Cafe Coyote is proud to announce our festivities for the upcoming  San Diego Beer Week 2010 from Nov. 5-14!  We are excited to host a range of fun events for our guests including a meet and greet with Mark Stone of Stone Breweries (Monday, Nov. with a pint glass giveaway, and two Pint nights on Tuesday & Thursday(see below for details!).

So come on in all you beer lovers ’cause it is time to Fiesta in our Cantina, where it is always a party!

Hasta Pronto!

Mon Nov 8-

meet & greet with Mark Stone of Stone breweries
Pint Glass giveaway

Tues Nov 9-

Pint night giveaway featuring our Mexican Beers. Tecate, Negro Modelo, Pacifico & Dos Equis ALL $3.75 from 3:30-close

Thur Nov 11-

Pint Night- Purchase any draft beer at reg price and refills just $3 from 3:30-close

NOV/DEC TACO TUESDAY’S 9TH TACOS

NOV 2 - CHIPOTLE TURKEY TACO
SHREDDED TURKEY WITH CHIPOTLE CHILES AND MONTEREY JACK CHEESE. TOPPED WITH SALSA VERDE AND SOUR CREAM.

NOV 9- SPICY BUFFALO CHICKEN TACO
CHICKEN STRIPS IN OUR SPICY BUFFALO SAUCE TOPPED WITH CABBAGE AND RANCH DRESSING

NOV 16- QUESO FUNDIDO WITH RAJAS TACO
MELTED CHEESE FONDUE WITH STRIPS OF GREEN AND RED PEPPERS. TOPPED WITH GREEN SAUCE.

NOV 23- TURKEY MOLE TACO
SHREDDED TURKEY WITH CHOCOLATE MOLE SAUCE AND CABBAGE.

NOV 30- CALIFORNIA TACO
FLOUR TORTILLA w/ CARNE ASADA, FRENCH FRIES AND MELTED CHEESES. TOPPED WITH SALSA FRESCA.

DEC 7- CHORIZO TACO
HOUSE MADE CHORIZO WITH SCRAMBLED EGGS. TOPPED WITH CHEESE AND SOUR CREAM.

DEC 14- GUACAMOLE TACO
CORN TORTILLA FILLED WITH HOMEMADE GUACAMOLE. TOPPED WITH LETTUCE, CHEESE AND SPICY DRIED RED PEPPER SALSA.

DEC 21- SONORA MEXICAN STYLE HOT DOG TACO
HOT DOG WRAPPED IN BACON SERVED IN A CORN TORTILLA AND TOPPED WITH LETTUCE AND JALEPENOS

DEC 28- CHILE VERDE TACO
PULLED PORK CARNITAS WITH TOMATILLO- JALAPENO SALSA. TOPPED WITH CILANTRO, ONIONS AND SOUR CREAM.

*subject to change.

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

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!

Dear Coyote Café Patrons,

Recently the tequila industry has gotten so large that there are more than 1000 brands that compete in the market. Along with tequilas, other agave-based spirits have joined the competition. It is sometimes hard to distinguish these agave spirits from tequila due to their packaging and marketing advertisements. I have seen labels that use words such as “beyond tequila.” This type of wording can be confusing because it might lead consumers to think they are buying tequila when they are not.  Also, there are some brands that are thought of as high quality tequilas, but along the way lost their legal tequila title. Some of these known brands are back on the shelves as “agave spirits.”

Don’t be fooled! If you are looking for authentic tequila, the following information will help you know that what you are drinking is indeed tequila. Look at the label on the bottle. Is the word Tequila printed on the label? The label should say “Product of Mexico” or “Hecho en Mexico.” Does the label include the initials CRT?  These stand for Consejo Regulador del Tequia (Tequila Regulatory Council). Is there a NOM number on the label? The NOM is a number assigned to each distillery and helps track which distillery produced the brand.

If you want a tequila that is 100 % agave, make sure that the label says 100% Agave or 100% Puro de Agave. If the word Tequila is printed on the label but does not say 100 % Agave, you are buying tequila that consists of 51% agave and 49% other sugars. This category of spirits is generally known as “mixto” tequila.

As a consumer, you have the right to know what you are purchasing and drinking. Café Coyote invites you to learn more about the history, process and folklore of tequila. Visit us any day of the week, especially for our famous Tequila Thursdays, to have a great dining and educational experience.

This months Cabo Wabo tequila specials:

Blanco $7.50 Reposada $9.00 Anejo $11.00 Uno $30.00 Make it a Margarita for $1!

Salud!

Mario Marquez

Tequila Ambassador

Café Coyote

Despite delays at the border, Café Coyote has been selected as the first restaurant in the United States to pour Pacifico on tap. Café Coyote is located in the historical district of Old Town in San Diego, California and has been family owned and operated for more than 21 years. Pacifico is the perfect drink for the cuisine of Café Coyote, which has been selected as the Best Mexican Restaurant in San Diego for four years–and the timing is perfect for the upcoming Cinco de Mayo celebration Fiesta Old Town from May 2nd – 5th. Why wait? We invite you to come in and try a complimentary glass of Pacifico draft during our pre Cinco De Mayo Taco Tuesday celebration on May 4th between 3:30pm until close — this offer is only for the first five people to tell the manager on duty the secret password: VivaMexico.

The Pacifico Brewery was established in 1900 by German settlers who created a pilsner style beer with a clean and hearty flavor from the choicest hops, barley, yeast and water from the springs of Mazatlan. Purchased by the Grupo Modelo in 1954, Pacifico has expanded to include seven state-of-the-art breweries throughout Mexico. The import of Pacifico to the United States has increased to more than 5 million cases annually — a testament to its popularity and compatibility with all types of food.

Celebrating its 21st anniversary, Café Coyote Old Town continues to be a landmark of the San Diego’s Historic Old Town Community and is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Relax and select from over “120” tequilas for your fresh frosty Margaritas prepared by our master bartenders. Watch Mexican Tortilla Ladies make fresh tortillas to accompany your meal the traditional way “a mano” (by hand). Listen to strolling Mariachi’s fill the flower scented air with festive Mexican music in our colorful outdoor courtyards. Splashing Fountains add to the atmosphere in the Esplanade framed by Spanish architecture with colorful Mexican murals and décor. Savor traditional Mexican food made from authentic fresh ingredients prepared from Regional Recipes by Mexican Chefs.

Café Coyote is also excited to launch its Taco Tuesday celebration calendar — giving you a preview of the upcoming gourmet tacos featured each week. Taco Tuesday showcases nine traditional and specialty tacos for $2 — a great bargain to enjoy with family, friends and colleagues. Café Coyote’s tequila ambassador, Mario Marquez (click here to read Mario’s latest blog post), also offers drink specials–including crowd favorites such as the Coyote Gold or Pineapple Chipotle Margaritas.

Click here to visit Taco Tuesday.