Izalco (1st visit), a sighting and a query

Coming home Sunday afternoon from a hot and active day at the Winnemac/Leavitt playground, we finally stopped in at Izalco.

The short version is that they were very, very plesasant, and everything was fine, but nothing was special.

Notes: we tried 3 different puposas (2 corn, 1 rice), their version of paella (arroz a la valenciana), guacamole, and pastalitos (pork empanadas appetizers).

Every single thing seemed to have been freshly made for us and arrived at the table still glistening and obviously not having sat for even a minute post frying or griddling. Very nice.

The seasoning across the board was unaggressive to the point of blandness (IMO).

The best thing about the puposas was the fresh-off-the griddleness and the nice crunch on the outside.

None of the fillings were particularly distinctive however and the overall impression in the end was of bland, slightly glueyness. They were noticeably perked up by the addition of the table salsa, which I liked. Quite thin, with nice bits of onion and cilantro and chili floating around. The color was a greenish brown, not at all the bright red tomato color of jarred salsa. I wonder if tomatillos were mixed with red toms, or if the toms were roasted, or what. Salty, tangy, not too hot but with a bit of burn. A very nice condiment to have at hand.

The guac. was obviously mashed to order - simple and good, w/ bits of onion and tomato and cilantro and grateed cheese on top.

Chips were homemade and recently fried.

The paella was a bit too salty and the shrimp were actually rather tough. There were very nice chicken pieces included though - 2 small drums and a thigh, fall off the bone tender stewed.

Sighting: Just below Wellington on Broadway (east side) is a storefront with a sign saying: Pastoral (artisinal cheese, bread, wine). Anyone know anything about this. Sounds promising if they really are working with small great cheese producers and making or procuring bread from a source we don't already have. Hard to imagine what they could be doing in the wine area.

Query: Jury duty coming up. Anything chowish that's a quick walk from 26th and California?

Hi Mr. Barolo,

for what's near 26th and California, look at Rene G's old Chowhound post on26th St. Antonius and I have eaten a couple times at La Kermes, which is one of the first places in La Villita you'll come to walking west from California -- we thought their gorditas de queso y rajas were particularly good.

Regarding the pupusas at Izalco, were they served with curtido (kind of like cole slaw) on the side?

Amata

Taqueria La Kermes
3002 W. 26th St.
773-523-1666

Amata: yes, a heaping bowl of slaw was on the table with the salsa. Very fresh, crisp. Just a tingle of chili heat and an herbal whiff of (I'm pretty sure) oregano. Forgot to mention that.

For the sake of future searches, I point out that some of the foods discussed above are spelled "papusas" and "pastelitos." I'm one of the sloppiest spellers here, so please don't take offense.

Pues, se escribe tambien 'pupusa', Jeff. Haz clic aqui:
http://www.fao.org.sv/html/pdf/RecetaPupusas.pdf

Boh.

Ma?

Eh?

Guèèèèh!