cactus & kudzu

To start off the documentation of food consumed on our honeymoon, we’ll go to one of favorite meals in Monterey.

Kudos to my husband for locating a great hole-in-the-wall, a true “where the locals go” kind of place. This Mexican seafood joint is off the beaten path of regular Monterey tourist-frequented areas. And when I say off the beaten path, I mean it’s down the freeway inland a bit until you reach a slightly rougher part of town (technically you are in Seaside at that point). But nonetheless, we were delighted to discover this little spot.

When you order a Modelo Especial  (or any beer), you’re given an ice-cold bottle with a lime wedge and a shrimp dipped in their flaming cocktail sauce sticking out of the bottle’s opening. We were so excited about this novel idea that we immediately exclaimed, “Ah! Shrimp!” And we popped our shrimps in our mouths and gushed over that perfect heat of the sauce before I even thought to take a picture. I think that little treat alone is worth a trip to this restaurante.

I ordered a ceviche tostada. It was fabulous and fabulously affordable (we’re talking $4 here!). The fish was delightfully flavorful and fresh. The shell was crisp and cooked well. It was topped with another fresh little shrimp.

I do have one thing to say: I also ordered the crab quesadilla. I did not like that. The crab was disappointingly fishy.

But I am so willing to overlook it when I contemplate my tostada, and the shrimp cocktail (which, by the way, you can order a large serving of. We wish we had done that.).

So, if you are ever in Monterey, and you feel like venturing out of the tourist spots to a little hidden gem, we definitely recommend Mariscos Puerto Nuevo.

Related posts:
olvera street taquitos
ceviche (I’m so brave!)

Tagged: brett jaillet, ceviche tostada, crab quesadilla, family, food, honeymoon, life, love, mexican beer, Mexican food, modelo especial, monterey, photographyt, restaurant review, shrimp cocktail, travel, travelingf, what i ordered