Cinnamon Tortillas: Soft, Warm, and Keep Them Coming!
Zachary, age 3, wants more cinnamon tortillas. Zach has cinnamon smudges on his face, a blob of uneaten tortilla on his shirt, and he's dropped half of his current tortilla on the sidewalk. "More!" he pleads, licking his lips. The tortilla lady looks at him, smiling, and passes Lisa another hot, fresh cinnamon tortilla. "This one's free," she tells us, smiling at Zach. "He looks hungry! But be careful when you give it to him --- it's still hot!"
We've arrived at Cafe Coyote in Old Town just as dinner hour begins. The young hostess tells us there will be a five minute wait for a table. That's why we're standing here at the open-air tortilla kiosk, watching a skilled "tortilla lady" grill fresh cinnamon --- or if you prefer, strawberry ---tortillas. These treats are a little bit of heaven itself, and we usually save them for dessert. But when we found out there'd be a five minute wait for a table...
Let's just say we couldn't help ourselves!
A few minutes later we're sitting under a heat lamp at an outdoor table, enjoying the views of sunshine washing the hillsides in the fading light. It's a little bit chilly in San Diego tonight, thanks to the strong ocean breezes, but the heat lamp keeps us nice and toasty during our meal. I order a Carne Asada Burrito. If you've read my other posts on this site, you already know I'm a protein-seeking carnivore. The carne asade burrito is absolutely stuffed with meat --- it's my favorite entree from a menu full of wonderful choices. Arriving with sides of frijoles refritos and delicious, authentic Mexican fried rice (not soggy, not limp, not Americanized) the carne asada burrito probably feeds two normal adults.
Not tonight. Tonight it's mine --- all mine. Lisa is having the black bean soup, supplementing her meal with the abundant, complementary chips and salsa that grace every table. Zachary has carried his tortilla to the table and he won't be needing anything else this evening.
Cafe Coyote is an Old Town landmark, one of the best places to eat in the cultural center of Old San Diego. It's that rare venue which is always popular with tourists, yet which keeps on attracting the locals, year after year. Those in the know drive in from Escondido or La Mesa, even though the commute to Old Town can get lengthy from those places. The locals mix with business people and conventioneers who have escaped the gridlock of downtown hotels to wander a while among the bustling shops and attractive streets of the Old Town area.
With plenty of indoor and lots of open-air seating, Cafe Coyote can handle a crowd and still seem approachable. If you happen to arrive when there's a five or ten minute wait (or longer) then consider yourself warned: the tortilla kiosks will draw you in! And if they don't, there's a candy store on the premises...
It's the cinnamon tortillas that keep us coming back for more. Two kiosks with open-air grills are located at street side along the front of the cafe. It's impossible to pass by without watching --- and sampling --- as fresh treats are made right before your eyes. We've tried making these at home --- both of us love to cook --- but somehow we just can't capture the fresh, delicious, perfectly textured tortillas that float off the grill here at Cafe Coyote.
This is a family-friendly place, you'll see birthday parties and large family gatherings, but there are private tables and quiet corners where you can dine alone if you prefer, or bring that romantic someone. With the exceptions of Cinco de Mayo (a perfect place to be, but crowded beyond belief!) and some summer Sundays, you won't usually face a long wait or a difficult challenge finding a table here.
No, the challenge is resisting those tortillas! Would you believe, after finishing our dinner, we stopped by the kiosk again? After all, we hadn't had our dessert yet. We shared another cinnamon tortilla in the moment, and wrapped a few more for the ride home. They keep pretty well for a day or two, and a microwave brings back most of the experience later.
Cafe Coyote, 2461 San Diego Avenue, 619-291-HOWL. Website: www.cafecoyoteoldtown.com
oyote
2461 San Diego Avenue
San Diego, CA 92110
619-291-HOWL (4695)
