I ♥ Enrique's

My bread machine keeps churning out the staff of life unabated.

A loaf of herb bread turned out well.

The recipe called for tarragon but I had none so I threw in rosemary instead. 

I don't dislike tarragon, but I prefer rosemary. Tarragon has an anise/licorice thing to it which is not my favorite whereas rosemary is more like mint. The brot made for some tasty sandwiches at a friend's place.

Most recently I tried my hand at challah.

It turned out well except I misread the recipe and attempted to decorate the top of the loaf with poppy seed at the wrong time. Oops. 

I was pleased with how it turned out beyond a paucity of poppy. Light, fluffy. Eggy. This stuff makes some fine toast.

Earlier this month I got the craving for Italian food. I suspect I just didn't get enough at my Italian uncle's home over Christmas. A stop at the Willy Street Coop yielded some smoked mozzerella tortelloni from RP's Pasta. Next I made a trek to Fraboni's as I had a hankering for their XX hot sausage.

It had been a while since I'd had their sausage as my wife doesn't care for it. The grind is too coarse for her taste. Fair enough. Now that I am no longer cooking for her, I indulged myself. Also, I bought a quart of their marinara and voila! It was a fairly quick and easy dinner.

While at Fraboni's it was brought to my attention that they now offer Mystery Sausage Coils. 

Who knows what lurks in the heart of mystery sausages? The Fraboni knows...

When dining out, it's been Mexican lately.

It had been a while since I'd been to El Pastor. The fajitas were fine. Grilled jalapenos are da bomb. 

Is there a 12-step program for choco-flan addiction?

I love this stuff!

More recently I ate at Enrique's Market for the first time. It features a small selection of groceries, including a brand of salt & vinegar potato chips that I'd never encountered, as well as a kitchen offering a smattering of Mexican staples. 

My asada torta was simple yet very delicious.

I really like Enrique's. The food was good, the staff friendly, and it had a wholly unpretentious, hole-in-the-wall vibe that I adore. It's a neighborhood joint, not a Michelin starred destination for the well-heeled. As Douglas MacArthur once said, I shall return.