Bookmark. Now. Childrens... Hijos mios... Gather 'round and I will regale you with my recent sojourn to the most lovely neighborhood jugeria! I'll cross bridges and county lines just for a Diabolitos Shaved Ice here, I swear on my right kidney!
This past weekend, I attended a Buddhist ceremony at the marina, full of monks in saffron robes chanting sutras which culminated in the liberation of a few hundred fish, who returned to the sea. After standing in the cold wind for an hour, I was chilled to the bone and hungry!
The co-penguin circled several blocks of downtown, while I conferred with the Yelp Monocle and we jointly lamented the shortage of reliable breakfast joints. I chased a fleeting thought of sushi from my mind. We contemplated a large breakfast at a restaurant where we'd previously eaten with Mr. and Mrs. Computer Geek, which had its own parking lot - a bonus for the area.
El Mano de Dios surely reached down from El Cielo and urged us to make one more round, because we found ourselves parked in front of La Tia Tutti and a quick walk to a serviceable breakfast cafe. My neck swivel-snapped (*whi-chaaa!* I think that's a Tarantino-esque sound effect) eyes wide as I decided that after breakfast, I was going to go a second round *here* and Bookman concurred.
I should have done a more thorough inspection because tortas and homemade tamales are also on the menu! El proximo vez, papi... El proximo vez.
If you have never had champurrado, you are missing out. If you have never had champurrado HERE you have never had champurrado! It's la bebida mas sabrosa y caliente de chocolate y es... thick, comforting and un poco de sweet. No' too mush, yust a leetle beet. Ees fantasteek!
Had mi madre served champurrado for mi desayuno, I might have grown up to be a different person. I actually don't enjoy chocolate very much. I can appreciate it, but it's not something I crave, outright. No, not even then. Butter, yes. Bacon - all the time. Pero, chocolate? Eh.
Champurrado de Tia Tutti is a wonderful, warming, silky-smooth elixir of cocoa creaminess. It is my first choice in hot bev when I'm profoundly cold: skiing, outdoor sporting events, bitter weather - gimmee a 16 oz pour for $2 and I'm in heaven! I spoke with the Proprietress who shared her variation with me; I shan't share it here and I will still travel to her to imbibe.
I felt like I'd sipped a breakfast porridge. Not texturally, but psychologically. The drink is smooth as a newborn's nalgas, and despite the chocolate, not cloyingly sweet. Unlike other less substantial tummy-warmers, champurrado has body to it and will give you a very languid, cozy feeling.
Parents - this is the perfect treat to occupy the offspring. Just make sure to pour some into a smaller cup; it's really dense so it holds heat efficiently. Do a finger-stick test before handing it off and enjoy the rest, yourself. Seriously, you'll thank me.
Raspados. Shaved Ice, Mexican estilo.
My selection is the Speciality a Casa and is assembled with pride, as it should be. The refrigerated case holds a selection of syrupy fruit reductions a casa. The ice is ground to order; your cup shall runneth over. Ladles of tart, tangy, chili-infused, lip-smacking goodness come together with slices of fresh mango, cucumber and a big ol' boba straw that's been coated with fruit syrup and delicious mild chili (even I could enjoy it!) that is good for stirring, nibbling and slurping. Top it off with a slice of lime to squeeze over the top and you are set!
Por los gringos and the fairer peeps of San Rafael: Diabolitos is a style of raspado - chile sauce, chili powder, salt, and citrus juice. At most jugerias and helado places, you can order almost any flavor of ice [cream] 'diabolito' - with this treatment. Here, it refers to a particular offering, though you can get another fruit like mango, strawberry or cucumber with the treatment.
You can also have 16 oz of assorted fruit and vegetable blends juiced to order for around $5 which is a bargain. The staff are lovely, generous and effervescent - they are proud of their craft, their heritage, their language and were delighted when I spoke with them, not just to them. Making even the slightest effort with la idioma goes a long way in making you a MIP - Muy Importante Patron/a - so here is the correct way to say: Ras-PAH-tho (singular).
This is one of the places I want to visit with mi hermano in arms, Rossi H., who is beautiful and perfected in his enviable flaws and lyrical musings.
I grew up in Southern California. In a 5 BR house on a suburban cul-de-sac, but craving the vibrant zing and rhythms of my schoolmates. It was a privilege to sit at their tables and to partake from their kitchens, their hearts. At Tia's I feel like family already, after just one visit.
I know you will, too.