My Adobe Hacienda—a Winner in Jackson

By Antoinette May Herndon

I’ll say one thing for him, Adolfo Gomez is one can do kind of guy. In only a few weeks he’s taken the rather beat up looking old house at 210 Main in Jackson and transformed it into a trendy (and tasty!) Mexican restaurant.

Yes, I do know that there was once another Mexican restaurant at that same location. But believe me, it was nothing like Agave, Adolfo’s new creation.

Agave, (pronounced ah-ga-vay), which opened a mere month ago— appropriately enough on Cinco de Mayo Day—is light, bright and airy. The walls are freshly painted, the stairs to the second floor broadened, large windows now introduce a sense of space. The building’s ambience has been amped to admit those lively and hacienda vibes so essential to a Mexican restaurant.

But even more important than atmosphere, Aldopfo’s Agave takes Mexican food to a new level. I had a good feeling right away from just picking up the menu. Its cover is both exotic and elegant, a stylized rendering of the agave plant from which tequila is made. The rosette of thick, fleshy leaves, each ending in a sharp point, makes a strong and stylish statement.

Inside the covers I found an appealing array of traditional Mexican favourites alongside intriguing signature dishes. What a relief that was. Charles and I were visiting Agave’s for the first time on the restaurant’s three-week anniversary. After viewing their “OPENING!” banners with mounting interest, we’d decided to give the place a try. That’s always OK, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Right?

Wrong. This time, unfortunately, it wasn’t quite so simple. On that

particular night we had three out of towners to entertain, Lucy, Brent and Kevin. Let’s face it, houseguests add to life’s challenges. Going for the first time to a restaurant that’s barely had time to get the kinks out is dicey. I crossed my fingers and plunged in. “Negra Modelo dark, por favor.” It appeared I’d started a mini trend. Our table ordered a round of beers to enjoy while perusing the pretty menus. The glasses were frosted; the waiter, Sergio Valencia, charming. Agave’s signature guacamole dip (an on the house special) was delicious. We were up and rolling.

Brent ordered first. He’s a gentle man with a wry sense of humour and an amazing reserve of tact. Brent would never say anything derogatory about the dinner, but, hey, the man has standards. He’s been around the world, lived in Paris. This was Brent’s first visit to the foothills. I wanted him to like it, to want to come back.

Holding my breath, I watched Brent take the first bite of his tostada de fajitas. This is a challenging dish: a large flour tortilla shell filled with marinated strips of beef, onions, bell pepper and beans topped with shredded lettuce, cheese and guacamole. ($8.99)

“Toni, I really like this!” he said, turning to me, possibly in surprise. Just like that, Brent said it—an exclamation point at the end of his sentence. Whew!

Kevin was next. I didn’t worry about him. Kevin’s an old friend from way back, who’s been up to visit often and eaten some truly awful dinners that I fixed myself. Kevin was delighted with his two chicken enchiladas, tortillas filled with shredded beef topped with sour cream and guacamole. They came with rice and beans. ($8.25)

Charles picked a real winner with the seafood chimichanga ($10.50). This exciting dish consisted of sautéed shrimp, scallops, fish, broccoli, onions, green peppers and mushrooms all rolled into a flour tortilla smothered in ranchera sauce and served with sour cream, guacamole, rice and beans.

I was pleased with my selection too—the carnitas, ($11.95). These were tender pieces of pork marinated with lemon, orange and garlic—really delicious. They were served with pico de gallo garnish, guacamole, beans, and rice. A side of tortillas enabled me to build my own taco. Yum!

When it came for Lucy to order, I held my breath again. Maybe you too have a Lucy in your life. She had a long time relationship with a world class chef and subsequently developed very high expectations. Lucy always wants to know every detail about the food she orders. (Where the fish was born and raised, etc.)

This time Lucy opted for enchilada rancheras ($8.95)—two tortillas filled with shredded chicken breast and topped with Agave’s signature red sauce and melted cheese. The tortillas were very fresh, the chicken tender. Lucy was a happy camper. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Dinner was served. Viva Agave!

VITALS: Agave is located at 210 Main St., Jackson. Phone: 223-3555. Open Wednesday Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. Credit cards accepted.

amherndon@sierralodestar.com

Pictures:

Agave’s menu sets a tone.

Sergio Valencia, a waiter at Agave’s, did right by our party.

The interior of Agave is colourful and inviting.

Adolfo Gomez, owner of Agave’s, has transformed the interior of an old building.

(exterior) Agave takes it place on Main St.