Xitomate Grand Opening

Sometimes a girl just needs a margarita.

Unless that girl is me, in which case she avoids tequila at all costs because about seven years ago, after imbibing a few margaritas, she woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, the victim of a terrifying hallucination which convinced her that the Devil was in her room and that the boyfriend
slumbering beside her was going to turn into a werewolf and eat her.

Mango-habanero infused tequila

Now that's a buzzkill.

Lucky for me, Xitomate, while specializing in tequila (including several house-infused varieties), has plenty of other yummy beverages on hand.  When I arrived for their Grand Opening / ribbon-cutting ceremony, I started with the white sangria - refreshing and light, with hints of vanilla and peach.

Xitomate gets its name from the Aztec word for "tomato" - this pretty much exemplifies the tone of the restaurant: earthy yet vibrant, traditional yet innovative.  A fresh take on traditional favorites.

Owner Julio Soto is also the owner of Lily's Mexican Market (where they make their tortillas and tortilla chips fresh daily) and Azul 17.  His latest restaurant venture, Xitomate aims to bring the full experience of Mexican cuisine and culture into a cozy, family-friendly atmosphere.  This goal is apparent when you see the modern, brightly-colored decor, grounded by the traditional Mexican touches like earthenware-tiled mosaic tabletops and fresh guacamole served in a heavy stone molcajete.

While sipping my sangria, I gazed across the room and spied a woman carrying a spool of oversized blue ribbon and a pair of scissors that looked like they were made to fit the Jolly Green Giant.  I correctly deduced that she was the Ribbon Cutting Lady.

Sangria makes me smart, you see.

The owners, management, and staff all came out for the photo op and to say a few words about the opening, and then we were back inside to try out the food being passed around.  So fancy.  So fun.

I absolutely loved the pork flautas.  In my experience, the filling in flautas tends to be rather dry.  The pork flautas at Xitomate proved to be the complete opposite - they were crispy and salty on the outside, moist and flavorful on the inside.  They were so good, when Sous Chef met me there later to have an actual meal, we ordered a full portion.

Hye Lim Skittles!!

Perhaps my favorite aspect of the evening was getting to know Hye Lim, the bartender.  I tell you, if someone is passionate about something, no matter what it is, it shows.  For Hye Lim, that thing is bartending.  Girl knows her stuff.  When I told her I like my drinks "Girly and strong," she didn't even blink before she was rapidly crafting me a fizzy and fruity combination of flavored vodka, juice, and soda.  She called it the "Hye Lim Skittles", and I Hye-ly recommend it.  I had two.

Hye Lim also knows her stuff about tequila - so much so that she actually got me to try some.  I am happy to report that I slept peacefully that evening, and all of my dreams were sans fallen angels and hairy man-beasts.

In fact, the only thing I'm dreaming about these days is more Xitomate.

Lucha Libre masks and figurines are just a few of the unique touches to the decor at Xitomate

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