Rosa Mexicano is one of my favorite places for ultra-fresh guacamole and a zingy cocktail after work. I was particularly excited to try their spicy, rich flavors this fall, curated by Jonathan Waxman of New York’s Barbuto and Top Chef Masters. I was fully enamored with the setting once I caught a glimpse of the stunning fall tablescape.
I am no Sandra Lee (Shudders! I heart you Andrew Cuomo, but your girlfriend? Notsomuch), but a festive and seasonally appropriate table can really set the tone of the meal, and tells me that I will soon be tasting delicious, local bounty!
To me, there is nothing better than tableside guacamole, house-made chips and a smooth tequila-based cocktail. This season, I got my guac with a twist! Pomegranate seeds bursted with tangy sweetness and earthly hazelnuts added the right amount of cold weather crunch, and still the changes did not compromise the rich, creamy guacamole flavor.
Though I generally pass on sweets, my favorite part of the meal came in the form of a pumpkin cheesecake à la mode, topped with a caramel apple lollipop. This playful rendition of the candy apple brought me back to my youth, visiting the apple orchards, bringing a caramel apple home to devour. Sigh. Nostalgic, playful, delicious–I couldn’t dock the dessert any points.
Photo courtesy of Rosa Mexicano.
Rosa Mexicano
5225 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20015
202.777.9959
Amanda Jane has been with GMF since 2011. She took a leap across the pond to settle down in Dublin, Ireland. This native Upstate New Yorker started her food adventures with beer and pub food and has since graduated to tasting menus as Three Star Michelin Restaurants. But living in a pub town, she still enjoys a cold Guinness and humble Irish lamb stew.