MONTERRY
HOTELS
Radisson Plaza Gran Hotel Ancira – the classiest hotel in Zona Rosa
Travis was able to PriceLine,com this hotel for about $55 a night. For help with PriceLine techniques, click on www.biddingfortravel.com
Casa Oaxaca Restaurante - Padre Raymundo Jardon, No. 814
Black bean dip and tortilla chips were placed in front of us as we sat at our table. Alebrijes and Oaxacan art were everywhere.
Most of the dishes were named from areas of Oaxaca. Salads included Ensalada Zaachila, with nopales and Oaxacan cheese and Ensalada Tuxtepec, with mixed greens, orange slices, jicama, with balsamic vinegar.
Soups included Mushroom Soup, a thick, brown, broth full of mushrooms and the best I have ever had. Sopa de Milpa was a traditional corn soup and consisted of a vegetable broth with chucks of Oaxacan cheese and corn off the cob. When we asked for bread with our soup, we were served thinly sliced, toasted, garlic bread.
I ordered Four Moles with chicken. In the middle of the plate was a perfectly grilled double chicken breast surrounded by 4 fried tortilla bowls. negro, coloradito, amarillo, and almendrado
Trenzs de ka Res y Pollo, with sauce of chile pasilla and miltomate, woven strips of beef and chicken
Rice of the day was full of chopped vegetables and parsley.
Tlayudas, molotes
Several hotels in the Zona Rosa offer breakfast buffets. Price is the same, $14.50, and both offer the same selections. Start at the omelets table for your choice of egg dishes. Squash bosoms were a treat in any dish.
Both red and green sauce chilequies were on the hot table, plus mounds of crisp bacon
Café Flores, in Fiesta America, has huge windows facing the pedestrian mall and the only disappointment was the pre-formed “Tater Tots" hash browns.
EL REY DEL CABRITO, The King of the Goat, has 2 locations in Monterrey. On top of main location is a 20 foot, neon encrusted, rotating crown, fit for the King.
Grill is located at front window, with dozens of skewered, baby goats, slowly roasting over coals.
Inside is decorated with large, stuffed animals, neon, tall Egyptian columns with fake flames, Indian statues, photos of El Ray embracing Mexican celebrities, (yes, Celina Cruz ate here!) and illuminated photos of old Monterrey.
On a Wednesday afternoon, most of the 60, or so, tables were full. And we were the only gringos. This is cabrito at its best and in every portion.
One can order goat leg, goat fajitas, goat shoulder, goat breast, a kilo of goat, half a goat, goat for 3 or 4, a whole goat (just $89.00) or goat to go.
Other specialties included, baby goat head, goat sausage, goat kidneys, and Fritada, fried goat blood. Who would have known?
And for dessert, of course, we were offered Cajeta Cake, the thick, caramelized, goat's milk. Across the plaza from ZONA ROSA is the ZONA ANTIGUA, or, Old Town. Here is the genuine flavor of Monterrey. Beautifully, old homes are mixed with bars, restaurants and galleries. We accidentally stumbled into an exhibit of original Robert Doisneau photos, including his most famous woman being kissed o the streets of Paris.
Hors D'oevers- Prosciutto ham with melon, Maguey Worms with Guacamole, Campechana Seafood Mix, Foie Gras de Canard Truffe and Salmon and Caviars Canapés.
French Onion Gratinee was presented in the typical style with baked cheese crouton in a rich broth. The Tortilla Soup was called Typical Mexican, and it was, but the best rendition of each.
I had the Three Musketeers, which was 3 tender medallions of beef, each with a different sauce. Delicious, but the side vegetables nearly overshadowed everything. The grilled tomato had a tasty bread crust, but under it was a layer of cream, hot from the grilling. The broccoli and carrots were perfectly cooked and the mashed potatoes, creamy. The bread basket had miniature croissants and bread twists.
The Breast of Chicken Luisiana was a Cordon Blue with a light, bread crust and melted cheese center. Side vegetables were small, new potatoes resting on mashed potatoes, definitely an overkill.
