Mexi-musts or, at least, Mexi-maybes

Endless Summer Tacos is a cart stationed on Williamsburg’s Bedford avenue. I’ve seen it countless times but always in passing. Chances are if I am on Bedford avenue, I am likely wanting to get to the next block quickly. [Narrow-hipped males in tight, skinny jeans induce a sort of gag reflex.] This particular sunny day, after volunteering at BARC‘s cat loft, I decided to treat myself, finally, with a taste of their seitan burrito. The burrito was fresh–packed with rice, beans, spicy seitan & double shots of red and green hot sauces. I devoured it on the curb in the dying sunlight, satisfied with its flavor, the convenience… Pitfalls are its location, the service, and the very limited selection for me… plus $7 is steep for a food truck burrito.

Following a lead from veg-partner CandyPenny, a stop at a new neighborhood Mexican eatery was set into motion. Calexico, New York’s best new Mexican restaurant according to Time Out’s readers’ choice poll, has got a cart in SoHo, a restuarant in Red Hook and a brand new location in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. On a Tuesday night we visited to find the place swarmed with people. After a brief wait, we ordered our food and began to experience the draw that had the place stuffed with strollers, dates, and happy hours.
CandyPenny‘s choices: a scrumptious cocktail with blended celery and some adult infusions and a Tofu Asado torta, grilled chile-lime tofu on grilled ciabatta bread with avocado, tomato, and a black bean spread (Their chipotle “crack” sauce isn’t vegan. The waiters understand “vegan”).
Having had that seitan burrito a few hours earlier, I went light: the watercress salad with fresh watercress, jicama, grapefruit, and a pumpkin seed vinaigrette. Very tasty but could use some more texture than the pumpkin seeds and stray and few jicama strips. We also chomped their complimentary plantain chips in a glorious ground peanut, chili and oil salsa. Everything was flavorful and fresh. It’s a nice neighborhood pairing with Papacitos‘ Mexican street food vibe up the street. As you can tell by the Calexico’s lightening, the place has ambiance up the wazoo. This is quite the feat for the spatial lay-out of the place. I hope to soon return!