Cinco de Mayo

Cuisine: Mexican
Neighborhood:  Downtown Long Beach
Price Range: $

351 Pacific Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802-2318
(562) 432-1604

Years ago (sorry, we males rarely seem to be able to quantify specific periods of time ), when I was still relatively new to Long Beach, Tara and I were enjoying an evening with a friend of mine and his wife. It was May 5th, Cinco de Mayo and, like for most people, it really was just an excuse to get together and imbibe far too many margaritas.  As it got late, we all generally recognized our need to get something, anything into our bellies to aid in our livers' desperate attempt to absorb our evening's liquid folly. We walked not more than 1 block from his place and ran right into a small, divey mexican eatery. It was called "Cinco de Mayo" and, of course, we knew fate had decided for us that we would eat there. It was small, brightly lit, clean; a jukebox pumped out the ubiquitous Mexican 'Oompahpah' music, a painting (I swear I thought it was velvet at the time) of an Aztec warrior in ceremonial headdress carrying in his arms a swooned maiden. Perfect. We sat down and within seconds a smiling waitress brought us each a plate of food. We were confused; exactly how inebriated were we that we couldn't even recall ordering? She said that it was a special treat from the owner in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Ahhhh... well, wasn't that nice of them... It was an empanada, some pickled vegetables, and refried beans.

At the time I had never really liked re-fried beans: most versions I'd had up to that time were a sometimes soupy, mealy or, worse, bland mess and a waste of eating capacity, in my opinion. But I tried it out of politeness for the kind offering given to us and the sentiment behind it.

And then, as often is the case with so many things we initially don't like, we're either not accustomed to it or we've never really experienced it the way it's supposed to be done. I still remember to this day my very first taste of those frijoles, served on a piping hot plate, with a top layer of melted cheese, browned and practically bubbling. Oh...my...god... these couldn't possibly be refried beans. These were creamy, rich, meaty, savory, heavenly. It wasn't that it tasted like meat or something else; it was just beans, full-flavored, seasoned perfectly, cooked with what I later found out was lard. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship...

I've since eaten there countless times over the years, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Just about everything I've had there is fabulous, but there are some dishes that warrant special attention:

RE-FRIED BEANS:  As I mentioned above, they are phenomenal. They are, in fact, the best damn re-fried beans I've personally ever had, anywhere. Over the years, we've taken many, many friends (a number of whom were raised on authentic Mexican home cooking) here, and to a one they've lauded praise on these beans as some of, if not the best, they've ever had. When friends from out of town visit, invariably one of the requests we get is a visit to Cinco for a bite. Yes, they're that good...

FISH TACOS:  Their fish tacos are so delicious, pan-seared (not battered), and prepared in some ultra simple manner that highlights the fish entirely. There's no mound of vegetables and sauce overwhelming, or hiding, the fish. It's just the fish, some sauteed onions and tomatoes, and tortilla. So damn good, it's hard not to order one or two every time, no matter what you end up ordering...

CARNITAS PLATE:  I judge most Mexican restaurants on their carnitas, and Cinco does carnitas better than any other restaurant I've been to in Long Beach or any of our neighboring cities along the coast. Top 5 in Los Angeles, Top 10 I've had anywhere. I'd recommend getting the carnitas plate versus getting an individual carnitas taco; you just don't get the full glory of all the various sections of the cut in a taco: juicy, soft interior browned, crispy edges and crusts (my mouth just started watering). It goes down just as well eaten with taco fixings or all on its own (the real test, in my opinion). You can make yourself a generous 5-6 tacos with the amount of carnitas they give you, plus the plate comes with frijoles, so you're one plate and out for the count., believe me...

MOJARRA FRITA: This is a pan-fried whole white fish (perch, I believe). Wonderfully browned and crisped skin on the outside, the fish is tender, juicy, and flaky on the inside. It never ceases to surprise me just how many "seafood" restaurants don't prepare fish well at all, bone-dry and/or clumsily seasoned. This fish is cooked perfectly and easily half the price of a fish entree at one of those seafood restaurants.



As I've said, just about everything I've had here is pretty damn great. Some other dishes that are especially delicious are the Lengua Tacos, Shrimp Cocktail, Huevos con Chorizo, Camarones al Mojo de Ajo, Carnitas Burrito Wet w/ Green Sauce.

Hope there will be some (if there ends up actually being any readers) who will go, try, and report back...




            

"Just post it..."

So our tacit editor-in-chief, Tara's close friend Cheryl (and incidentally the only reason this blog exists and seems like it's actually going to get started is due to her dogged 'encouragement' to "just post it!"), has signed off on our blog's schtick being the highlight or search for the best version of any particular dish in any particular restaurant; the "go-to" reason for going to that eatery, if you will. Given that premise, here we go...

An abrupt start...

So my friends and I love food, but not just any old cookie-cutter, corporate chain food... good, authentic food. True to its roots, made with care, passion, and imagination. Sometimes comforting and homey, sometimes artistic and beautiful, hopefully so skilled or revelatory in its fruition that it actually inspires you to want to make it yourself. It seems to me that one of the most wondrous gifts of life is that, beyond merely sustaining ourselves, we want to enjoy and savor our meals. And, for those of us lucky enough, we get to make for ourselves, or go get for ourselves, something pleasurable and satisfying each and every day. It's a never-ending journey, open to limitless experimentation and variation, bound only by each meal's stomach capacity. Why squander it, then, on anything less than a quest of delicious discovery?

I've been fortunate enough to have traveled many places and had some of the best food from all over the globe. However, living in Long Beach, not especially known for its dining establishments, we thought we'd see if we couldn't spotlight some of the best places for specific dishes in our little neighborhood... and enjoy ourselves immensely in the process.