Mama Sita, Melbourne

If you know that I'm going to Melbourne and you really need to catch me but can't reach me, chances are you will have a good chance to see me at Mama Sita. I discovered this amazing Mexican restaurant on my 2nd trip to Melbourne, introduced by my high school bestie, nicknamed Babian. She knows her food. That is one of the reason why she is my friend. I don't think I have friends who don't love and know their food...

Their homemade salsa is one of the best things in life. On my second visit, I think we had about 3 or 4 of these... The staff thought we were behaving badly... But they were just TOO good!

Anyway, three things you MUST order when you are here are: elotes callejeros (street style chargrilled corn with cheese, chipotle mayo and lime), tostaditas de pollo (fried tortilla topped with chargrilled chicken, avocado, fresh cheese and chipotle mayo), and tacos de camarones (soft taco with marinated prawns, habanero chillies and chipotle almond salsa). Ohhh God, I am drooling as I typed those!

Nachos dip: red salsa and guacamole

I raised my eyebrows when Babian raved about the grilled corn on the cob that we just have to order - but she said to trust her and despite my doubts I did and was totally blown away. It is simply the best chargrilled corn on the cob ever. I think it has to be the combination of the chipotle mayo and the cheese. Sweet, sour, savory with that crunchy corn.... yummmm

elotes callejeros (street style chargrilled corn with cheese, chipotle mayo and lime)

Babian ordered me (she did not let me order) tostitadas de carnitas, which was slowly braised pork shoulder, encurtidos and jalapeno. I liked it, it was spicy, but my favorite was tostitadas de pollo. Considering chicken is my least favorite meat ever, it's definitely amazing. On my second visit to Mama Sita, we ordered 2 servings of tostitadas de pollo and a mixture of others as we had new people. I made sure I had 2 of the chicken one tho hahahaha, benefit of hindsight ;)

Tostitadas: pork (left) and chicken (right)

Here, they only serve soft tacos. So don't go in ordering crispy tacos. Again, I never had prawn tacos. I usually go with beef or pork. And again, I was blown away. The prawn tacos were simply the best kinds of tacos I've ever eaten. Light and fresh, it killed my hunger without making me feel like I just stuffed myself with a whole cow. On my second visit, the boys and Babian ordered a 2nd round of the prawn tacos... I would too if I didn't have such a late lunch that day. It's that good, trust me.

Pulled pork tacos

(i heart) prawn tacos

On my first visit, I had the sangria which was yum. However, on my 2nd one I had margaritas which was also amazing. I had 3 of those. I can't decide which one is better, I think it will depend on what you feel like having. I didn't bring my camera with me on the 2nd visit, but we tried the helado de maiz (sweet corn ice cream cone and caramelize popcorn) and frituras de manzana (apple fritters and vanilla pear sorbet). Both were yum.

Sangria =)

All I can say is that I am currently plotting another trip to Mama Sita... that's right, NOT Melbourne, but to Mama Sita. Oooooopa!

Mama Sita

Level 1/11 Collins St

Melbourne, VIC 3000

+61 3 9650 3821

Click here for website

Tacos and Nachos from Guzman y Gomez

The other day I had to go to Martin Place to run some errands around lunchtime and I got so hungry after it finished. So as I was thinking of what to eat, I remember that there's a Guzman y Gomez at MLC Place. Keen to skipped yet another Asian meal, I made my way to MLC Place food court.

Triple tacos

There I ordered 3 tacos for $10: one barramundi, pork chipotle and the spicy steak; 2 on crispy tacos and one on soft taco, and nachos filled with beef, salsa, re-fried beans, cheese and guacamole. These were to share guys.... the portion there is quite big so careful what you order especially since Mexican food can be filling too. It's so easy to over order but just be careful not to.

Nachos topped with lovely green guacamole, the only thing missing is sour cream... totally forgot to ask for extra

I loved my steak on soft taco. I didn't try the pork chipotle or the barramundi, but my mom seemed to enjoy them. The nachos, well beans and cheese? Yummm... The only thing that I would like better would be ground beef rather than chunks on the nachos. I love the fact that the guacamole on this nachos meal is included in the price as opposed to other place where you have to add it as an extra.

To be honest, I think I still miss the Mexican places in NYC, but it's good knowing that there's Guzman y Gomez here to turn to. Oh and I do really like that steak taco.

Guzman y Gomez

MLC Centre - Level 6, Shop 14 at MLC Centre Food Court

Martin Place (corner of Castlereagh st)

Sydney, NSW 2000

+61 2 9221 1777

Happiness is tortilla wrapped cheese and carnitas with guacamole on the side

I woke up today with a hungry stomach and one thing in mind, "burrito". It was a rainy Saturday morning in Sydney. Winter is definitely here. I just didn't want to get out of my warm and cozy bed, but I had to because I had a phone conference with my partner for a project at 10.30 am.I was so determined to have Mexican though, even if I had to go solo. Just after I hung up at 11.30, I remembered that there is one person who would 99% said yes, my new Colombian friend, J. Quickly dialing her number and worked on my most persuasive negotiation skill, ten minutes later I was in the shower getting ready.

We decided to go to MadMex in Darlinghurst as that is the closest Mexican food to our homes. I had to stare at the menu for a while because all of a sudden I wanted everything! Then at the end, I forgo Mexican rice and decided to have quesadilla with carnitas, pulled pork, with salsa, sour cream and picante. Then I decided to get some corn chips with guacamole. I wanted nachos, but it didn't seem that they had it, or I missed it on their menu.

Moments after I brought my chips and guacamole to my table by the window so that we could check out the scenery, my quesadilla came. It was warm and smelled so delicious. It made me miss NYC with its abundance of Mexican food, or even my small town, middle of nowhere university in Pennsylvania where Mexican food was a staple in the cafeteria. Here, Mexican food is what Indonesian food is like in NYC, not widespread.

Anyway, my quesadilla was warm, soft with just the right amount of pork. I was skeptical at first whether it would be enough. However with the chips that I ordered, my stomach was happy and full. It was bliss.

The only thing that I wasn't sure of was the guacamole. I thought it didn't have enough kick, but it was good. The other thing is that it was so expensive! Good Mexican food was never expensive in NYC... Oh well, Dorothy, we are not in Kansas anymore!

MadMex

241-247 Crown St.

Darlinghurst, NSW 2010

+61 2 9331 7788

Open Daily 11 am-11 pm

A little bit of sangria @Margarita's

When it comes to finding Mexican food in Singapore, alas there isn't much choice. Good thing is, Margarita's is quite alright to satisfy that cravings. After watching Marley & Me that afternoon, K, A, and I went to Margarita's. However, A had to get back to her house so K and I went first. I was famished as I only had cereal for brunch so we decided, or rather K took pity on me and we ordered nachos to start with and sangria. After all what is Mexican food without some wine?

The sangria was nice, fruity enough without losing its wine essence. My only complain though, for the price that we paid, we should be getting either two jugs or just one full jug without any ice cubes. I wanted to order more, but decided that I better keep my money for something else more value for money.

The bar area, the atmosphere is quite cozy and warm

By the time we got to Dempsey the sky that had darkened earlier started raining cats and dogs. It was surprising that despite the fact that we got there around 6.30, we almost couldn't get a table since they claimed to be fully booked. However, K and I managed to get a table with the promise that we would be done by 8.30. As soon as we sat down, I ordered nachos as I was positively famished. Then, remembering A's craving for sangria K and I ordered a jug of sangria.

Our jug of sangria @SGD 59.60 (didn't I tell you it's a bit pricey?)

The nachos couldn't come any sooner. The smell intensified by my hunger was heavenly and warm, contrasting with the wet ugly weather outside. There was an abundance of cheese, nacho chips and jalapeno pickles, complete with refried beans. I don't usually like jalapeno pickles but perhaps I was just way too hungry to care so I ate them and to my surprise, I really like them! I would have liked it better if there were more salsa, guacamole and sour cream on the nachos as well as some more beans, but this was enough to satiate my Mexican craving for this time.

Nachos @16.90

By the time A and N came, K and I finished the nachos already. Hence we decided to ordered a couple of main courses to share as we weren't starving anymore. We decided on crab enchiladas and mixed meat fajitas. The crab enchiladas came in a bowl with tomato based gravy and a side of salad, mexican rice and refried beans. It's a huge meal, that I would be struggling if I were to order it alone, though maybe if I hadn't eaten any nachos I could have devoured it clean. The innard was brimming with crab meat, tender and sweet, savory if you mix with the sauce. It was addictive. The rice was buttery and creamy, very comforting. I love mixing it with some refried beans.

Crab Enchiladas @SGD 34

The side dish: rice with refried beans and salad

The mixed fajita came in half meat half chicken with some tortillas and three different dips which unfortunately I couldn't remember only that they were good. It was so nice to shelter inside when it's pouring outside with some warm tacos filled with meat, roasted veggies, sour cream and refried beans. If only I could get some blanket and a TV, I'd be all set for a lazy afternoon/evening.

Mixed fajitas: Beef and Chicken @SGD 32

For desert, we decided to order their tiramisu. It was huge. I love the strong taste of coffee, but I find that the lady fingers could use some more time soaking in the coffee with rum as it was a bit too dry. I haven't had any spectacular tiramisu in a while. Maybe I need to go to Rome and visit my lovely Italian friend F who made the best tiramisu ever when I was in college...

Tiramisu @SGD 12

Margarita's Restaurant

Block 11 Dempsey Rd #01-19

Singapore

+65 6471 3228