#10 La Catrina of Bantam

Recently, several Mexican restaurants have opened up in the area and  friends   recommended La Catrina in nearby Bantam. It  is owned and operated by  husband and wife, Enrique and Consuelo Estrada, who worked in the restaurant industry for decades before deciding to open their own place. Enrique learned cooking by watching his mother in the kitchen, and this is one of the reasons the food  is  much more than your typical Tex-Mex.  He has also incorporated his love of Asian - infused cuisine into the menu, so you can get  dishes such as Asian duck tacos, Mexican inspired rice bowls,  and  miso glazed salmon. 

For lunch, we started  with the spicy guacamole, then Sunny had the shredded chicken rice bowl which came with  shredded roasted chicken, black beans, sofrito rice, pico de gallo and avocado. The dish was delicious as well as very filling and Sunny ended up taking half of it home. I started with the Asian duck tacos which was duck meat confit in hoisin BBQ sauce along with pico de galo and spicy guacamole on fried wonton shells - absolutely unique and delicious. I then went more traditional with  a chicken quesadilla, which was also very good. To drink I had Mexican beer but there is a large selection of tequilas. 

In addition to the interesting menu is the decor, which is  the responsibility of Consuelo. It is centered around LaCatrina, a female skeleton dressed in fancy attire that  is the symbol of the day of the dead - a national holiday in Mexico. So throughout the rooms are pictures and statues of colorful skeletons. At first it is a little weird, but eventually you get used to it. 

If you are looking for something different in both cuisine and decor, you should try La Catrina and if you decide to go at night, reservations are recommended. Who would have thought Mexican/Asian food with skeletons on the walls  would be that popular. 

Interesting fact: In Mexico,  on dia  de los muertos (the day of the dead) which  is November 1, people visit the graves of loved  ones, set up a small altar, and bring the deceased’s favorite food and beverage to consume and share with  their spirits. Rather than a somber occasion, it  is essentially a huge picnic and party in cemeteries.








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