Yo Quiero...Cascabel!

OK, my first official foodie blog! Kind of makes me really PO'ed at myself that I did not start this blog YEARS ago, considering how many fabulous and delicious places I have frequented in NYC, Miami, or in several far far away lands. All I can say to these food haunts is, My sincere apologies. And here's to me walking through your doors one day again, so I can dish about your tasty creations, and I can take pictures of my meal like someone who has never seen food before.

But no use lingering on the past! I'm in the now, and that now is Cascabel Taqueria on the UES (for you non-new yorkers, UES is the Upper East Side, my hood). I can proudly say that I am a neighborfoodie. I love to check out new hot spots that open up in my hood. Ive been known to "investigate" and show myself in to construction areas where painters and workers loom just to get some info on the latest opening.

To be honest, I often go downtown or across town when it comes to dining, always on the hunt for the most recently reviewed restaurants in NY magazine or Urban Daddy. That's not to say that the Upper East Side doesn't have some culinary gems lurking in its blocks, but despite being yummy joints, they aren't exactly garnering "cool" points since they are so uptown. However, in recent years some notable and dare I say, trendy spots have popped up around this upscale, family friendly neighborhood. And one of those spots is a luchador themed, casual taco mecca named Cascabel. A small, but always bustling, always jam packed shoe box sized taqueria that serves up the most delicioso tacos, Ive personally tasted. (And with a Mexican husband, Ive tasted quite a few).

Being Cuban, I love anything pork. I could eat pork for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I had to. Pork, fatty pork especially, just runs through my blood. So my first experience at Cascabel was an order of their very popular "Pork Tacos". OMG. A party in my mouth. Served on a metal silver dish, two fat tacos stuffed with crispy shredded pork butt, red onions, roasted chili de arbol, and a jalapeno on the side, (for those who are very brave) was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. I sprinkle it with a dash of lime and each bite was just as flavorful as the first. Um, can I please have 10 of these??? And now something to wash it down. Duh, a margarita! I decided to keep it classic with a traditional margarita and it was the perfect refreshment to accompany my meal. After devouring my plate, and sitting contently with my acquired food baby, I finally understood why people would wait 20-30 minutes in line to snag a bar stool or one of the few tables in the place. But they don't come just for the pork tacos, theres a nice size menu that also includes really fresh guacamole, chorizo tacos, lengua (veal)tacos, pollo a la plancha, or pollo asada, and I have my eyes on the Gorditas con puerco, which are honey glazed with cilantro, on my next Cascabel visit!

Prices are on the cheap side, but Coco thinks $7 for 2 tacos is a bit of a rip off. I beg to differ. That's just my two cents. And just recently through some of my "investigative" work, there might be some truth to the rumors that Cascabel is expanding next door to the old Willy's restaurant. Which means sidewalk dining in the summer time, cooling off with a margarita in hand! Oish. I'm making myself hungry!

So if you ever find yourself venturing uptown, or visiting me (bc I obviously like you if I invite you anywhere near me), make a pit stop at the taqueria. Who knows, maybe one of those tacos will awaken the luchador in you!

Here's to you. Here's to me.

Kathy.