We swung by the soft opening for the newly opened Charro Vida to eat and grab some photos.
Although we ordered as much as we could eat in one sitting, there’s plenty more to explore. However, we were impressed with what we had and will be back for more. Here are seven of our favorites so far.
Pimentón Marcona almonds, marinated lima beans, and mixed olives create a simple yet sophisticated platter. The warm, tender, creamy lima beans are surprisingly the star. If you love anchovies, don’t hesitate to spend the extra $4 for the lemony white Spanish anchovies.
Tender sous vide heirloom carrots are charred and served with beets, apple, pomegranate picado, local goat cheese, and turmeric oil.
This salad balances sweet watermelon, bitter arugula, and cool cucumber and mint with red onion, local goat cheese, Vida herb dressing, and fried cubes of cotija.
This dish features a trio of enchiladas in three mole sauces: calabacitas & beets en tomatillo; papas y poblano en chile rojo; chorizo planta en crema. The fluffy quinoa grain salad, beans, and veggies are a welcome departure from heavier conventional sides.
The succulent branzino is dusted with almond flour, pan-seared, and served with a rich hummus-based sauce, charred tomato, asparagus, and potatoes. This was one of the best branzino interpretations we’ve ever had.
This Mexican fruit platter features sweet-and-salty house-made chamoy, Tajín, lime, and spiced pepitas.
These hefty, crunchy churros are sure to be a hit with the gluten-free eaters and churro lovers. The Mexican chocolate ganache certainly helps.
Charro Vida is located at 7109 N. Oracle Rd. For more information, visit charrovida.com. Keep up with Charro Vida on Facebook.
Jackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon...
