Taco Frenzy at Cargo Cantina

It’s no secret that Wapping Wharf is knocking it out of the park with their food offerings. I have only tried a small number of them but everything I have had so far has been pretty special. So when Kym messaged me to tell me we had to go to Cargo Cantina, I sat up and listened. The brains behind Bravas set their sights on Mexico’s favourite snack, the taco.  The menu consists of five different types of taco, plus sides to go with them, and some specials. To make it simple everything here is gluten free. From the blue corn tacos to the chilli sauces. 

 

If you like tequila you are well provided for here, they offer up a variety of ones to sample and some cocktails for those who don’t want the mixers for their spirits to just be salt and lime. As with much of Wapping Wharf booking is not offered but Kym and I sauntered up in the rain with hope and a dream and we were welcomed in by two handsome angels just as two spots at the bar opened up. It was kismet, one might say.  As Kym had been here before I followed her lead. For £18 a head you can get all five of the regular tacos with all the sides and salsas, which is just as well because I enjoy a full sample of a menu.   

 

A tray of delights was brought to us shortly afterwards, blue corn tacos make for a moody insta food shot I can tell you.  Being able to build your own combination of taco means that every experience will be different but the food is nothing short of superb. One of my surprising favourites was the avocado and cactus the ancho chilli gave it a real warmness and was bursting with flavour. The slow cooked meat options of pork shoulder, pibil style and the rich ox tongue and cheek, braised overnight, melted in the mouth. The food is fresh, clean and moreish. The only filling that didn’t shine for me was the seafood mix of octopus and prawns. To me it could have had a bit more oomph, octopus can be sublime and I could have taken a smokier flavour. 

 

Cargo Cantina’s food excites and judging by the constant queues of an evening, the rest of Bristol agrees.  I can’t wait to return and sample some of their specials. Bare in mind you cannot book tables at Cargo, it’s small so is a turn up and see affair. With some great food options at Wapping Wharf you won’t go hungry if you can’t get a spot at your first choice, you should be able to find something just as good and a new favourite behind door number two. To see what Cargo Cantina has to offer visit their website.

Friday Night Feasting at Viva La Mexicana

Last weekend was a weekend of eating. It started on Friday evening with a trip to Viva La Mexicana on East Street in Bedminster. Jamie and Boz had kindly bought me a Groupon deal for my birthday so we both had one and could visit together. It was a freezing evening but we managed to find a parking space outside the Wetherspoons round the corner. Bristol doesn't really have much in the way of Mexican restaurants which is a shame as they are definitely one of my favourite cuisines so I was looking forward to trying Viva as I had heard many good things. 

Viva La Mexicana stresses very strongly at the front of their menu that they are Mex-Mex not Tex-Mex so don't visit expecting burritos, chimichangas, fajitas or even sour cream these are not true Mexican dishes. There are plenty of tantalising menu choices to be had, the names may be unfamiliar but the ingredients won't be. Our deal was a cocktail, corn chips and dips and something from the street food menu. We added a bowl of guacamole and some more corn chips to our order and waited for them to arrive. For my main I chose the flautas, fried corn tacos filled with pulled chicken with lettuce, green salsa, cheese and cream accompanied by rice and refried beans. Rich went for the panuchos, two corn tortillas topped with refried beans, chicken, salad, cheese and guacamole.

mixed dips, cheese and olives

big bowl of guacamole

My oh my, forget what you know about chips and dips. These little unassuming pots were packed full of flavour, one was smoky roasted pepper and the other a zingy jalepeno dip. The guacamole was the best I have ever had, I would have eaten bowls and bowls of it, plus you definitely know the difference when you have freshly made corn chips.

flautas

Three crispy tacos with refried beans and rice accompaniments were brought to me, stuffed with juicy chicken. Delicious. The crispy crunch of the fried corn tortillas contrasted nicely with the soft toppings. Plus the refried beans were just heavenly, melt in the mouth and seasoned perfectly. We just about had room to order some bunuelos to share, light wheat pastries smothered in honey.

bunuelos

If you have thought about going to Viva la Mexicana please do you won't regret it. These guys know what they are talking about when it comes to Mexican food. The service is welcoming and homely and the flavours are wonderful. They do a great set lunch deal on Saturdays, two courses for £7.50. I personally cannot wait for my next visit. To find out more about Viva la Mexicana visit their website.

Mexican Food Delights at Taqueria

Last week Rich and I went to London for a night. I had bought him tickets for John Foxx and The Maths gig so we decided to extend our stay overnight and have a whole day in London. After an amazing night of synth beats the following day my foodie friend Julia led us to Taqueria, a taco cafe. I love Mexican food, something Bristol is lacking is a really good Mexican restaurant, Casa Mexicana I've heard reports has gone down hill in the last year, so it would be good to get the Latin vibes going again in Bristol.

Taqueria, near Notting Hill Gate, is a real gem. The menu is pretty extensive and does not just cover tacos. We decided the best way forward would be to get a couple of dishes and sample everything, although Julia had recommended a Sope each to start as they were the most heavenly dish she'd had in a while, how could we resist such a pitch? Sope is a sort of fried pastry filled with beans, cheese, sour cream, salsa, coriander and optional chorizo, which of course we opted for without hesitation.

Sope with Optional Chorizo

Julia was not in the least bit wrong in her pitch. This was one of the most delicious things I have eaten in a long while. So many flavours it sort of tasted like a crisp Latino pasty it was amazing and I am glad we ordered more than one. Our mains we picked the Vampiro, Conchinita Pibil and the Tinga.

The Vampiro

The Tinga

The Vampiro was a char grilled tortilla with melted cheese, char grilled skirt steak and vampiro salsa. For me easily the best of the three. The steak melted in the mouth it was juicy and was complimented by the tangy salsa on top, I could have eaten at least 3 more of these and still been begging for more. The Tinga was generously filled with shredded chicken in a chipotle, tomato and onion sauce topped with avocado. This was tasty and smoky but pretty difficult to eat delicately as the tortillas were pretty soaked in the sauce.

Conchinita Pibil

Conchinita Pibil, or puerco pibil, is a traditional slow roast pork dish marinated in achiote and citrus juice. Here the tacos were topped with habanero flakes and pickled pink onions. The piquant pulled pork piled high on the tacos did not disappoint it was hugely flavoursome and each mouthful revealed more and more flavour. As with every dish I could have eaten twice as much but I restrained myself. Rich adores churros so ordering them to finish our lunch was a no brainer.

Two portions rocked up very shortly after ordering accompanied by a goat's milk toffee dip. It won't surprise you when I say, after such delicious food so far, that these churros were the best I've tasted so far, although I am fairly new to churros. They were light, slightly crunchy and coated in cinnamon sugar. The toffee dip was very sweet and rich but definitely better than any chocolate dip I have had to accompany my churros in the past.

Churros with Goats Milk Toffee

Therefore if you find yourself in London and fancy an inexpensive lunch or dinner, under £10 each, then head to Taqueria it does fresh super tasty Mexican food and there is so much to choose from. Check out their website for a menu browse and prepare to drool over the many options.