Fuego at The Maya

Wednesday. July 23, 2014

Time to check out Fuego and try some food dishes in order for Margie to set a menu for an upcoming wine dinner.

I had not been down in that area of Long Beach for many years. The streets are tricky so I gave myself plenty of time. So after ending up at the Queen Mary once and driving past the Aquarium twice I managed to see a very small sign that indicated the turn to the hotel. I have never been able to understand why they had to make access in this area so difficult. I know the port is there but it just seems like there could be a better way of accessing the correct street to be on.

The view of the bay is beautiful. We were seated outside and the weather was perfect. My only complaint is that they have put up a bar seating area along the whole length of the outdoor dining area and with people seated there it does block you view.

This is Dine LA Week so it was a 3 course restricted menu to choose from. Paul & Margie had the Fuego Chop Salad and both agreed it was good. I opted for the Ceviche Mercado. Beautiful presentation and flavor was very good. But I think I prefer the traditional ceviche with many types of seafood. Served in a martini style glass with shrimp, chopped vegetables, a red sauce, avocado and sliced jicama on top. Two thins of fried plantain decorated the dish.

For the main course we had three options. Two of us decided on the Ropa Vieja.  braised flank steak, (stringy) on corn tortillas with some black beans, cabbage jalapeno clintro slaw, agave cream sauce and carmelized plantains. Meat had good flavor, the slaw was a  perfect accompaniment,  could not taste too much of the jalapeno and cilantro and the agave sauce was very good.

Paul had the Seafood Crepas. Crepes with lump crab meat and rock shrimp, roasted poblano sauce, black bean corn relish. Paul said it was good and it looked like it.

The other option was a Fillet of Salmon with ancho chili and honey glaze, spicy black bean sauce, jalapeno cream and sauteed greens.

For dessert two of us had the Dulce de Leche Cheesecake with cajeta caramel sauce and roasted candied pecans, topped with a blob of whipped cream and a couple of fresh berries. the other dessrt was a Coconut Flan with cajeta caramel sauce, cinnamon crisp and fresh berries. Both desserts were very good. In retrospect I should have had the flan since it was much lighter and would have better after a heavy meal.

I brought a 2008 Bodegas, Paso Robles, Trousseau and they brought the new Angeline Jolie/Brad Pitt Rose from Provence. Beautiful color on the Rose. I would call the color "Chanpagne" instead of pinkish. It was a very light Rose but paired very well with the salads and ceviche.

We looked at the regular menu. All the dishes seem to have some spice to them. We did not find anything with to much heat. Just a slight touch of spiceness. Fuego means fire so this restauramt has a South American,  Cuban, Mexican theme to it. Presentations were very good. This was a Wednesday evening and the place was fairly full.

So Margie will know have to make choices of what dishes to have on out menu for an upcoming wine dinner she plans on having here.