Sunday, May 18, 2008
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Tonali
Last night's meal at Tonali was some of the best food I've eaten in a long time. The meal began with a corn chowder with North Carolina shrimp and locally grown organic potatoes. Unlike many chowders, it wasn't heavy and it wasn't loaded up. The Tonali chef, a native Mexican, understands the concept of less is more.
All of the entrees on last night's menu were either meat or fish, so my main dish was another appetizer, chili relleno. Again, the chef outdid himself. His relleno's are stuffed with light, heavenly, delicious mashed potatoes that complimented the pablano pepper perfectly. Whoever started stuffing them with cheese? My friends had the fish tacos which were unlike any taco I've ever had. The taco shell was soft and the fish (grouper) was lightly breaded. No one asked for a doggy bag.
And then came the piece de resistance--dessert. I ordered the dulce de leche creme brulee thinking I would get something similar to the custard my friend Linda, a native of Puerto Rico, made each New Years from her grandmother's recipe. Tonali's recipe did not come from anyone's grandmother and it was not a custard. It was truly a bite of heaven. Lightly carmelized, topped with a couple of sliced strawberries, rich and creamy without being heavy.
The meal was pricey which surprised me based on the Chowhounds review. His $5.50 tacos were $12 last night. But the quality of the food was certainly worth the higher price.
Tonali
3624 Shannon Road
Durham
All of the entrees on last night's menu were either meat or fish, so my main dish was another appetizer, chili relleno. Again, the chef outdid himself. His relleno's are stuffed with light, heavenly, delicious mashed potatoes that complimented the pablano pepper perfectly. Whoever started stuffing them with cheese? My friends had the fish tacos which were unlike any taco I've ever had. The taco shell was soft and the fish (grouper) was lightly breaded. No one asked for a doggy bag.
And then came the piece de resistance--dessert. I ordered the dulce de leche creme brulee thinking I would get something similar to the custard my friend Linda, a native of Puerto Rico, made each New Years from her grandmother's recipe. Tonali's recipe did not come from anyone's grandmother and it was not a custard. It was truly a bite of heaven. Lightly carmelized, topped with a couple of sliced strawberries, rich and creamy without being heavy.
The meal was pricey which surprised me based on the Chowhounds review. His $5.50 tacos were $12 last night. But the quality of the food was certainly worth the higher price.
Tonali
3624 Shannon Road
Durham
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