Michele Stueven
Barbacoa mistress Petra Zavaleta of Barba Kush is bringing her authentic barbacoa westward to Lanea in Santa Monica .
Her Tepeaca-style lamb barbacoa, sourced locally from Chino Hills, is prepared in an earthen pit, cooked slowly over a lit fire and served with a rich consommé – regarded as one of the rarest menudos in Mexico. Along with the classics, the Zavaleta family will serve five different styles of tacos on their handmade to order corn tortillas, chips and guacamole seven days a week and breakfast tacos on the weekend.
Taco Tuesday at Lanea
In addition to the consommé with chipotle chickpeas, cebolla, and cilantro; barbacoa tacos wrapped in banana leaves and pit-roasted underground for a day and a half and asada tacos, the breezy bar by the beach also boasts a hand-selection of tequilas and mezcals. Try their signature spicy mezcal margarita or Third St. Sling, made with hibiscus-infused tequila, cinnamon and vanilla cordial, passion fruit, pineapple, lemon and absinthe. There’s also a delightful Tajin DeMelon Delight with vodka, watermelon and coconut topped with Tajin. No better place for shooters.
Third St. Sling (Michele Stueven)
The food and beverage programs at Lanea (which translates to heavenly flower in Polynesian) use a no waste philosophy using the stems from herbs to make syrups for cocktails and bones from the barbacoa to make the consommé́. On weekends expect a DJ, mariachi band, and all-day breakfast tacos for brunch.
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