Jeanne Muchnick's Best Thing I Ate This Week: tacos in New City
I love shrimp and I love cauliflower. So when you put those two in two different tacos — plus add really good stuff like roasted garlic chipotle mayo, pickled veggies and a bacon marmalade (for the shrimp) and roasted piquillo pepper romesco, toasted almonds, golden raisins and fresh herbs (for the yogurt and Meyer lemon marinated cauliflower) — it's a match made in heaven. Or in this case, at Craft Taqueria in New City.
Their tacos rank as the best thing I ate this week.
Also amazing: The coconut carrot cake, which may just be one of the best desserts I've ever had. Chef/Owner Jeff Kreisel doesn't have it every day — he mixes things up and only does one cake or pie a day — so call first to make sure it's there. You can also call to order a whole cake, so the magical goodness can extend for more than just one piece.
Other winners include his blueberry crumble or pan de lote corn cake. You can also get churros (there's a dulce de leche sauce in addition to espresso and chocolate), flan and Arroz Con Tres Leches with Arborio rice, vanilla bean, canela and spiced whipped cream.
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The Rockland native also does a killer — and when I say killer I mean this easily feeds two or three people — Chicken Milanese torta with black beans, melted Oaxaca cheese, avocado, hot peppers, and roasted garlic chipotle aioli on a garlic toasted ciabetta (can you tell I love garlic?). This is truly a sight to behold and for this social media maven, a big Instagram win.
The fast casual eatery, which turns 4-years-old in December, also features handmade granola created by Jeff's mom (and co-worker; you'll see her at the register) Lisa Kreisel. She makes two kinds — both gluten-free — in cashew cherry and almond apricot but if you want the apricot, you'll need to go to her Morning Song Granola website to order it.
The shop is also known for its handmade "aquas frescas" in watermelon, mango, hisbiscus and pineapple. There's also lemongrass iced tea and Mexican coke as well as beer, wine and housemade sangria.
Chef Jeff, as many call him, credits the eatery's popularity — it won lohud's best tacos in Rockland County last June — for the fact that everything is made from scratch. His tacos come three per order on hand-pressed heirloom corn tortillas. In addition to cauliflower and shrimp, you'll also find grilled Spanish octopus, yellowfin tuna tartare, birria, organic chicken, roasted squash and more.
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This guy knows his stuff, having cooked in some of New York City’s most notable restaurants including Mercadito, Maloney & Porcelli, Porterhouse New York and the Hunt & Fish Club. Plus, he keeps you guessing with daily specials that will leave you drooling.
If you go
Address: 170 S. Main St., New City, 845-499-2211, crafttaqueria.com
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Follow Jeanne's eating adventures
Muchnick's "Best Thing I Ate" runs every Friday online and Instagram and in print Thursday's. Have a suggestion on where she should try next? Email JRMuchnick@gannett.com.
Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: lohud food reporter's best thing I ate is tacos from new city ny
