One of our favorite ethnic restauranteurs, Richard Sandoval, is introducing the Guacamole Festival to his Modern Mexican Kitchen and Tequileria, Maya, on the Upper East Side. The restaurant will play host to four quarterly festivals that celebrate Mexican cooking, including the Chile Relleno Festival and the Mole Festival. Beloved chip-topper, guacamole, will be celebrated now until June 30th at Maya, which will feature different flavors and highlight various regional experiences.
Guacamoles will range in price from $14-$18. For those who don’t like adventure, order up the Traditional, made with avocado, tomato, onion, cilantro and chile serrano. If you are looking for some regional options, you can try the Baja, made with kiwi, jicama, strawberry, mango, mint, chile arbol, lime and sea salt, or the Norteno, made with chicharron, pickled onion, salsa fresca, Serrano, queso fresco, roasted corn, lime and sea salt. Additional options include the Pacifico, made with grilled beet, roasted walnut, queso fresco, diced orange, and Sandoval’s citrus chipotle salt and lime juice, or the Sur, made of grasshoppers, tomatillo, cotija cheese, onion, chile cascabel, cilantro, lime and sea salt. Can’t pick a favorite? Order up the Guacamole Toastada Sampler, which includes 3 guacamoles, mini toastadas, habanero salsa and tomatillo salsa. To complement all the delicious guac, pair it with one of the refreshing cocktails ($13), such as the Cucumber Serrano Martini or the Hibiscus Margarita.
Maya Modern Mexican Kitchen is located at 1191 First Avenue.
