I'm always looking for an excuse to visit
Oyamel Cocina Mexicana in Penn Quarter; so I
jumped at the chance to attend a media preview for next month's eighth annual
Tequila & Mezcal Festival. The two-week bender (mezcal + tequila = bender) runs from March 2-15, and officially gets underway next week, with a fabulous kick-off party on Monday the 2nd. For just $60, you can drink and eat to your heart's content from 6-9:00 PM (
click here to purchase tickets.)
Last night's menu featured four different drinks and
six delicious bites. Top honors on the food front went to
Birria de Cabra, goat tacos with a guajillo chile paste, cherry tomatoes, cilantro and onions. Oyamel serves some of the best tacos in America, and this one was no exception.
Aguachile Seco de Costeño Amarillo came in a close second... Hawaiian Ono (Wahoo) with a myriad of flavors (avocado, cilantro, jicama, radishes and red onions and a spicy costeño amarillo chile.)
I'm not much of a drinker; but even
I couldn't resist the
Paloma de Oaxaca... El Silencio Espadín mezcal mixed with grapefruit-Jalapeño soda and grapefruit juice. Addictive. La Capital ain't bad either... Herradura Anejo tequila, Dolin Rouge vermouth and orange bitters. Warning: It's really spicy!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHgbXMBax-ZjM91iNSg_0u6Smo-eao9jUfRvqUOxdqkmOctCQD2nRoiRYVrV5Y-jTSFZLH6_MR3MMtYwanRRyyrmrKFRy1VAGIV2XO6V9-jV_67oCtTDNAnjvqFC4io4YeKmNhTHUaQUr/s1600/IMG_1630.JPG) |
Live Music! |
Throughout the festival, Oyamel will host a number of complimentary tastings at the bar, Monday through Thursday, from 4-6 PM. Best of all, that leaves plenty of time to enjoy the full menu in the dining room (
click here to
drool read.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXz8vpcJTDQ9i6nePOu4w6rVlhE-ALcMxw8iwEQ7rq78Mu1OB822dKCM3Wna3S_UvWpE-alPIFknn0AAs0yR9W9oJ0qVzcT5Oh-34CBJrHkLegT-M0X7HZQcDZCob7LzqArv2FYIZx7_H/s1600/IMG_1638.jpg) |
Final touches |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHgLIwfNnHpr4tkltPX5NOPuoIlsN_qH_q083m-sVGOHP0FfD89O6gRUr857H7jLzzL0_NwCqNvHTqdT2E3aL9q7hC1DMrXUQbk6zcCMPJYsNQNthEaJWhzf-RdVLx7GacwnFsSZXr6MQ/s1600/IMG_1643.jpg) |
Aguachile Seco de Costeño Amarillo |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSIic20iVBLbj8tKF1o5UbiYoOSImBzMmfGSWVWc9SSA4Azy8f2q29nlp0qTBXlOe3-JSAPibC445TtqYu-uEzNC8FTdHBL5b0iC_1MfdfZax6oX3chwQT71c9gnGEbVpV_oU7BAjItNL/s1600/IMG_1647.jpg) |
Ceviche Veracruz |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeW9OE0ltGVyORy3aq1eGnzP1AkwwY53waANTcO7o0XOuBBD_Ek2THIjf8FEyg7K7Bd13pAQrBjK0hfIw8qD8FiDWkiJyIxKBZjfQyS5Ne64zrw1NiBOdpYAiaKGBrvRmlLl15y4FtApY/s1600/IMG_1648.JPG) |
Local whole roasted goat |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqn9odIWjdX84Z7H91J-2uFISCF6B4zpv1dvanAb_wQ2huMv2Z442Y0LkO5_nvEaK8CvjsKB9ahv1nsjXIi_CuS50tW2D3uZgUfZL1N4MKk1UkSkhyphenhyphenEOxxg2YxxahZGjKdy81LyzRQhhkQ/s1600/IMG_1649.jpg) |
Birria de Cabra |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wSHGRveupk16SC1XFPDpwmYZeiaer-quOFVgffSvo6ZxkVT4N37JEmVNFJSCNctpA5__7zUeTgQNpRQvVzCT7vPaYrwiainsTwVsHkOSSuNF9NqT8LBq94EUY9i3EygHkZWuPfepFPOP/s1600/IMG_1635.jpg) |
Paloma de Oaxaca |