Quesadilla Suprema at Tortilla Flats
From Thursday, March 24 through Sunday, March 27 Soquel restaurant Tortilla Flats features a special Cactus menu with dishes including delightful crepes with green chile, chicken and nopalitos. I dined at the restaurant last night; if you go this weekend, prepare to wait a little bit for a table (unless you’re a party of 6 or more, in which case you can make a reservation). I couldn’t believe how many people were there on a Thursday night — looks like the special menus definitely attract crowds!
The talented and creative Cheryl Marquez has developed recipes using both the paddles and the fruit of the cactus. The paddles are known as nopales or nopalitos when cut into strips, and in Mexico they are often mixed with everything from eggs to steak. My favorite dish from this special menu is Green Chile Crepes (see menu below for description). I could have devoured a couple orders; the crepes themselves were filled with great textures and seasonings, and I wanted to lick the plate clean to get every drop of the accompanying delectable, flavor-packed sauce. Also highly recommended: Raspberry Prickly Pear Tart which my server told me Marquez only makes a couple times a year. RUN, don’t walk, to Tortilla Flats to get one by Sunday. The combination of almonds, prickly pears, fresh berries and shortbread crust is incomparable.
A bit of history related to this weekend’s special menu: according to Marquez, the “…Opuntia cactus is part of the coat of arms of Mexico, commemorating the founding of the great capital of the Aztecs, Tenochtitlan (the Nahuatl word for cactus is tenochtli). Cactus is still an important food in Mexico.”
Tortilla Flats offers a variety of annual events with special menus once or twice a month; during these times the regular restaurant menu is also available featuring treats like Quesadilla Suprema (green chile stuffed with cheese, wrapped in a tortilla and topped with enchilada sauce, melted cheese, sour cream, and guacamole).
Tortilla Flats, located at 4616 Soquel Drive, is open daily for lunch and dinner. If you’re a party of six or more, make reservations at (831) 476-1754.
Cactus Specialties March 24-27, 2011
Cactus Chile Verde
Carnitas in rich tomatillo sauce with cactus strips
Enchiladas Sonora
Chicken and nopale strips in an enchilada topped with a hatch chile and cactus sauce
Green chile crepas
Crepes made with New Mexico green chiles filled with chicken and nopalitos served with verde casera sauce
Prickly prawns
Grilled jumbo prawns with prickly pear lime sauce
Ceviche En Nopal
Marinated jumbo prawns, lime, peppers and avocado served in a nopale ‘chalupa’
Basa In Nopalito Shrimp Sauce
Mild white filet of fish, pan-fried and served in a delicate shrimp cream sauce
Prickly Pear Pork Tenderloin
Succulent slices of pork tenderloin served with jalapeno, nopalito applesauce and sauteed red bell peppers
Pollo con Pina y Nopalitos
Grilled chicken strips with fresh pineapple and nopalito salsa, served on a bed of fresh greens
Raspberry Prickly Pear Tart
French shortbread crust with a layer of almond frangipane, pastry cream and fresh raspberries glazed with prickly pear sauce
The Details
Tortilla Flats Restaurant, 4616 Soquel Drive, Soquel 95073, (831) 476-1754
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