Vato Loco

Just Cruisin' Thru The Barrio

   (Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!) 

"Ridin' round town with all the windows down"... "cause it's summer, my time of year". 

Time to get your bros and let's cruise a while Holmes.  You know... up and down the boulevard like the old days.   Check out the sights, the people,  and the eight track playin' all your favorite sounds.

But what about the tricked out cars.... the "lowriders", you got to have a cool ride.

Cause everybody knows the "lowrider goes a little slower & the lowrider is a real goer".

Today we're celebrating that age old tradition with a little latin flare.  Starting off with a rockin' burger, add a Michelada cocktail and throw in some cool tunes... you're ready to cruise man.

The Pots Are On!

The Plate...

Chorizo Burger with Smoked Gouda

Ok... you know we all love a good burger.  We've featured Chorizo sliders before, but now we are moving on to the big brother... "Vato Loco" style.  In other words, take a regular burger and spice it up Esse'.

When you add the chorizo, chipotle and the smoked gouda, well that's just pretty perfect.  Oh yeah, and whatever you do, do not get that "lean" ground beef. That's just not right man.  This is not a "Turkey Burger"!  You want to look for a good 80% lean to 20% fat (it's where the flavor's at dude).

So fire up that grill and let's get going.

What you need...  

2 pounds ground beef
8 oz Mexican chorizo (Mexican sausage)
1 medium onion diced
3 chipotle peppers diced
8 oz smoked Gouda cheese
Salt and fresh ground pepper
8 hamburger buns (I like Brioche)
3 poblano peppers, blackened and skinned
1 tbsp butter
Spicy aioli

What you do...

Heat your grill to medium high about 400 degrees.

Put Poblano peppers on the grill and blacken. Then take off grill and place in plastic bag to sweat. 

Combine the ground beef and chorizo with the chipotle peppers salt and pepper to taste.

Form in to 6 oz patties. 

Place meat on the grill.

Take the Poblanos and remove outer skin and slice.

Flip the burgers and add Gouda cheese to melt. 

Just before you remove the burgers put buns on the grill to toast.

Assemble the burgers and top with aioli. 

Time to ride!!!

The Playlist...

Vato Loco

Ok dudes and dudetts... time to cruise. How can you listen to this music and not feet like a little trip down the boulevard. 

Leading us off with our theme  is Latin Soul Syndicate with Vato Loco... very cool.

One of my all time favorites though,  has got to be a little band out of New Orleans called the Iguanas.  Check out "Mexican Candy".  

And of course no Latin vibe would be complete without a little Santana and Los Lobos. 

Eight track is playin' all your favorite sounds... So, come on Holmes.... let's roll.

("The Playlist" runs on Spotify. Don't have Spotify?... Click here it's free )

The Bar...

Cielo Rojo Michelada

What you need...

1 cup clamato juice

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

2 tsp Tabasco Chipotle sauce
1 tsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

What you do...

Fill two salt rimmed beer mugs with ice.  Combine all ingredients in a pitcher and stir well.
Pour into the beer mugs and garnish with lime. 

Take a little trip, take a little trip

Take a little trip with me.

Please... Day Drink Responsibly 

& 

Keep On Cookin'!