Last night we joined friends at the relatively new(opened last fall) MAIZ 64 and as it was a beautiful evening (to start) we decided to sit outside and the very classy tables with huge umbrellas.
We ordered their signature drink ALMA DE MAIZ which is a mezcal margarita withe corn and a spicy rim --it as DELISH. There was a choice between the $55 three course restaurant week menu and a la carte, two of us chose the former and it was all delish.
A small bowl of Tomatillo & Eggplant Puree came with crispy blue corn tortillas which we gobbled up with our yummy drinks.
The starter of Fish Pate Tostada had a pate of Cobia that was the texture of hummus but tasted fabulous and had a cucumber relish all on a large blue corn tortilla(FB fotos). The a la carte folks chose the also delish Tuna Tostada made with ponzu, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo and salsa macha, again on the crispy blue crone tortilla.
I always love Mexican wines which can be rare in the states and Maiz 64 has a small but decent selection. The Trasiego 2020 Seleccion Blanca from Baja is a white blend of 60% Viognier, 25% Arneis and 15% Marsanne making it a most unique blend of Italiand and Rhone varietals! we all loved it. Our red was a simple wine we have had before, the 2020 Santo Tomas red blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Santo Tomas vineyards are known for their excellent reds, but this was a very simple wine and lacked a lot of depth and character we found in their higher end wines.
The main course choice from the $55 menu we had was a superb Short Rib with Panut Mole and roasted Spring onions. The onion bulbs were so large I thought they were Cippolini and the meat melted in your mouth as it shredded apart. Less exciting off the main menu was the Brisket with Cegueza Mole, Cauliflower Puree and Seasonal Vegetables as the meat was a tad chewy and not as beautifully cooked. The whole Dorado "a la Talla" was a butterflied whole fish grilled Acapulco style with dried Chiles Adobo and green salad.
About halfway through the main course the rain began and at first it was light enough and the huge umbrella seemed to protect us. After a while, we needed to move inside, which our server, Jose, made happen very fast. The only problem was the interior was so crowded and noisy we could not hear each other. After the rain stopped, we shuffled back outside where we finished our meal.
The desserts were a nice Flan with fresh berries and Churros.
Jose, who was a gem, brought out some mezcal for us to try and we left full and happy.
It was great to get together with friends we had not seen in years as well!!
--
