A visit to the Monterey Zoo, an entirely outdoor establishment displaying the cuter parts of the animal kingdom.
The animals are active in the morning, which is when we arrived. Not that we had a choice - they close quite early, shortly after the toddler's nap. Highlights include rambunctious monkeys, a devilish hyena, and an entire walkway of lion, tigers, and bears, oh my. No really, that’s what the sign said.
It's an easy day but the zoo walk has us primed for lunch. Villa Azteca’s menu makes the decision easy.
It's higher-end Mexican food, with plenty of tradition but they’re not afraid to add their own ideas.
Guacamole with Ribeye? Genius. Whoever decided it would be a good idea to pair a cool, sweet and limey mashed avocado with chunks of outside-crunch, inside-marble is a marvel.
Two Tacos de Pollo Guisado are double the pleasure. Plump purses of shredded chicken are seasoned to perfection with chipotle spice and smoke, and they even make the tortillas by hand. Splash on some salsa - their smoke game is strong, and it’s so much more than just a side.
Flautas flout the perceived need for meat. These handmade tortillas are fried to a golden crisp, and a simple stuffing of potato and mozzarella flaunts the savory corn. A green salsa adds a little spice to pull it all together.
The portions are generous and the food is filling, but you can still try the Mango Aguachile for dessert. It finishes like a smoothie-soup with soaking shrimp...which is a good thing...so much better than I'm making it sound.
I've always been loud and clear about my opinion of high-end Mexican food...more so than I should. But more and more often, I'm being proven so very wrong, and Villa Azteca is yet another exception to that rule.
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