Mexico Meets Lebanon in Dreamy Tacos al Pastor

February 19, 2009 1:20 pm

Mexico Meets Lebanon in Dreamy Tacos al Pastor

Mexican food is an essential part of my native Californian cuisine, but there aren't many options in Manhattan for West Coasters who crave authentic food from south of the border. Fortunately for taco connoisseurs, Chef Sue Torres serves top-notch Mexican cuisine at Sueños. Recently, she invited Behind the Burner to check out the tips, tricks and techniques that she uses to create her trademark "tacos al pastor." Sueños happens to be Spanish for "dreams". True to the restaurant's name, Torres' "Tacos al Pastor" lived up to my Mexican food fantasies.

While they now come in many varieties, "tacos al pastor" were originally developed in Mexico City by Lebanese immigrants who combined their shawarma with the locally consumed corn tortillas folded in half. Although significant, the marriage of Lebanese and Mexican culture is rarely discussed. In fact, the wealthiest man in Mexico, Carlos Slim, is the son of Lebanese immigrants. When the two cuisines meet, all of our palates reap the reward.

In order to create her version of "tacos al pastor", Chef Torres traveled to Mexico frequently, collecting recipes and learning from the locals. The final result reflects her diligence--complete with a pineapple based salsa concoction that gives the perfect zest, Torres adds her own spice rub from peppers that she grinds by hand at her restaurant. The combination of spices, pork and salsa is a melody of flavors perfectly complimented by a margarita. ¡SABROSO! Dreams do come true at Sueños!

Caroline Alexa McBride