Remembrances of Meals Past

I have been meaning to get into the kitchen and do some cooking for a while now, but the motivation just is not there (not feeling motivated to do much at all lately...I blame the weather, the economy, and post-Europe blues). Luckily, I have obsessively photographed the most delicious things I have eaten over the past couple of years, so I don't have to leave you empty-handed today. This picture was taken in Sausalito, California in October 2007, and man...it makes my mouth water every time I look at it.

For about three or four years leading up to the taking of this photograph, I was on the hunt for the perfect fish taco. I tried a few specimens before this one, but these experiments usually ended in tears. There are three common ways that restaurants get fish tacos all wrong: 1) they bread the fish instead of battering it (or, worse still, they grill it instead of frying it); 2) they use flour tortillas, which are too thick and chewy for the delicate fish, instead of corn tortillas; 3) they top them with crazy things like lettuce, guacamole, or chipotle cream sauce.

My hunt for fish taco perfection finally ended the day I walked into the Sausalito Taco Shop. Their fish is batter-dipped and fried to light golden perfection, nestled inside of two warm, fresh corn tortillas, and topped with a mound of finely shredded cabbage. To prevent the fish from getting soggy, they bring the condiments (hot sauce and a squeeze bottle of crema) to your table and let you dress it up yourself. East Coasters take note--this is what a fish taco should look like.