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Pop-Up Of The Week: SOLRAD’s 'Mexican-Americana' Breakfast Burritos
Mexican Americana breakfast burritos are what's on the menu at SOLRAD in Whittier.
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Courtesy of SOLRAD
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Who: Chef Teo Montoya, along with his wife Melissa Montaya and partner Justin Graham, make up SOLRAD, a pop-up specializing in “Mexican-Americana” fare at Sala Coffee and Wine in Whittier, with a suitably Spanglish mashup name.
What: Breakfast burritos, a dish with roots in Mexican cooking, but has gained gargantuan U.S. popularity. SOLRAD’s options are small, but carry a lot of heart and soul. The Bullshead breakfast burrito ($16), is made with perfectly stewed beef barbacoa, hashbrowns, refried beans (lard-free) and Tecate braised onions which meld into each other with a heavenly consistency. Their housemade salsas provide enough kick to have you seeing stars.
The Bullshead breakfast burrito from SOLRAD melts in your mouth, not in your hand, with every bite.
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Courtesy of SOL RAD
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Explore the differences between traditions, from Sichuan’s spicy mala to Japan’s delicate shabu-shabu and Korea’s hearty jeongol. -
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Feeling beachy, even if you're not near the ocean? Maybe a quality fish taco could hit the spot.
Once a month, SOLRAD hosts a Baja-style barbecue affectionally named SOLPICNIK (a nod to a Chicano Batman song). Chef Teo's family originates from the northern region of Baja California, Mexico, while Justin Graham grew up in Central California. Graham employs the Santa Maria grilling technique to serve a variety of hometown-style dishes, including tri-tip and grilled oysters.
It's Baja California meets Central California at the SOLPICNIK the second and fourth Saturday of every month in Whittier
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Courtesy of SOLRAD
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Where: Sala Coffee & Wine, Address: 7701 Painter Ave., Whittier, CA, 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday-Sunday. SOLPICNIK 3 to 7 p.m on the second and fourth Saturday of every month.
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Why: Breakfast burritos are SOLRAD’s bread and butter, and for good reason. According to Montoya, tacos are everywhere, and he didn’t want to position himself to compete with the already stellar taco market. "People know us as the breakfast burrito people. We love it," Montoya said.
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