Did you know that more Avocados are consumed on SuperBowl Sunday than all other days combined?! A staggering 53.5 million pounds of avocados will be consumed on Sunday!

Every day at Cafe Coyote we serve up fresh avocado in many of our traditional Mexican dishes and of course, to make our famous homemade guacamole(a guest favorite).

We know the Superbowl is a time for families to get together, so we hope we can accomodate you and your family this SuperBowl Sunday in our Puerto Vallarta room for the game where we will be offering up specials and delicious fare and showing the game on our numerous HD televisions.

If you will be spending the game at home, we  still wanted to give you the ability to bring a little fiesta, Cafe Coyote-style,  to your SuperBowl feast.

Enjoy!

Cafe Coyote’s Fresh Guacamole Recipe

3 Ripe Haas Avocados (we only use Haas because of rich buttery flavor)

½ Med White Onion chopped finely

1 Small Bunch of Fresh Cilantro Chopped

1 Jalapeño chopped finely

Juice of one Lemon

Salt to taste

One diced tomato, optional

Mash Avocados and Add all other ingredients.  Stir to desired consistency.  Add extra Jalapeño if you like it a little spicier.  Serve with Fresh Tortillas Chips or cut Vegetables for a healthy snack.

What a vacation!!! August and September was work, work, and work when it came down to tequila events and Mexican holidays.  In August I participated as a judge in the 7^TH annual Spirits of Mexico tasting competition. Trying almost 200 agave spirit entrees is always a challenge. Two weeks after I flew down to Guadalajara, Jalisco to educate myself even deeper on the art of tasting tequila. I took a four-day course with one of the most recognized tequila masters in the world, Francisco Hajnal Alfraro. Mr. Hajnal is one of the master distillers that created Jose Cuervo’s famous Reserva De La Familia “Extra Añejo” Tequila. Two days of theory and two days visiting 6 distilleries. I now obtain expert certifications on tequila from both, La Academia Mexicana de Tequila A.C. and La Academia Mexicana De Catadores de Tequila Vino y Mezcal, A.C.

September, was a month long celebration. On September 15^th we hosted the first annual Sangrita Cocktail competition finals. Finalist from tequila and Mezcal brands created a signature cocktail made with traditional sangrita ingredients. The party continued when I reenacted Miguel Hidalgo’s cry of independence, “el grito”.  Long live and all the heroes that that fought for Mexico’s independence! Reenacting a two hundred year tradition was an honor for me to share with all my friends, customers and family that joined me for this historic event.

Who can forget the fiesta de flavors in the Old Town’s main park and the grand tasting at the Cosmopolitan Hotel?  After my seminar on the Evolution of Tequila I enjoyed the rest of the night talking to tequila celebrities and enjoying the rest of the night sipping on quality tequilas, mescals and sotol.

September ended with a two-week vacation down to Guanajato and Jalisco, México.

For the last 12 years I travel with my family to these two states to visit family and for the past 8 years to discover tequila and its myths. I had never taken my family with me to explore tequila country until this last trip. It is really not about the drinking. It is about the magic of this place called, Tequila. The people, food and the landscape are what lure me to visit this place so often. Finally my family understands why the land where tequila is produced is so important to me.

Tequila and Mexico is a symbol of my identity, my roots and the place that I come from. Sharing the wealth of knowledge I acquire from every trip I take to Mexico helps me educate our guest at Café Coyote to make their experience at this great restaurant more fulfilling and rich.

More Photos From my Trip!

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Lippy, The Tequila Whisperer, www.tequilawhisperer.com will be streaming a LIVE VIDEO from the Spirits of Mexico Festival at Cafe Coyote this evening!

The Spirits of Mexico Festival, the world’s best and biggest Agave Spirits festival in America is hosting over 150 spirits who haveentered into the tasting competition.

On tonight’s show, Lippy will BLIND-TASTE the top three winners in each age category, (blanco, reposado, anejo) then he’ll pronounce HIS OWN ranking of 1st to 3rd place for each of the blind samples. Watch in nail-biting anticipation as he reveals his winners, and see how close his own finely-tuned palate matches the results of more than 15 Master Judges!

Join Lippy & Cafe Coyote and see the results– LIVE steaming from the internet!

When: Thursday, September 16, 7:00 PM (PST)
Where: http://tequilawhispererLIVE.com

My four day educational experience in Jalisco is one I will never forget. Francisco Hajnal Alfaro, President of, La Academia Mexican de Catadores taught a four day “Expert Seminar on Tequila”. Two days consisted in theory classes in Guadalajara’s luxurious Hotel, Victoria Express. During our stay in Guadalajara we got to visit the Tequila Regulatory   At the C.R.T. we learned from scientist that explained the scientific approaches behind the tequila process and “Terroir”.

During our last two days we visited six different distilleries. Three in Los Altos (highlands) and 3 in the “low lands,” Tequila Jalisco.  We learned from Maestro Tequileros, jimadores (harvesters), chemist, distillery managers, and brand owners. The distilleries visited were: La Primavera, El Centenario/ La Vencedora, Quiote, La Fortaleza, La Alborada and La Rojeña.

Our graduating ceremony was held in the José Cuervo gardens. Just before our award ceremony we toured “La Rojeña, the first ever licenced tequila distillery (1795). We were priveledged to fill our own Jose Cuervo Reserva De La Familia bottle, dip the top with wax, glue the required labels and take home this great gift. We even got a chance to go down to their private cellar and drink right out of their aging barrels. Our evening concluded with Aztec dance representations, folkloric dancers, a musical group, delicious dinner and finally our Maestro Catodor (Master Taster) and Expert on Tequila certificates. Thank you everyone that helped us with this “blue dream”.

–

Salud!

Mario Alejandro Márquez

Tequila Ambassador

Cafe Coyote y Cantina

Speaking to the gathered crowd in Dolores, Guanajuato, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the famed “father” of Mexico, expressed his beliefs in a people’s revolt for Mexican Independence. His war cry or “El Grito de Dolores / El Grito de la Independencia” marks the anniversary of Mexican Independence and evokes national pride.

Not to be confused with Cinco de Mayo (May 5^th), September 16^th marks the celebration of Mexico’s War of Independence. Every year at midnight on September 15, Mexicans join together in solidarity and led by the President of Mexico, shout the El Grito.

Nestled in the heart of San Diego’s historic old town, also known as “The Birthplace of California”, Café Coyote, a traditional Mexican cantina and café, is one of only two Academia Del Tequila certified Tequila houses in the United States.  At its home within walking distance of Old Town attractions such as the Whaley House, the “Little Adobe Chapel,” the Old Town Cemetery “El Campo Santo,” and The Old Town State Park (California’s most visited State Park), Café Coyote has become a landmark in and of itself being Voted Best Mexican Restaurant in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010.

In honor of Mexico’s robust culinary history and to help mark the 200^th Anniversary of the Mexico’s Independence, the Spirits of Mexico Festival presented by The Polished Palate will be returning to Historic Old Town the week of September 16th. The oldest and most comprehensive agave spirits Festival in the United States, will coincide with Café Coyote’s Independence celebrations, culminating on the night of September 15^th, where Café Coyote will host an El Grito reenactment by Mario Marquez, our famed Tequila Ambassador.

Coinciding with the Independence Celebration, Café Coyote will host the Finals of the Sangrita Challenge presented by Living Liquid Magazine on Wednesday September 15 to mark the opening of the festival ($25 per person in advance; $30 cash only at the door, 21+).  Guests will be able to taste all 5 finalist entry cocktails as well as enjoy Café Coyote’s famous Mexican fair. The esteemed judging table will be headed by Judges Ryan Kelley of the National Tequila Examiner and Café Coyote’s own, Kenny Kaufmann.

June 17, 2010

The new margaritas have arrived just in time for summer!  Tequila aficionados, “De Fortitude” is here to stay. De Fortitude is one of the best margaritas you will ever taste. This margarita is made with Fortaleza blanco. Fortaleza is a hand crafted, artisan and stone milled 100% agave tequila produced by the one and only Guillermo Erickson Sauza. Guillermo is a fifth generation family member that has conserved his great, great grandfather’s traditional techniques to produce tequila like no other. De Fortitude Margarita is carefully balanced with Cointreau, sweet and sour and fresh limejuice. If you are tequila purest, try Fortaleza neat, at room temperature to appreciate its aromatic qualities and complex flavors.

Other new tasty margaritas on the menu are the Antiguo Gold and the Cabo-Rita. The Antiguo Gold Margarita is made with Antiguo añejo tequila that has been aged in American Oak for 1 year. This tequila is part of Casa Herradura and was originally exclusively crafted for friends and family of the Hacienda. We blend this exceptional tequila with French orange liqueur, sweet and sour, and a splash of fresh orange juice to combine a flavorful and refreshing drink.

The Cabo-Rita will captivate you with its Cabo Wabo 100 percent silver tequila. This tequila is produced in the Arnadas, Jalisco. Arandas is located in the romote highlands of Jalisco. Agaves grown in the highland are known for having high sugar brix levels. Its climate, rich red soil and altitude are perfect for agave cultivation. If you are ever in Los Altos de Jalisco, get your hands dirty, smell the earth and put a handful of red soil in your hands to experience nature’s richness.

Tasting Notes Tequila Paring

Fortaleza Blanco: Crystal clear with intense baked agave nose and buttery complexity. Its flavor parallels its aromatics but has an earthy and citrus balance with a sweet and smooth finish.

El Llano Reposado: Intense golden color, its 4-6 months resting in used bourbon barrels gives it a sweet and semi oaky aroma with traces of vanilla. It conserves a bold taste but finishes off sweet with lingering agave, mango, peach, and caramel.

Herrdura Añejo: Its bright copper highlight is the result of aging for two years in oak. It has a medium, agave resemblance with toasted oak and nutty aromatics with flavors of dried fruit, oak and creamy finish.

Don’t hesitate; the time is now!  Father’s day is June 20th. When was the last time you saw your old man? Treat him to some great food and nice sipping tequila. Just remember the good times you had as a child and cherish every moment that you spend with your family.

Salud!!

Mario Marquez

Tequila Ambassador

Café Coyote, Old Town

We at Café Coyote are all howling for joy now that the World Cup has begun. There is no sporting event like the World Cup, as an estimated  40 billion viewers world-wide are sharing their cheers, holding their breath, and  even screaming  at their television sets in unison.

The World Cup, now in its 19^th year (the first World Cup was hosted in 1930), is an expression of the world coming together.  Here at Café Coyote, we know all about people coming together: we see it every day. We see families, we see couples, and we see long-time friends gathering around our tables, enjoying our famous Mexican fair, listening to our live Mariachi music, and yes, having a few cocktails while enjoying sports on our numerous televisions screens.

We are getting into the World Cup spirit– opening early in the morning for the games — and we hope that you will come visit us as we come together to celebrate the world’s most popular tournament. This coming Thursday, 6/17, Team Mexico will be playing the 2006 tournament finalists and 9^th ranked team in the world, France, for a group-deciding match!

You won’t want to miss the action as these two top teams go head-to-head.  As we have already seen in the tournament, namely from an upset-for-the-ages game between Spain and Switzerland, anything is possible on the world stage! Come join us for the game: we are looking forward to celebrating our Futbol fever with you!

Hasta Pronto!

In honor of our Sonora Specials this month, enjoy this fantastic Grilled Tomatillo Chicken Tacos Recipe!

Ingredients:

• 6 Tomatillos, husked, washed, and grilled until blackened
• 1 Serrano, grilled until blackened
• Olive oil
• 1/2 small red onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• Spices for chicken rub(smoked paprika, salt, pepper, dried cilantro, a pinch of cayenne for heat)
• 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 lime, juiced
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 1/2 cups shredded chicken
• 8 corn tortillas
• 1 cup of crumbled/shredded cheese (recommended: Queso Fresco)

Directions:

Rub chicken with olive oil (breasts or thighs) and add spice mix.

Preheat the grill to medium. blacken tomatillo and serrano chilis and cook chicken until cooked through.

Once the chilis are blackened, add to a small sauté pan and briefly sauté in olive oil over medium heat.

Remove chicken from the grill and shred.

Place the tomatillos, serrano, onion, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and honey in a blender and blend until smooth(remove seeds if you want to make the recipe more mild). Place the blended mixture in a large saute pan and place on medium/high heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, add the shredded chicken, and heat through.

Heat the tortillas in a pan or on the grill, and heat until warm(if cooking on the grill, heat for 20 seconds on each side). Spoon the chicken mixture into the tortillas and top with a few tablespoons of your favorite cheese (i.e.queso fresco) Fold the tortillas in half, serve immediately.

Hasta Pronto!

Getting ready to celebrate Cinco De Mayo? Cafe Coyote in Old Town, San Diego is the perfect place to celebrate Cinco De Mayo today and tonight.  Cafe Coyote will be serving traditional Mexican food made from authentic fresh ingredients prepared from regional recipes by Mexican chefs.

Celebrate with a famous Cafe Coyote Grande Margarita or other specialty cocktails. Did you know that Margaritas are the most popular beverage sold in bars nationwide, and that the Cinco De Mayo celebration in Old Town serves up more Tequila than anywhere else in the United States on this special day.

Cafe Coyote wants this to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience so plan ahead. There is plenty of free / paid parking around the State Park (click here to see a map of Old Town). You could also take the Trolley directly to Old Town (visit MTS for more details and ticket prices). There will also be plenty of cabs and pedi-cabs to help shuttle you around Old Town or provide a safe ride home.

Cafe Coyote will be celebrating Cinco De Mayo in true form: there will be excellent cuisine, refreshing cocktails, Mexican tortilla ladies making fresh tortillas, strolling Mariachi’s and sponsored giveaways all night long.

If you can’t make it tonight, join us any Tuesday for our Taco Tuesday celebration.