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La Condesa – Napa, CA

While strolling down Main Street in cute St. Helena I couldn’t help but notice this hip new Mexican joint and I couldn’t wait to try it.  When you walk in you are immediately struck by the vibrant blue painted walls that look something reminiscent of Carrie Bradshaw’s closet in Sex and The City only a tad bit little brighter!

The menu is loaded with flavor punching Mexican favorites with a new twist to them such as the pickled strawberry, roasted pepitas and queso fresco guacamole.  Say what?!  Another dish that stood out to me was the Panza de Puerco Huaraches with pork belly, blue cheese, fig jam, black pepper caramel, arugula and tomatillo.  Wowzers!  I’m not even sure what to say except that I’m looking forward to going back just to try some of their interesting modern Mexican dishes.

I chose to take them up on their $15 lunch special which included a salad, 2 tacos of my choice, rice, beans and a scoop of ice cream for dessert.  Perfect!  PS – the Cream Cheese Ice Cream is delicious!  Tastes just like frozen cheesecake…yum!

Casa Salad – mixed greens, queso fresco, avocado, tortilla strips and balsamic vinaigrette

Cochinita Pibil Taco – seville orange-banana leaf marinated berkshire pork, cabbage, pickled red onion and pickled jalapeño & Pescado Taco – griddled pacific rockfish, cabbage, salsa de arbol, pico de gallo, and chipotle mayo

Coffee Chip Ice Cream

Sitka & Spruce : Monday Taco Night – Seattle, WA

I’m embarrassed that it’s taken me this long to go to Sitka & Spruce let alone the Melrose Market, but I finally did and I can’t wait to go back.  What an incredible space!  I had no idea Monday nights at Sitka & Spruce are taco night but it sounded great and oh was it:)  On Monday nights, one of the S & S employees, Alvaro Candela-Najera, takes over the kitchen and makes the most amazing traditional Mexican food inspired by his hometown and travels through Mexico.

We started with the Avocado with Totopos – smashed in a mortar with serranos, onion, lime and cilantro.  The chips are made fresh in house and couldn’t have been more tasty.  It’s also served with four healthy servings of fresh Mexican cheese…holy cow…I could eat a lot of that and it was the perfect compliment to the guacamole.  For my entrée I chose the Suadero Tacos – 3 corn tortillas filled with long-cooked milk-braised beef brisket.  Whoa…those were good!  Topped with some pickled radishes, cilantro and onions, these tacos were perfect in everyday and I would definitely order them again.

Now I’m dying to go back for brunch, lunch and dinner!  Do yourself a favor and go to Monday night taco night at Sitka & Spruce.