Tequila Tasting at Tacolicious

I know, yes I am a wine lover, but I did cheat on wine the other night. The owner of Tacolicious and Mosta, Joe Hargrave, is a colleague of mine. He had a special tequila tasting with a visiting chef from Mexico, Donnie Masterson, who happens to be a mutual colleague and friend. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to check out Joe’s new space in the Mission and to see Donnie again. So with some friends we set our sails for the Mission on a tequila expedition.

Donnie’s food rocked and it paired well with the tequilas presented. He didn’t necessarily stick with traditional Mexican fare, but those flavors definitely prevailed. One of the passed appetizers was a pork and shrimp lollipop with a tamarindo glaze. A welcome modern “pop” to traditional Mexican food, it worked so well with the margarita, and the playful presentation was just plain fun. I actually found the last pairing of an añejo tequila with coconut tres leches cake the most interesting. I was shocked by how the cake brought out chocolate notes from the tequila.

My only complaint is that I wish I had ordered a Negra Modela earlier in the night, as sipping tequila alone just didn’t quench my thirst. After a few sips of the cerveza, my palate was cleared, my whistle was wet, and I could enjoy the intricate flavors of the tequila much more. So the next time you are presented with a tequila tasting dinner, order some beer as a companion.

You must check out Joe’s space in the mission or the marina. http://tacolicioussf.com

And the next time you find yourself in San Miguel de Allende, head to Donnie’s place http://therestaurantsanmiguel.com