The Quest to Find the Ultimate Fish Taco HEAD TOPICS
The Quest to Find the Ultimate Fish Taco
10/21/2022 6:30:00 PM We went on a quest to Baja California to find the ultimate fish taco and came back with three delicious recipes
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We went on a quest to Baja California to find the ultimate fish taco and came back with three delicious recipes Editorial director and clam correspondent Kat Craddock reports back from Baja with her favorite fish taco recipes. byKat Craddock PUBLISHED Sep 22, 2022 10:00 AMTravelShareI’m a New England kid and whenever I travel, I’m always on the hunt for regional seafood specialties—from New Orleans’ crispiest fried oyster loaves to Patagonia’s cheesiest crab dip to to my own home state’s briniest bowl of chowder, meals from the sea always make me feel a little more at home in a new place. So when I was planning my beach vacation to Mexico recently, I knew I’d only be lounging poolside for so long before the itch to find some exceptional fish tacos kicked in. That’s how I wound up at Paradero, a new sea-to-table hotel in Todos Santos. Read more:
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A series of recent wildfires ignited or spread this past week as warm, dry, and windy conditions—a rarity for the rainy Pacific Northwest. Read more >> The Quest to Find the Ultimate Fish TacoEditorial director and clam correspondent Kat Craddock reports back from Baja with her favorite fish taco recipes. Baja California is the birthplace of the famed fish taco. Join one of our fun and delicious street food tours and try for yourself. 😍😇 The Quest to Find the Ultimate Fish TacoEditorial director and clam correspondent Kat Craddock reports back from Baja with her favorite fish taco recipes. I’m sorry, why not include Ensenada in your article? Your quest should of started there, on the street carts where the fish taco was invented. Also, “Baja” is the entire peninsula & includes two states. Cabo is in B.C. Sur. I would suggest trusting the local’s opinion next time. 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But not just returning for a one-off, Cox' appearance further set the […]\n Aftet she-hulk I’m less interested A journey through Baja revealed boundless variations on the coastal classic—these three recipes were the best of the bunch.A journey through Baja revealed boundless variations on the coastal classic—these three recipes were the best of the bunch.A journey through Baja revealed boundless variations on the coastal classic—these three recipes were the best of the bunch.Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. byKat Craddock PUBLISHED Sep 22, 2022 10:00 AMTravelShareI’m a New England kid and whenever I travel, I’m always on the hunt for regional seafood specialties—from New Orleans’ crispiest fried oyster loaves to Patagonia’s cheesiest crab dip to to my own home state’s briniest bowl of chowder, meals from the sea always make me feel a little more at home in a new place. So when I was planning my beach vacation to Mexico recently, I knew I’d only be lounging poolside for so long before the itch to find some exceptional fish tacos kicked in. So when I was planning my beach vacation to Mexico recently, I knew I’d only be lounging poolside for so long before the itch to find some exceptional fish tacos kicked in. That’s how I wound up at Paradero, a new sea-to-table hotel in Todos Santos. That’s how I wound up at Paradero, a new sea-to-table hotel in Todos Santos. Todos Santos is an agriculturally rich oasis in the blistering desert of Baja California Sur, some 50 miles north of Los Cabos. Todos Santos is an agriculturally rich oasis in the blistering desert of Baja California Sur, some 50 miles north of Los Cabos. Separating the hotel and the Pacific Ocean is a sweeping poblano chile field that creeps up the Sierra Laguna Mountains. The first episodes of the show revolve around Jen's new employment at the firm of Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway — even if her boss only wants her to practice law in Hulk form — and her first client who has his own personal ties to her family, Emil Blonsky, aka the Abomination (Tim Roth). Some guests decompress by pool or under the stars in rooftop hammocks. Some guests decompress by pool or under the stars in rooftop hammocks. Some guests decompress by pool or under the stars in rooftop hammocks. Others take organic agriculture classes on the on-site kitchen garden or mountain bike through the surrounding farm country. And sure, I certainly did some of that—but like I said, I was mostly there for the fish. And sure, I certainly did some of that—but like I said, I was mostly there for the fish. Baja is well-known for its excellent and diverse seafood. Baja is well-known for its excellent and diverse seafood. On an earlier visit to the region, I had dived deep (literally) for a beloved local bivalve and enjoyed mounds of ceviche and aguachile. On an earlier visit to the region, I had dived deep (literally) for a beloved local bivalve and enjoyed mounds of ceviche and aguachile. She also spoke about casting Marvel's real-life receptionist to play the part in the episode, the rom-com energy between Matt and Jen, and more. The peninsula’s fish tacos are particularly legendary, though, so I asked Paradero’s mountain biking guide, Diego Bautista, to show me around some of his favorite taco spots in town. Fast-talking and tall, Bautista is a Todos Santos local who lights up when asked about his hometown’s restaurants. Fast-talking and tall, Bautista is a Todos Santos local who lights up when asked about his hometown’s restaurants. Fast-talking and tall, Bautista is a Todos Santos local who lights up when asked about his hometown’s restaurants. “We really just have the best seafood here,” he told me, “so much better than Cabo.” Unlike densely developed Los Cabos, Todos Santos (T.” Unlike densely developed Los Cabos, Todos Santos (T.S.S. A lot of that came from the color palette and the tone. to locals) is quiet. to locals) is quiet. At least for now, there’s plenty of high-quality local fish to go around to both no-fuss stools-in-the-sand restaurants and to more formal, chef-driven kitchens like the one at Paradero. When most think of Baja-style tacos, they imagine battered and deep-fried white fish—and we certainly sampled a lot of that in T. When most think of Baja-style tacos, they imagine battered and deep-fried white fish—and we certainly sampled a lot of that in T. When most think of Baja-style tacos, they imagine battered and deep-fried white fish—and we certainly sampled a lot of that in T.S. Most notable was the version served at Barracuda Cantina, which is Bautista’s favorite in the region. Most notable was the version served at Barracuda Cantina, which is Bautista’s favorite in the region. It doesn't have to be this fated-to-be-together-and-live-happily-ever-after. The cooks at this beachside restaurant coat fat strips of the day’s catch—grouper, when I was there—in a featherlight beer batter, then top the golden-fried fish with a crunchy slaw, fiery habanero salsa, guac, and a sprinkling of pico de gallo. The cooks at this beachside restaurant coat fat strips of the day’s catch—grouper, when I was there—in a featherlight beer batter, then top the golden-fried fish with a crunchy slaw, fiery habanero salsa, guac, and a sprinkling of pico de gallo. It’s an exceptional example of the familiar style, best enjoyed between sips of one of the cantina’s tart-smoky-sweet mezcal cocktails. It’s an exceptional example of the familiar style, best enjoyed between sips of one of the cantina’s tart-smoky-sweet mezcal cocktails. After a short detour to Bautista’s favorite cevicheria, we got back to the taco task at hand. We headed further into town where the folks at Santo Chilote were making a more freestyle riff on the region’s battered-and-fried fish. We headed further into town where the folks at Santo Chilote were making a more freestyle riff on the region’s battered-and-fried fish. We headed further into town where the folks at Santo Chilote were making a more freestyle riff on the region’s battered-and-fried fish. There, sweet coconut-crusted shrimp are served unadorned atop chewy flour tortillas, and diners are free to top their own tacos, salad-bar style. How did you recreate that? It looks almost virtually identical to the original. My guide walked me through his preferred fixings: a few dots of fruity, Caribbean-style habanero sauce, pickled jalapeños, a generous drizzle of cooling crema, and a squeeze of lime. My guide walked me through his preferred fixings: a few dots of fruity, Caribbean-style habanero sauce, pickled jalapeños, a generous drizzle of cooling crema, and a squeeze of lime. I followed his lead and didn’t regret it. I followed his lead and didn’t regret it. Back at Paradero, executive chef and Pujol alum Eduardo Ríos takes a more refined approach to the fish taco. Back at Paradero, executive chef and Pujol alum Eduardo Ríos takes a more refined approach to the fish taco. His team nixtamalizes heirloom corn for handmade tortillas, which are fired off twice a day on a traditional wood-fired clay comal. Here too, the menu varies with the day’s catch. Here too, the menu varies with the day’s catch. Here too, the menu varies with the day’s catch. There is nothing simple. When Bautista and I returned to the hotel, stuffed from our hours-long eating excursion, Ríos was frying soft-shell crabs, which he then perched atop a tangle of tomato-pepper slaw, basil guac, and warm corn tortillas. A dollop of sesame salsa roja balanced the sweet crab with a fragrant and peppery heat; I devoured the thing in three, maybe four bites. A dollop of sesame salsa roja balanced the sweet crab with a fragrant and peppery heat; I devoured the thing in three, maybe four bites. While Ríos’s preparations are certainly more elegant and complex than the tacos we enjoyed in town, the chef doesn’t stray far from the spirit of the local formula, so rooted in impossibly fresh seafood. While Ríos’s preparations are certainly more elegant and complex than the tacos we enjoyed in town, the chef doesn’t stray far from the spirit of the local formula, so rooted in impossibly fresh seafood. The beauty of Todos Santos’ many tacos is, in part, their simplicity. The beauty of Todos Santos’ many tacos is, in part, their simplicity. While I couldn’t take Baja’s breathtaking backdrop with me, these days I find a glimmer of vacation by sourcing good-quality fish closer to home. My favorite story from that is that the bodybuilder who played She-Hulk told me, "When I was a little boy, I always dreamed of growing up and playing Hulk. If you’re staycationing this season, these recipes are a great way to make the Mexican seaside seem just a little bit closer. If you’re staycationing this season, these recipes are a great way to make the Mexican seaside seem just a little bit closer. If you’re staycationing this season, these recipes are a great way to make the Mexican seaside seem just a little bit closer. RecipesSoft-Shell Crab Tacos with Basil Guacamole and Sesame Salsa RojaGet the recipe > Coconut Fried Shrimp TacosGet the recipe > Baja Fried Fish TacosGet the recipe > MexicoNorth AmericaMORE TO READ Related Chinese Vegan Cooking Has Been Perfected Over Millenia (And You Can Taste It)Cookbook author Hannah Che returned from China with a newfound passion for the country’s plant-based traditions. Now, she’s sharing them with the world. Young people are determined to keep the establishments’ spirit alive. Read nowRelated These Humble Diners Embody the Unique Hybridized Culture of Hong KongCha chaan teng face an uncertain future. Read nowRelated Cultural Calendar: Where to Go and What to Cook in OctoberFrom a festival celebrating the world’s most expensive spice to a plant-based extravaganza in Thailand, here’s what our editors are digging into this month. Young people are determined to keep the establishments’ spirit alive. 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