Whoo Hoo, Witchy Woman

Castro's Mexican Restaurant in Clinton Hill

Mexican breakfasts at Castro's this morning.  We passed by all the slightly upscale spots for a more casual environment.  We sat in the enclosed front area where there was a very nice cool breeze. I got the Mexican scramble with a side of sad looking bacon.  

P got the Chorizo scramble.  Both came with beans and rice and flour tortillas.  Gone are the days when you are given chips and sauce to begin a meal.  Every little bit counts these days for restaurants and I realize nothing is free, but a tiny bit of pico de gallo would have perked these plates up or a small stack of lettuce, tomato and onion.  My folks ran a Mexican restaurant and their plate presentation game was tight. You first eat with your eyes and that is important to how the customer remembers the experience which in turn affects their desire to return.  I can't say enough about all the small details.  Friendly staff, coming back to see if everything is okay, coffee refills.  I couldn't do it, it's truly an art.  I was a terrible waitress and realized it after a few hours trying it one night. 

Immediately after finishing the meal, we left to walk home, I felt a virus come on strong and by the time we reached home I had to go directly to bed and called out the next day.  It is unclear how I was affected so soon after the meal and I am a little spooked by the mean waitress that we've had before.  I halfheartedly believe that some women have abilities to put curses on you, and this lady gave me scary vibes.  It's unclear whether I'll be able to resist coming back for their amazing Chilaquiles.

Everybody Plays the Fool, Sometimes

Castro's Chilaquiles and breakfast tacos

There should be a name for this.  When you go to a restaurant with someone, you both order, the plates get set down and one person scored and the other one got sacked.  Thus was the case this morning at Castro's Mexican Restaurant in Clinton Hill.  Three breakfast tacos yes, but absolutely no sides or condiments accompanied these lonely bare tacos.  I felt terrible for my mate.  You must include some green on the plate, always.   Whereas my plate was beyond appetizing.  I had two eggs over easy, crema, red onions and chicken over these delicious cheesy sauce drenched chips. 

Give Me One Reason to Stay Here

Hot Sauce Chicken 

I've come to embrace the ease of this one pan chicken idea.  Vegetables, grains, chicken and then any type of seasoning spin works every time.  As long as you brown the chicken first, then add all else, bring to a boil and stick in the oven with tight fitting lid for an hour or so from 375 to 425.  

This time I used bell peppers and onions, tons of garlic, Mexican oregano, wild rice and a heaping cup of my homemade hot sauce, with enough chicken stock to cover.  

Tangy, zesty and spicy.  It's comfort with a kick. You can leave it until the chicken is falling off the bone, as I like it or with a little give.  You can put the chicken skin up and on top of all other ingredients if you like or bury it deep in all the juices.  Its versatile.  

Chilaquiles in Red Hottest Sauce for me

Castro's Breakfast Chorizo Tacos

That morning we headed to Castro's Mexican Restaurant for breakfast and I sweated out my angst with the hottest sauce on my chilaquiles.  The breakfast tacos, although very tasty, needed some accutroments on that stark white plate.  I'm thinking a little pico de gallo drizzled across the three would have cost nothing and improved the look triplefold.

Even though the service is questionable, I like this place because it's old timey and that's hard to find anymore in the neighborhood.  All the post COVID shut down restaurants are being taken over by high end establishments.  Two precious pizza restaurants serving martinis featured a standing host , an oyster bar, a pasta factory (no objection to this gem).  Two women opened an exclusive looking foofy eatery replacing the longtime Academy Diner and it serves scallops and beets with pistachio and horseradish.  I get that food is more expensive and restaurateurs need to fish for the people with big bucks, but this is a neighborhood that could also use affordable take out options.  

Don't Give me No Shit Because I've Been Tired!

Castro's Mexican Breakfast

Chiliquiles, with a three-napkin hot sauce.  I ordered the extra hot because I didn't want the real Mexican waitresses to think I can't handle it, not that they'd care.  I was sweating and blowing my nose but I got through it and it was divine!  There is magic in a good red sauce that has a tangy flavor that powers through the heat.  I love much of the food here.  The menu is huge so of course not everything is special but much of it is.  I come for the food, and I like the vibe, mellow and easy. 

The waitresses always gloat on my husband but never ask me if I'd like a refill or more water, more napkins. They don't smile at me or make eye contact.  This is why I appreciate male waiters.  There's never any nonsense and they keep that glass filled.  But this time, she crossed the line when she asked if we wanted separate checks, which I thought was slimy but we got a kick out of it and it didn't stop me from ordering extra tamales to go.  I work crazy long hours and I'm exhausted.  All I want is a festive setting and good food.  I know there is amazing Mexican food in this town but this place is more like a small familiar taquerias in the west, even though it's tucked into the sketchy edges of Clinton Hill.  

Afterwards our neighborhood featured the Dance Afrika festival and had tons of cool stands set up with dresses & hats, figurines and art.  The food here should be out of this world but much of the time, the vendors are of the more carnival variety, not as special and pricey.  Although I'm sure there are several exceptions.  

We'll Have a Dance of Liberty

Rigatoni with Italian Meatballs

I used the recipe from Sip and Feast for these Italian Meatballs and cooked up a bright marina sauce to go along.  I have never made a giant pot of Sunday gravy, like all the old school New York Italians, but aspire to someday should I ever have more than two people in my apartment again.  While selling kitchens I often come across a customer that expresses the need for enough space to store her Sunday gravy pot.  This warms me to the buyer and I enjoy helping real cooks set up their new digs. 

These real Italian Meatballs were next level using real Parmigiano Reggiano, parsley, garlic, eggs and soaked bread crumbs.  I couldn't help but add a little grated carrot to the sauce and balls.    

When I was a kid growing up in the Midwest, I used to say I was Italian because I was ashamed of admitting I was Mexican to some of my prejudice pals.  Also because I wanted to be Italian from what I witnessed in movies and food. It felt like a better fit for me.  If spelled differently my name could be Italian, so it worked out, for a very short time.  Kids have silly notions and need to learn for themselves just how screwed up their ideas can be.  At that time, I saw no value in being Mexican, as it seemed to be be the kind of thing that could get you beat up or at the least harassed.  And it was and it did, but every kid seemed to have their own cross to bear, whether they be poor, abused or ignorant in my neighborhood.  The stupidity was equally distributed in other words.

climbing trees in Brooklyn

Castro's Breakfast in the garden

Food brings people together, whether it be a giant plate of meatballs and rigatoni or earlier that day, a plate of breakfast chilaquiles or Mexican scramble from Castro's Restaurant on Myrtle, it is much easier to celebrate and taste the benefit of our differences in our delicious food creations.  

Later my husband told me the kids used to call their Italian friend, Pepperoni, so you can't win. 

Falling On My Head Like a New Emotion

Castro's Combination Plate 

Castro's Chile Relleno

Loaded Nacho Fries 

Loaded Nacho fries?  I'm listening with my eyes!!!  Of course you've seen every type of loaded french fries at this point but I will say carne asada with a well distributed pico, sour cream and an inordinate amount of guacamole ....for me, was hitting that Tom Cruise, Renee Zellweger-at-the-front-door type passion, but if you replace Cruise with cheesy fries of course! 

Some find rain romantic.  I'm not big on sappy couples-type romance but I do find so many natural settings dreamy in an enchanting, corny way, like riding home on my bike in a giant storm.  Plus, as an adult, it is seldom that you are in an uncontrolled situation like this.  Cheap child-like thrills, getting all wet, swerving to avoid pothole puddles, can be exhilarating.  What better reward than the following day off and pounds of fine Mexican food delivered?  

Last nights rain storm 

If Chicken Little Tells You That the Sky is Falling

Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder

A slow roasted pork shoulder is never a bad thing and the aromatic vibe in the apartment is very soothing.  If you get one on sale, they practically give it away but full price you're in for some bucks. 

Vinegar, red pepper flakes, spiked all over with garlic slivers, lots of salt.  I put it in a pre-heated 425 oven for 1/2 an hour before reducing it down to 325 and letting it go forever or until you just can't take it any longer.

We had a rare morning off together so we walked through a couple of neighborhoods to Clinton Hill for a nice Mexican Breakfast at Castro's.  There are hills around Brooklyn but I don't see this one, although they say it exists at 95' at it's highest point. However Boerum Hill is flat and not sure why it was named as such.  Cobble Hill I ride up everyday to work.  Of course there is a giant one in Park Slope.  That 9th Avenue bike ride you have to take standing up almost completely in order to scale it and you don't peddle once coming down for about 5 longs blocks. Manhattan was named by Native American's meaning island of many hills.  It's hard to see those unless you take a boat around the island. Then you'll notice all the high cliffs and bluffs along the sides, pretty remarkable. 

Chilaquiles with Chile Verde Sauce 

As was this breakfast and time spent with the old ball and chain.  There is so much going on in the world today that it's great to just sit and listen to how someone else see's it all.  To either connect on similar thinking or argue your point if you see it so differently.  When you can ease someone's weary mind there is a simultaneous comfort to yourself as well.  It's important right now that we all believe we can get through anything with grace.  When you are blessed with a good friend in a partner, you can set these conditions and believe that you'll be strong enough to weather anything.  On this day just two weeks ago we certainly knew of COVID-19 but it was not a constant topic of discussion as it is today.  Everything has changed in the city but not the least of what is to come I'm sure.  Suddenly, we are at a new time with unclear outcome.  So it's great to know in this sunny morning, we were not just having an easy breakfast but preparing and arming for possible struggles ahead.

Castro's Restaurant in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

Huevos Estillo Pueblo

She Told Me to Walk This Way

There is something about a mediocre eating spot that keeps us coming back for more. No, sometimes you want the best... and so I cook at home. ba dum pump...haa haa, little joke. No seriously, there are amazing breakfast joints in this neighborhood alone. But sometimes you find a good balance, some odd fit to your needs and even though the food is not amazing, it works. I wanted Mexican and it was super early, like 7:30am and I also wanted a little walk with the nut. I told him instead of coffee at home, lets just get out right away. So we ventured out to Clinton Hill and went to Castro's. They open at 8am and are happy to see ya bright and early. They're inexpensive and they remind me of the roadside food we had out in Arizona. There is a smoky good taste to much of it. The walk over was sweet and it really felt like spring. We caught a nice long stretch without having to share the sidewalk with the masses that would be awake in about two hours coming out in droves filling those same streets. So many blooming trees. Morning springtime in New York is like watching a 2 year old sleeping in it's little bed right before it wakes up and terrorizes your house. So calm, so beautiful...sniff sniff 'hey, what's that smell?' The food was really tasty and satisfying, not too heavy even though we over-ordered with the extra tacos. But who could resist, they were so cute and cheap! One was a chorizo and one was a spicy pork. Over all great choice. The whole experience inspired me to finally concoct this savory breakfast bar that I've been conjuring up in my head. P's been going at these peanut butter bars I've made consistently now for a few weeks. Such a great alternative and easy to eat on the go. We pay out the ying yang for these bars in the corner markets. I thought perhaps turkey jerky along with sun dried tomatoes to replace the raisins and spiced nuts might mix well with tahini paste to make a nice snack bar. P loved them! He ate the whole pan. Me, not so crazy for 'em but I really wanted to love them. They stuck together well and the consistency was perfect. I think they might come back around for an encore appearance at some point.