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(December 16, 2005)
The people in Round Rock really blew it when they didn't support the
Azul Tequila location that opened there several years ago. Eric Varella
and his staff know how to do both Interior Mexican and Tex Mex. Luckily,
for Austinites, the Azul Tequila on Ben Whitre in the Target shopping
center continues to flourish and it's on that restaurant that we'll
focus our attention.
Let's start with the Interior Mexican dishes that I enjoy at Azul Tequila.
Without question, the Chile Relleno in Crema is a masterpiece of taste
and presentation. This dish begins with an exceptionally large poblano
pepper. It is stuffed with sauteed pork and mixed with almonds, rice,
and onions. Then, it's covered with an exquisite almond cream sauce
that has the most comforting yet riveting flavor that I've ever experined
in a relleno dish. The Cochinita Pibil, a Mayan influened dish, features
marinated pork cooked on banana leaves. The flavor is rich and searing
and it's served with black beans and plantains. An absoluite must try.
And also you should sample the Albondigas en Chipotle. This dish features
tasty little meatballs stuffed with rice and mint and topped with an
engaging chipotle sauce. This is a dish of southern Mexico that you
don't often see in the River CIty. For that reason alone, excellent
taste notwithstanding, I would recommend that you try it.
As in times past, I tried the Mole, but the dark, bitter flavor, beloved
to many, simply leaves me out in the cold. I think I simply need to
acknoledge my mole taste bud deficiency and move on. But my mole-loving
companion gave Azul's version a rousing thumbs up.
On the Tex Mex Side, the Flautas de Pollo features tender moist chicken
pieces rolled and grilled in a corn tortilla. I like mine with the ranchera
sauce. This is a very tasty dish. Equally interesting are the Shrimp
Fajitas. This is a tantilzing blend of shrimp, vegetables, (love those
onions) all brought out crackling hot on a cast iron fajita plate. The
flavor of this dish borders on the etheral. The shimp are not overcooked,
and that's very important in this dish. You should also try the El Paso
Ribeye. This steak is pan grilled and topped with onions, tomatoes and
jalapenos and smothered in a zesty Monterrey Jack cheese. If you like
the flavors of Tex Mex and you're a steak fan, you'll love this dish.And
do try the Enchiladas Alamo. I prefer the cheese version of this dish
with a green chipotle ranchera sauce that is piquant and very refreshing
on the flavor front.
Azul Tequila is, very simply put, an excellent family restaurant. There
is much care given to the coneptualization, preparation and presentation
of every dish. In the shopping center next to Target on Ben White, the
festive flavors make for a perfect lunch or dinner over the holidays,
or for that matter, whenever you're craving Mexican.
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