Yup, its still about the Ground Beef & Pickle Tacos @ Mas Malo

Mas Malo, the "badder" DTLA sequel to the popular cantina in Silver Lake has a prime location, on the ground floor of the building that houses Seven Grand on 7th Street.  The space is a former jewelry store and has double height ceilings and is landmarked.  I was recently invited to check it out and was able to sample several of the dishes and cocktails.

Overall the dish I recommend most is the signature dish of the establishment, the ground beef and pickle taco.  It is filling, and at only $4 is a value.  The ground beef, pickles and shredded cheese is a homage to the classic cheeseburger.  Stuffed into the fried shell and dipped into the Serrano salsa it is surprisingly delicious and a crowd pleaser.

To share, the Chicken in Mole Poblano ($16) is also quite good.  The mole sauce is rich and complex and not overly sweet.  While it may not be at the level of Guelaguetza, this is a dish I can heartily recommend and would order again.  It is hard to not dip your chips into the mole; always the sign of a successful sauce.

The Medicina Latina with a chili salt rim was a highlight of the beverage menu.  I thought the other cocktails I sampled were just ok.  As they have 200 tequilas and mezcals on the list, exploring the deep list may be the optimal way to go.  Unfortunately Mas Malo doesn't have sangrita to accompany the great tequilas.

You can reserve their tequila vault for tastings or private dinners.  This room was literally one of the vaults used by the jewelry store decades ago.  The huge glass and steel door is impressive and leads to a small room with walls lined with bottle after bottle of tequila and mezcal.  The selection inside could inspire one to dig a tunnel underground and come up inside the vault, just to get to try them all.

Mas Malo carries the full Del Maguey line of mezcals, including the Pechuga, made with chicken breast.  The photograph below is but part of one wall of the tequila vault.  Reserving the vault for a tasting may be the best way to enjoy Mas Malo; it will certainly impress your friends.

Whether you are looking to sober up before or after a Seven Grand visit or are planning on having dinner and sampling the full menu, Mas Malo is a beautiful comfortable space with reasonable prices and a nice vibe.  The ground beef and pickle taco has some ineluctable quality that just draws me in.  Some things just can't be explained; they need to be experienced.

Mas Malo: 515 West 7th Street, DTLA | 213.985.4332 | http://masmalorestaurant.com

Tequila Against Cancer: This Sunday at the Next Door Lounge

Tequila maven Enrico Caruso was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer.  Caruso has helped spread the gospel of organic liquor and tequila in particular, first at 4 Copas and now at Infinium Spirits.  In recognition of all Caruso has done for the industry, bartender Christine England has organized a benefit event to raise money to help Enrico and his family during their time of need.  Caruso, who has advocated for green and organic production of liquor, is known as a health nut and as a non-smoker, his diagnosis was especially surprising and as the father of two young children, particularly devastating.  

The Tequila Against Cancer benefit will be held at Next Door Lounge this Sunday November 13th, from 1 - 5 pm.  Tickets are $40 in advance via the website, or can be purchased at the door.  Tickets get you a tasting of five different tequilas and some Mexican snacks and best of all knowing you are helping to support a member of the Los Angeles cocktail community.  

The tequilas included are the good stuff: Herradura, Fortaleza, Casa Noble, Milagro & Milagro Barrel Select, Alquima and Karma.  In addition to sipping them neat, Zahra Bates of Providence will be making cocktails.  Attendees will also have the chance to win the door prize, a trip to Mexico to tour a tequila distillery.  There will also be the opportunity to drink tequila cocktails made by some of LA's most talented bartenders including host Joe Brooke.  Whether you attend or not, you can also help by bidding in the online auction for all sorts of cool items including cocktail lessons from Joe Brooke, punch and bowling at the Spare Room, and a tequila tasting at Mas Malo in downtown.

Attend the event, make a donation or bid on an item.  You can learn more at the Tequila Against Cancer website: http://www.tequilaagainstcancer.myevent.com/

Tequila Against Cancer

Next Door Lounge

1154 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood

Sunday November 13th: 1 - 5 pm

Tequila 101 at PS 612 on October 3rd

Public School 612 in Downtown LA will be hosting an introductory course on Tequila, aptly entitled Tequila 101 next Monday, October 3rd.  The class will be taught by Enrico Caruso, who was recently mentioned in this publication.  Tasting five tequilas and a Serrano Margarita sound like the kind of education I can heartily approve of.  The cost of the class is $35 and includes a tequila tasting as well as a selection of signature snacks from PS 612.

Alas the course credits in the PS 612 educational series are non transferable to USC or UCLA.  Reservations are required and can be made by phoning the restaurant.

Public School 612: 612 S. Flower St, DTLA.  Phone: (213) 623-1172.  Website: www.publicschool612.com

Dia de los Muertos at El Carmen: Tequila drinking skeletons

On Tuesday November 2nd, El Carmen, the 3rd street Tequila specialist will be celebrating Dia de los Muertos with costumes, a mariachi band and food and drink specials. Once you have had a chance to recover from the Halloween revelry of the weekend, prepare yourself for Tuesday night as all the El Carmen employees will have their faces painted as skeletons, Dia de los Muertos style and if customers show up in Day of the Dead costumes or face paint, they will receive a free shirt.

If you aren't familiar with El Carmen, they have over 400 tequilas and mescals and are celebrating their 15th anniversary as well as Dia de los Muertos. To help los Muertos get into the proper festive spirit, their classic Margaritas will be priced at $4 and Tecates at $3. That's enough to get many a body to climb out of its grave and join in the fun.

The decor at El Carmen includes Mexican wrestler masks, velvet paintings and more agave than you can shake a bony finger at. El Carmen was the scene of an infamous birthday party of mine, so I can vouch for the tastiness and potency of their tequila and cocktails.

The festivities begin at 8 pm, so come prepared, even if your stomach has decomposed and all you have left are bones. Reservations are recommended if you want a table.

El Carmen: 8138 West 3rd Street (between La Jolla Avenue and Crescent Heights Boulevard). Phone: 323.852.1552

Photo courtesy of Learn NC

Te'Kila: Now Open in Hollywood

Te'Kila, a new Mexican restaurant, cafe and tequila bar, is now open on Hollywood Boulevard. Te'Kila will have over one hundred tequilas available when their spirit list is complete soon, although there is no shortage of agave available now. The spirit is on proud display around the bar, with shelves of different bottles reflected in the mirrors behind them.



Bar manager Brady Weise (pictured below) is leading the spirits and cocktail program and is excited to be bringing quality drinks to Hollywood Boulevard. Te'Kila is able to both meet the needs of discerning drinkers earlier in the evening and provide an array of tequila for sipping or shots later in the evening as the mood shifts more toward partying.



The menu is focused on dishes such as tacos and burritos. I sampled the shredded chicken and the beef barbacoa classic tacos. The beef barbacoa taco was just ok, but the chicken one was tender and had a ton of flavor and was topped with fresh onion, cilantro and salsa. The tortillas were thin so it could get messy but that is what napkins are for. Each of these tacos is $3.50.



The house margarita (pictured below) I sampled ($9) was well made, although the subpar ice in it diluted the cocktail quickly. For those who enjoy fruit in their margaritas, several options are available beyond the standard strawberry, for only $1 more than a standard one.



There is a large attractive patio space that should be prime real estate on busy evenings. They may have seats directly on Hollywood Boulevard in the future. Te'Kila is open from 11:30 am - 2 am continuously for lunch through dinner and afterwards. There is also the potential in the coming months to see late night dining (no alcohol) until 4 am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Te'Kila, which could prove popular with those exiting clubs and bars at closing time and looking for a bite to eat.

Te'Kila: 6451 Hollywood Blvd, by Whitley Avenue, Hollywood. Phone: (323) 960-2404. Website: tekilahollywood.com