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We are hurtling south down Mexico 8 at, as my partner says, “the speed of smell”, racing towards gastronomical delights. A trip we make at least twice a month October to May for the gorgeous beaches, dancing sunshine and amazing Mexican food prepared by people from all over Mexico. The two-lane asphalt road that connects the US with Puerto Peñasco taking us through the beauty of the ocotillo forests of the Sonoran Desert. The once small fishing village turned tourist destination nestled on the Sea of Cortez, is our destination for amazing smells and tastes. Driver and passenger considering with delight where and what are we going to eat this trip? So many possibilities, so little time. We always run out of meals before we make it through our list of favs.
Top of the list for this trip is the homemade, fresh offerings of El Carrito in the Old Port. Tostadas are on our mind. I have to admit as a kid I gravitated to a taco, but lately the crisp bite of the crunchy corn tortilla forming the tostada base smeared with homemade frijoles then topped with a rainbow of toppings excites my tastes these days. A tostada is one of those foods that combines ingredients into a flavor burst with all the right notes: savory, crunchy, sweet, salty, spicey and satisfying. All the savory choices at El Carrito are made to order with the freshest tasty ingredients. Tostadas, tacos and tortas (Mexican sandwiches) are made daily by Maria de la Luz “Marilu’”, her two daughters and grandchildren.
Talking with the friendly Marilu’ and her pretty daughters, Carmen and Sandy we are told that the family came to Peñasco 27 years ago bringing their family love of local Mexican food and old- fashioned slow ways of preparing it. They arrived from Ciudad Guzman near Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco, opening El Carrito or little cart 17 years ago. And what amazing food comes off the shine brass and glass cooking station of the little cart.
We step off the street just north of the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazon in the Old Port into the festive colors of the patio seating area. Walls painted a bright burnt orange highlight the giant bougainvillea vine covered in fuchsia flowers. We seat ourselves outside under the fluttering paper streamers on festive painted handmade chairs at a wooden table. We are greeted with a smile and “buenos dias” by Marilu’ and family. First to be set on the table is an earthenware bowl piled high with their family recipe of “zanahorias en escabeche” or pickled carrots and jalapenos. Spicy delights to start our lunch. We ask if they have their amazing cantaloupe water today? A favorite that is hard to come by, but well worth it when we get to savor it.
We agonize over our orders. What do we want on our perfect tostada bites today? Savory, mouth-watering smells come from the specialty ingredients being prepared by the expert hands of Doña Marilu’ at the grill on the cart. I settle on combination tostadas with a savory meat, local fresh cheese, beans, crispy cabbage, slices of bright avocado and the piquant pickled carrots and jalapeños with house made salsas ranging from smokey to holy hot. My partner chooses a barbacoa tostada and a potato taco. After we ravenously clean our plates, we check in for today’s sweet offerings. Happily, we pay the amazingly reasonable check and sit for a while taking in the sights and smells. Marilu’ and her helpers are doing the age-old dance of feeding those that stop by for this friendly families amazing local fare in a festive little corner of Peñasco.
Stop in and see what Mexican favorites thrill your tastebuds sometime soon.
El Carrito serving fresh food 9am-3pm Tuesday to Saturdays.
