As temperatures climb, lighter dishes are the order of the day; vegetables and fruits, cold soups, ceviches and salads pepper the menu along with Rose wines and tequila – Rosa Blanco Tequila to be exact – at El Estoril, one of SMA’s best restaurants.
Our starter: A crispy bowl of veggies with a dip; an original dish that started Estoril 54 years ago in Mexico City. A light Salmon ceviche followed, along with the creamiest Avocado Soup - another one of the recipes from the original restaurant that’s 54 years old and says everything about the food; some of the recipes are timeless. I loved the Avocado Soup because it has a subtle kick that made it interesting and then, of course, there was the crunch on top. Two main courses followed: fried parsley – the fried parsley taco is one of Estoril’s signature dishes – circled with shrimp and a gorgeous tomato salad with chicken; one of the best salads I’ve had and let’s face it, I’m just coming off the most incredible heirlooms at both Atrio and Levandura de Olla in Oaxaca.There is also a light, white fish on the menu.
I ran into Chef Arturo Onofre Castro on the street the other day and even in street clothes he looks the part. He was born in Izucar de Matamoros, Puebla. He was an apprentice with the great chef at El Estoril in Polanco, Pedro Ortega, and then went into intensive training with one of my favorite Mexican chefs, Lula Martin del Campo; learning new techniques and a different style of cooking. In 2022, he came back to El Estoril in San Miguel de Allende
Owner, Guillaume Martin, has introduced us to exciting and affordable labels. Today it was the 4 Generazioni Pinot Grigio Rose from Casa Defra winery located in the stunning Berici Hills in Vicenza, Veneto, Italy. A pale salmon pink color and light body compliment the crisp and fragrant palate with a succulent finish. Casa Defra is committed to sustainable viticulture and has been for over 40 years.
The bonus came when the principals at Casa Codigo 1530 paid a visit and introduced us to their Rosa Blanco Tequila. I’ll admit, this is probably one of the smoothest tequila’s I’ve had in a long time and came as an after-comida pour; a remarkable finish to the meal. Casa Codigo 1530 is currently building a tequila tasting room at Jesus #3 in Centro. Look for an opening shortly and you will also find them available for purchase at Cava Sautto. While most tequila is aged in American whiskey barrels, Codigo 1530 is aged in Napa Valley Cabernet French White Oat wine barrels. The barrels used for Rosa are uncharred, allowing the Cabernet to interact directly with the tequila, imparting a subtle pink hue and a light and delicate finish. This tequila will surprise you with its ultra smooth ending – its 100% Agave with no additives, sweeteners, flavoring, coloring or chemicals.
As SMA offers many different options for all kinds of summer foods, we prefer ours with a serving of the great customer service you get at Estoril. They always seem to get it right!
Estoril
Hidalgo 4, Centro, San Miguel de Allende
Daily: 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM/ Closes Sunday at 7:00 PM
Phone: 415 688 6845
Chef: Arturo Onofre Castro
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