A Michelin Star is not something easy to achieve, the stars are only given to outstanding culinary offerings. The criteria taken into account are: the quality of ingredients, the harmony of flavours, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef expressed through the cuisine and the consistency both of the entire menu and over time. At the end of it all, it comes down to the food on the plate.
Just this week, the Michelin Guide arrived in Mexico. 2 Two Starts, 16 One Stars, 6 Green Stars and 42 Bib Gourmands were awarded to different institutions all across the country. One of those One Stars was given to a Taqueria.
Taqueria el Califa de Leon has been providiing some of the most delicious tacos for over 50 years right in the centre of Mexico City. With just a little room for a few people to stand at the counter and with endless lines of people queueing for their tacos is the first taqueria to ever be awarded with the price that many high-end restaurants can only dream about. This little taco joint has ticked every box as everybody else. The quality, the history, the consistency…the perfect taco every time.
The most popular item on the menu is the Gaonera taco which consists of a single, thin slice of beef, expertly cooked, and seasoned with only salt and a squeeze of lime. Fresh corn tortillas are freshly made at the moment and a couple of salsas, a red and a green one that when combined with the Gaonera produce fireworks in the tastebuds.
We are so proud of all the winners, so many places that reflect the current state of Mexican food with incredible quality and passion, however, our heart is incredibly happy that one of those places is all about the basics, the simplicity and beauty of what is presented in a tortilla can be.
Do you want to see El Califa de Leon? Take a look at this photo guide of the place here.
To see the whole list from the Michelin Stars in Mexico, see here.
