for me, as it's very well organized and I enjoy learning about new exciting local eats, as sometimes restaurants unveil new dishes or sometimes even exclusive eats prepared just for the event.  

An added element just this year is the Malu ice cream competition that has been going on for some time.  The two finalists, who have devised tantalizing new flavors such as Shiraz Rocky Road and Pear Belle Helene, and the winner will be unveiled at the event.  You'll also be able to taste these goodies at the Malu table, which totally rocks.

Even though I'm looking forward to checking out all the exhibitors, the ones I'm pumped to check out in particular include:

Alewife
Alobar
Antidote
Casa Enrique
Chimney Cake
M.Wells Dinette
Malu
MitchMallows
Slovak-Czech Varieties

The fun starts on Tuesday, June 5th at 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 
Buy your tickets here!

Hope to see you there, and if you see me, don't be shy and please say hi!