{"id":5493,"date":"2014-02-21T22:50:47","date_gmt":"2014-02-22T06:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/?p=5493"},"modified":"2017-05-23T11:30:44","modified_gmt":"2017-05-23T18:30:44","slug":"el-torito-irvine-comida-clasica-menu-media-tasting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/?p=5493","title":{"rendered":"El Torito @ Irvine – Comida Clasica Menu Media Tasting"},"content":{"rendered":"

When El Torito introduced Flavors of Baja (featured here)<\/a>\u00a0back in September, I thought I had found my new favorites. \u00a0Initially I was told it was only for a limited time. \u00a0I told\u00a0Executive Chef\/Director of R&D, Chef Loreto that they should keep it as part of their regular menu. \u00a0I had gone back since and was happy to see they have incorporated Flavors of Baja as part of their menu.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, I got another invite to try the all new Comida Clasica Menu which celebrates the 60th anniversary! \u00a0Can you believe it? \u00a060 years and still going strong! \u00a0All I have to say is that El Torito just keeps getting better and better!<\/p>\n

“The Comida Cl\u00e1sica menu offers our take on authentic Mexican favorites, with fresh ingredients and homemade sauces in a classic presentation.\u00a0 From street taco combos to the classic Queso Fundido appetizer, to our mouth-watering mole and Veracruz sauces, we invite you to celebrate the authentic flavors of El Torito.” \u00a0Chef Loreto and Chef Antonio traveled to Mexico City in search of local favors and authentic recipes. \u00a0The new menu showcases flavors that are more traditional and less familiar. \u00a0But I am confident once you try it, you’ll be sold just like I am.<\/p>\n

(Photo by Allen Taylor Photography<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Although not part of the new menu, \u00a0FRESH\u00a0TABLESIDE GUACAMOLE (Prepared just the way you like it \u2013 with fresh avocados, spicy serrano chiles and a special blend of herbs and spices) is a must have. \u00a0Our server, Sir George, is a master at making it! \u00a0
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Two new signature drinks are on the menu: Margarita Toreada (Maestro Dobel Tequila, sweet & sour and\u00a0Jalape\u00f1o oreado Chiles give this drink a spicy zip) and Fire Chata (Fireball Cinnamon Whisky and Rum Chata).<\/p>\n

I really enjoyed the Margarita Toreada (pictured below left). \u00a0It was light and refreshing with a slight kick. \u00a0I was pleasantly surprised at how much I also enjoyed the Fire Chata (pictured below upper right). \u00a0It was creamy with just a hint of cinnamon but not over powering.
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Queso Fundido Appetizer (Flamed at your table! Melted manchego cheese with lean chorizo,\u00a0saut\u00e9ed mushrooms and salsa molcajete. Topped with cotija cheese, roasted pasilla rajas and a crispy avocado fry. Served with warm tortillas). \u00a0This was love at first bite! \u00a0It had tons of flavor. \u00a0You can eat it with chips or tortillas and you’ll love it either way.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Street Taco Trio (Three corn tortilla tacos; one marinated steak, one carnitas and one grilled chicken breast. Topped with pickled nopalitos and queso fresco.\u00a0Served with creamed corn esquite and salsa picante.) was\u00a0better than most tacos I’ve had. \u00a0I particularly loved the Carnitas. \u00a0It was slow braised in spices and so tender and delicious!<\/p>\n

\"\"The side of Creamed Corn Esquite was lovely! \u00a0As Allen put it, it was spicy creamed corn. \u00a0So good that I packed extra to take home. \u00a0\ud83d\ude09\"\"Enchiladas are my regular favorites in Mexican restaurant. \u00a0These\u00a0Enchiladas de Huitlacoche (Two four tortillas filled with chicken, huitlacoche and manchego cheese.\u00a0Topped with nutty nogada sauce, roasted pepitas and pomegranate seeds.\u00a0Served with saut\u00e9ed fresh vegetables.) were like a work of art. \u00a0It was colorful with innovative ingredients. \u00a0Huitlacoche is\u00a0fungus that grows on ears of corn and has been used in Mexican cuisine in\u00a0various dishes. \u00a0Many view it as a delicacy.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Carne Asada con Mole Tradicional (Marinated skirt steak with traditional red mole, served with a\u00a0roasted chile relleno, Sonora-style seasoned potatoes and roasted pasilla rajas.). \u00a0I was a little hesitant as I am not a fan of Mole but this one surprised me. \u00a0The mole was not grainy beany (is there such a word) but quite smooth with a bit of smokey flavor from the roasted chile relleno.<\/p>\n

\"\"The\u00a0Mahi-Mahi Veracruz (Grilled Mahi-Mahi in a roasted tomato Veracruz sauce with capers and olives. Served atop saut\u00e9ed fresh vegetables and watercress.) was perfectly cooked; moist and tender. \u00a0I loved the tomato Veracruz sauce, so light and fresh.<\/p>\n

\"\"The\u00a0Cl\u00e1sica Combination Grande (One carnitas street taco, one marinated steak street taco and\u00a0<\/span>one chicken enchilada de huitlacoche. Served with creamed\u00a0corn esquite and saut\u00e9ed fresh vegetables.) is for people who can’t just eat one thing, like me. \u00a0I love combos because I love to try different food.<\/p>\n

\"\"Lastly the dessert – Flourless Chocolate Torte with Fresh Fruit and Ice Cream. \u00a0I bet you no matter how full you are, you can’t turn down the dessert, can you? \u00a0\ud83d\ude09\"\"I didn’t think Chef Loreto can outdo himself but he completely won me over again with this new menu. \u00a0Thank you, again, Chef Loreto, General Manage, Alex, and entire staff at El Torito for their hospitality! \u00a0It’s only been 2 weeks since my tasting and I am drooling over at the pictures as I write. \u00a0Let’s meet up, shall we?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

El Torito
\n18512 Macarthur Blvd
\nIrvine, CA 92612
\n(949) 833-8230<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When El Torito introduced Flavors of Baja (featured here)\u00a0back in September, I thought I had found my new favorites. \u00a0Initially I was told it was only for a limited time. \u00a0I told\u00a0Executive Chef\/Director of R&D, Chef Loreto that they should keep it as part of their regular menu. \u00a0I had gone back since and was...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5497,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"pp_embeds":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[246,68],"tags":[661,879,317,612,880,719,611,249],"class_list":["post-5493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commercial","category-restaurants","tag-burrito","tag-carne-asada","tag-carnitas","tag-enchilada","tag-fundido","tag-margarita","tag-mexican","tag-taco"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Collages191.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3lTx3-1qB","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5493"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5493\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9575,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5493\/revisions\/9575"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5493"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wendyfulworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}