Elite Event at Calexico Park Slope

My first Elite event!!! Not only was I thrilled when I heard this event was all about Mexican food & rita’s, but to have it so close to home made it a home run.
I had a great time, everything was on point from the greeters at the door, to the bartenders serving up our drinks, friendly staff, and the highlight of the night… the food! Shall we begin?
First up, the drinks: the menu had a great selection of drinks, everything from beers to flavored margarita’s. Being that I am a hardcore ‘rita girl I went in on the jalapeño margarita. I will be honest, I was a bit skeptical and wasn’t sure how spicy it was going to be but the flavor combination was amazing. This was by far my favorite drink of the night. Just the right amount of kick and it blended beautifully with the flavor of the margarita. Never would’ve thought this combination worked, but it did! High five, Calexico!
The other drink my friend and I sampled was the Night Owl, a magenta colored smokey concoction that was great tasting as well.
Oh and we can’t forget about the tequila sampling going on in the corner.
Onto the food:
We got there right around 7pm and the staff had put out chips, salsa and guacamole as starters. Everything was delicious, I really enjoyed the green salsa and the chunky guacamole. But then the wings came out and I had to really compose myself since I am a wing lover, haha. The wings were delicious and I easily could’ve polished everything off, but we had to share so I only took a few.
As the night progressed waiters went around passing a variety of Calexico’s dishes. Some of my favorites included the mushroom quesadilla which was incredibly tasty with a hint of nuttiness or an earthy flavor. This didn’t taste like your regular mushroom quesa and it was later that I found out it had huitlacoche! This is what truly made this dish delicious. Calexico, I think you have spoiled me for all veggies quesadillas.
Other favorites includes the carne asada quesadillas and the shredded pork tacos which were perfectly cooked and packed with flavor.
All in all, everything was amazing. It was great to finally attend an Elite event, mingle with other Unilocalers and taste delicious food. A huge thanks to everyone that put this together!

Awesome event! I’ve ridden by this place a dozen times and never stopped to go in. I’ll certainly be stopping now!
The jalapeño margaritas were the highlight of the night. A very close second was the carne asada quesadilla. The meat was so tender and flavorful. Well-​done! I loved all of the tacos and the wings were excellent. I love that the staff are so passionate about serving great food. Great place to satisfy my Mexican food cravings.

Holy guacamole! In this case, that’s not just a turn of phrase, that guacamole was really and truly endowed with the holy spirit of the great avocado. There’s no doubt about it, Park Slope jumped the shark a long time ago, but in a time when you feel like all the good spots are leaving, its so refreshing to see someone like Calexico come in.
I don’t know if the winter weather kept the crowd down, or it was just brilliant party planning on Peter D’s part (you can basically always just err on the side of Peter being brilliant), but we had that rare Unilocal event where there was just the right amount of folks in the room. And the manners, Unilocalers, I salute you! No stalking the kitchen doorways, no mobbing the servers, mother is so proud. But we can’t forget to thank the awesome Calexico staff for the smooth flow. The servers were coming out of two different sides with food– smarties!- and they really worked the room so there was never a feast/​famine corner. Got to try nearly everything served and loved each savory bite. Fresh and flavorful guac and salsa, carne asada tacos with some huge flavor, and the mushroom quesadilla was deliciously umami with no trace of greasiness.
And the bar, have we talked about the bar yet? Just two bartenders, serving a full menu including mixed drinks, and yet you were never waiting long enough to notice. So impressed! The jalapeño mint margarita was interesting, but they really sold me on the El Buho mezcal cocktail-​delicious! Thank you Calexico and Peter D. for a perfect menu (great vegetarian choices too!), great cocktails, gift bags?! and an all around good time.

I almost **almost** didn’t come out because of the nasty weather. I took the bus and it took forever. I had to get off the bus because some lady fake fell and was waiting for the cops to show up so she could make a claim. My +1 and I walked about a mile and a half from the bus stop in the slushy grossness, free margaritas and tacos dangling in front of us like a carrot.
It. Was. So. Worth. It.
The turn out was pretty good considering the frozen tundra but the space was big enough to drink and eat and talk without being pushed all over the place. I shook off the chill with a Jalapeño Mint Margarita. Mmm, tastes like another, please and thank you!
The food was on point and there was so much of it! I had to turn it away after a while even though my mind was telling me yeah — but my body! My body was telling me nooooo. (Disclaimer: After a few more drinks I found room for more quesadillas).
The staff was excellent. It’s gotta be rough working behind a bar slinging free drinks to a gaggle of thirsty Unilocalers, but the bartenders were super nice and accommodating.
Thanks as usual Peter D! And of course thank you to Calexico — will be back for sure.

Woo hoo Calexico! I’ve know about this place for a few years now. I used to work a few blocks from the Red Hook location and whenever my old boss was feeling generous, she would buy us some tacos/​salads/​burritos for lunch… the poor, sad teachers… so hungry! So I’ve tried my share of basically everything on the menu (covered in their famous «crack» sauce of course).
Even still, I was pleasantly surprised at the attention to detail that Calexico-​park slope put into this event. The staff was ridiculously friendly, the alcohol was flowing and the food… there was so much food!
I arrived around 7:15 with Jess P. (mine) and we immediately headed straight to the back for some buffet style chips, guacamole, salsa and wings. The table was refilled all night so we all got our fill, but that wasn’t it. So many rounds of tacos were passed. From the saucy pork with crunchy cabbage to the melty mushroom and cheese. I mean who could complain! «Not I» said the… well, me. I said that.
After stuffing our faces with all that Calexico had to offer, we made sure to taste some of the drinks. I got a margarita which was salty and a bit sweet and tried some tequila which instantly got me tipsy… I don’t really drink. I also was the proud winner of the raffle for the El Bujo Mezcal sweatshirt! This made up for the fact that I didn’t get a t-​shirt favor bag. Blasphemous!
So happy I came to this event. Thank you to Peter D. (especially for that awesome free high 5) and the Calexico staff for an amazing event!
Shout out to my new friends Evian D., Adam S., Carolina S., Amber L., Beth B., Mitch E. and Ruwan J. (actually, forget about Ruwan… he doesn’t count. yea I said it).

What a fantastic event! Peter D. you really out did yourself. I have been to the Calexico food truck in Dumbo a bunch of times, when my work was located next door. However, I had not made it to any of the restaurants. Boy was I missing out!
I showed up for the party like 5 minutes past 7. No snowy ice was going to stop this girl from margaritas and tacos. I am a MexiCAN not a MexiCAN’T! And I am very grateful I did. The crowd was just building up. I found a corner to stash my purse and coat. The Unilocalers are a trusty crowd. I then worked my way to the guac and chips on the buffet table. I love me some guac! I am pretty close to getting an avocado tattoo, if that gives you a better idea for my love of the «alligator pear».
I was then greeted by the large back booth, a neon «Hola» placed above. I made my way to the bar. I am normally drawn to the jalapeño margaritas but at the corner of my eye I noticed «El Buho’s Nigh Owl». I remembered the name. My bartender friend from Seattle had just posted a pic of the bottle on Instagram. The bartender informed me that the cocktail is a smokey mezcal tequila with jamaica! I loved the idea of a smokey, tart, boozy concoction. And the drink was just what I wanted. I definitely enjoyed the special salt on my glass too. And lucky for us Unilocalers the owner of El Buho was at the event, good ol’ John Henry! He was super nice and informative about the product. You could tell it was something he was proud of.
Now for the food. My first nibble was the bean taco and it was the perfect appetizer for the plates to come. The mushroom quesadilla was hearty and was all cheesy and warm. But the real star was the Baja fish taco. Holy smokes! Perfectly fried, fresh slaw and juicy mangoes and all sealed together with their famous «crack» sauce. I mentioned to the waitress that I was pescatarian and she always made an effort to come by with a tray. That’s what I call amazing service. At one point I even had a great conversation with the owners! They were so interested in the foodie Unilocal community and really appreciated us. One of the brothers Brian, made an extra effort to meet people and was very friendly.
And last but not least, UnilocalERS! The Unilocalers at this event were über nice. I saw some old 2014 Unilocal buddies and I made a ton of new 2015 buddies. I felt so at home amongst the crowd. Everybody was welcoming and happy to be there. It made me very happy to be part of such a great foodie friend movement.
See you all next time! Happy Unilocaling!

You know an event has been fantastic when you begin plotting your return before it’s even over.
I’ve long complained about «hipster [insert ethnic cuisine here]» being a thing in this city, but man, Calexico’s hipster spin on Mexican food is terrific. What an event.
The drinks, especially the one with Mezcal, were outstanding. I’d happily make a beeline right for the bar just to get that wonderful cocktail with a hint of smokiness.
The wings and chips, constantly refilled? Awesome. Highlights for me were the mushroom quesedilla and black bean tacos – I’m usually a meat fiend, but holy crap, were they delicious.
And then, to top it all off, we got gift bags AND got to keep the glasses from the bar? Just… incredible.
All the thanks to the amazing staff for making this happen, and for Unilocal for pulling off one hell of an event. What a great way to start off Unilocal 2015!

WooHoo!!! First YEE of 2015.
So, of course, abiding by the rules, I ate before this event, about like 2 – 3 hrs before. I thought that would enough time to digest the food and not be starving by the time the event came.
I arrived by 7:30, train issues and I ended up walking in the wrong direction. oops! I settled in and soon after, food servers kept coming out with half-​sheet pans filled with food. I had the chipotle pork taco, baja fish taco, mushroom quesadilla and the steak quesadilla. I also was able to eat some guacamole. They provided a big bowl of guacamole… do you know how much extra that would have been in Chipotle???
I couldn’t eat anymore. I was too full. I sorta felt bad saying no to the servers who were so nicely passing by and offering food.
And yasssss, we received a goodie bag and also received a complimentary cup!!!
Thanks to Calexico and staff. I will definitely return to try the other items on the menu! And of course, mamy thanks to Peter and special guest, Ruggy!!!

BKLYN YEE = Best way to warm your heart on a frigid February night.
Spacious and welcoming, with simple, effective decorations[1]; a decidedly warm ambiance: I loved this place from the moment I walked in.
I had the opportunity to chat a bit with the three people behind Calexico. Passionate, enthusiastic, and friendly, these 3 friends actually won the Vendy Award for Best Street Food in New York City a few years ago, so you know they can cook.
I found the food really fantastic. All dishes were nicely balanced, which a main ingredient being the lead singer and the other ones the supporting band, all playing together beautifully. I loved the chipotle pork tacos and the Baja fish taco, but the real winner for me was the carne asada quesadilla with marinated hanger steak, caramelized onions. PHENOMENAL!
We were really treated to a ridiculous amount of delicious food, being brought directly to us from the amazing staff. The girl with short black hair and that stunning black and blue dress is worth a honorable mention for various reasons, but they were all really awesome.
Also a shoutout to El Buho Mexcal; I’m not big on tequila, but I always liked the smokiness of Mexcal, which reminds me of some single malts from Scotland. Thanks to John for telling me about El Buho, and explaining to me the kind of passion and labor it takes to make this excellent mezcal from Santiago Matatlan in Oaxaca, Mexico[2].
Finally, I also enjoyed the soundtrack being played softly in the background a lot. When was the last time you’ve heard this song:
Thank you Peter and the people at Calexico for what surely is going to be one of the best events of 2015. And it’s just February.
Blown to hell
Crash
I’m the last splash
Flickr photo album:
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[1]I particularly liked the pictures at the entrance, like the «Calexico Mexcali» road sign. Yep: Calexico is a real place.
[2] Have a look for yourself:

It may have been cold outside but this event was straight fire.
Having been to a previous Elite Event at the Calexico in the LES, I knew I had to get here despite the abysmal weather.
A thirty minute walk through black ice and giant slush corners was well worth it. Owner Dave goes all out for these events.
It all starts with the cocktails. The jalapeño margaritas are fantastic. They have some serious kick, and are super tasty. The night owl was a more smokey drink, with mexcal. I didn’t care for it as much, but it was still pretty good. El Buho Mexcal was also on hand for some tastings and giving out some merchandise. By the end of the evening, I may have had a drink too many.
Right off the back there was large bowls of guac for the taking. Their guacamole is as good as it gets. Then they brought out some hot wings. I had wings the night before from a highly reputable BBQ spot in Brooklyn, the hot wings from Calexico were significantly better.
Then the tacos and quesadillas started coming out. The pork and black bean tacos were fantastic, as was the mushroom quesadilla. It would hard for me to pick my favorite dish of the night. It had to be either their baja fish taco or the carna asada quesadilla. Both were phenomenal. The crack sauce is just as good as I remember it. I needed a fix.
It was a really wonderful event. Catching up with some people I haven’t seen in awhile and meeting some in person for the first time.
At the end of the event we got some sweet swag that was much appreciated. I always wanted a t-​shirt with a drunk taco on it. Unfortunately Ruggy tossed me a bag with a women’s shirt. Oh well, it’ll be a nice gift for my girlfriend.
Thank you so to the staff and owners of Calexico. I had an amazing time. Big thanks to all the Unilocal staff on hand, especially Peter D for putting together such a good great night!

What a first-​class event! WOW! First off, let me start by saying I’m a sucker for Mexican food… But THIS Mexican food was literally off the chain! The fish tacos blew my mind… as did the guac and quesadillas… oh, and then there’s that crack sauce! WOW! I’m not sure what they put in that sauce, but it was to die for! Everything was just so mouthwatering and delicious, I couldn’t take it. I can’t wait to go back and have everything again – like 20 of everything!
As for the drinks, they were awesome as well. I tried some new tequilas and speciality drinks they were making last night… all quite tasty. I wish I had the recipes for at least the Mezcal drink. Oh, but wait, I guess I don’t need the recipe because I can always go back to Calexico! :)
Another great thing about the evening was meeting some cool Unilocal!eliters that I hadn’t met before. Always awesome to make new connections! I def. look forward to Unilocaling with these new folks!

Good food, good drinks, good staff! Cant get any better than that! I had a wonderful time at this Brooklyn Elite Event. The bartenders were super friendly and good at they’re craft. The drinks were definitely unique and tasty. I tried the Jalapeño Margarita and the Night Owl both were amazing. All of the food from the wings to the tacos were great! There was certainly no shortage of food as they were bringing out trays till the very end, everyone was stuffed! The owners were extremely friendly and welcoming we even were able to keep the beer glasses we were drinking out of. Without a doubt I will be making my way back here for Mexican food. I highly recommend !

Calexico isn’t a wide storefront (I almost went in wrong door), but it’s pretty big inside, even when filled with Unilocalers eating and drinking the night away! Calexico is a great space and I really love the hip chandeliers.
It was exciting to finally meet cool Brooklyn Unilocal Elite that I follow but never met IRL. And met new ones too! That’s one of the most enjoyable parts of these events.
We got there «late» after 7:30 and joked that maybe there would be no more food. Calexico staff came through with round and rounds! I did my best to be polite and only sample one of each. But as the trays kept coming out all night, I gave up on that LOL! The mushroom quesadillas were soooooo good! I refuse to say how many chicken wings with the spicy sauce I ate. Plus, I was adding the delicious fresh guac to my tacos ;)
The jalapeño mint margaritas were a great pairing with the food. Calexico pulled out all the stops with the top shelf tequila too. We are so grateful for your hospitality! The tequila kept me warm until I got home.

Ridiculously awesome event. Ridiculously short commute home is also an added bonus. When my friend walked in (slightly oblivious to Unilocal eliteness) I forewarned him that some events you get to the point where you have to turn down food. He never thought it would happen.
On the menu: Fresh hand made tortilla chips with guacamole and their house salsa. Chicken wings in a spicy chipotle glaze with a blue cheese dressing. Chipotle Pork tacos with pickled red onion and pico de gallo. Black Bean tacos with guacamole, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, and what they like to call a chipotle ‘crack’ sauce. Crack sauce was interesting. I wouldn’t put it on everything. But it does taste like crack, being some kind of hybrid of spicy mayo sauce. Personal favorite taco of the night for me was the Baja fried fish taco with fresh spicy slaw, vibrant yellow mango salsa chunks, and slathered with a dabble of their aforementioned ‘crack’ sauce. The mushroom and carne asada quesadillas were also incredibly delicious.
Pretty large variety of drinks that were churned out expertly and with impeccable speed. Beers: Sixpoint Bengali and Sweet Action, Negra Modelo (also free cups if you were smart enough to grab one). Favorite cocktail was definitely the jalapeño mint margarita. Spicy but not overtly. Sweet but not cloyingly. The dark red Night Owl cocktail with smoky mezcal was a little too intense for me but definitely something different to try.
We had a great time. Found out finally who my secret Unilocalster Santa gift exchange person thing was from one of the last events. Lol. And went home with a giant yellow taco shirt. Random and awesome as always.

As a new member of the Elite family I was welcomed into the flock for my first non-​plus one event like I’ve been on the team. What’s the saying… you never forget your first? I will truly remember this evening as something very special.
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Living in the park slope area it’s not hard to find a place to eat but Calexico stands out without a doubt. The staff was super friendly. Big ups to my new bestie at the bar Steve. As soon as I came in he greeted me with a warm smile, a great drink (jalapeño margarita DELICIOUS!) and a fun upbeat conversation. He also introduced me to all of the staff and owners. (Side note– That’s how you know it’s real. when they introduce you to the work fam ;))
On to the food–
The guac was deeeeelicious. I love guacamole and this was a right mix of spices without being too hot and not bland at all. I feel like some places over kill you on the hot peppers to mask a lack of flavor and Calexico did just the opposite.
The wings were well cooked, juicy and stood the test of time. I ended up talking and they got a bit cold and they were still freaking delicious.
The fish tacos were my favorite. Super crispy super juicy no oil taste and the sauce was amazing.
They made this girls first time special.
I will be back with friends.

I’m a sucker for latin food. No, really, if you look at my reviews, and count the ones that have anything to do with margaritas and tacos, I guarantee they likely outnumber those without margaritas and tacos. And venturing out to Brooklyn to experience Calexico was an amazing treat.
We were greeted by the rad Ruggy J, the personable Peter D, and the cool Cody as we escaped the bitter cold and snow that plagued our Monday night in Park Slope. From street cart to brick-​and-​mortar, this Calexico outpost is just a year old. As we stepped into the the warmth of the inviting woodsy atmosphere with a nice glow of modern lighting and décor, out before us was a thorough sampling of delicious food and cocktails, including the very core basics of a Mexican eatery: guacamole, chips, and salsa.
Having worked at a NYC Mexican restaurant several years ago, I can absolutely say their guac was absolutely perfect — just the right amounts of avocado, salt, and lime. The salsas, which weren’t too spicy, had their own distinct and tasty flavor. The chicken wings, which were a bit of a surprise to find, were also full of flavor.
Then came the passed dishes: we were able to try such entrees and snacks such as the baja fish tacos (topped with mango pieces and served with Crack sauce), the pork tacos (topped with red onions and served with Crack sauce), the mushroom quesadilla (served like a hot wrap, complete with cheese… and Crack sauce), and the carne/​beef quesadilla (served like a hot grilled wrap, complete with cheese, …and yes, you guessed it, Crack sauce). Nothing I tasted I disliked. Everything was truly delicious. This Crack sauce is something like a chipotle mayo, that just goes well with pretty much everything.
I got so carried away with the food, I almost forgot about the cocktails. But truth be told, they were just as memorable. The tequila, spirits, and beer selection at Calexico although limited, packs quite a punch. A bit of a backstory when drinking tequila:
#1) *ALWAYS* make sure you are drinking a tequila made with 100% Blue Agave
(It will say 100% Blue Agave on the bottle) If it doesn’t say «100%» you are likely drinking a tequila made with 51% tequila and 49% sugar, inviting your favorite hangover to visit you the next morning. These are called mixtos.
#2) To be called tequila, it must be made with 51% Blue Agave.
#3) Calexico does not carry any mixtos that I’m aware of.
#4) In fact, they carry some of what I consider the best tequilas out there.
We were fortunate enough to sample Partida Blanco, a fresh, crisp, and very smooth tequila that generally goes for $ 15 margaritas, and approx $ 52 bottle retail. A blanco tequila is aged no more than 60 days, and is considered an «un-​aged» tequila. Partied Blanco is my #1 Tequila, second to El Mayor Reposado. A Reposado tequila, for comparison, can be aged from 2 to 11 months, and can give a little more of an oaky palate. Calexico ALSO carries El Mayor Reposado!!! With just the rights amounts of tequila, the bartenders made some margaritas the rival my own!
In addition to tequila, they carry Mezcal, specifically El Buho. If you have never tried mezcal, it is also made from agave but has a very distinct flavor profile. El Buho’s is super smooth and can make you find a love for mezcal you never knew you had. Calexico makes a cocktail with El Buho they dubbed the Night Owl, with a ginger Jamaica mix (Jamaica is a type of Mexican fruit), and lime.
I’m not much of a beer drinker, but they do have Mexican beers like Negra Modelo, and local Brooklyn beer SixPoint.
All in all, as a purveyor of latin food in general, Calexico didn’t let me know. It was a pleasure to meet the owner and the general manager who were nothing but amazing, along with their service staff who were truly on point throughout the night. A HUGE thank you to Calexico along with Partida and El Buho for hosting us and a shout-​out to Peter D for putting this sweet event together. Hope to be back soon!

Calexico is a bordertown (Mex/​Cal) on the California siiiiide. it’s also where you can GET dope-​ass tacos, guac, and dranks in the Slope! BK not Yonce tho.
the dead of winter is upon us: so the chills, wind, slush, snow, sleet, etc. are the norm now. despite the the inclement weather and icy hills, i journeyed my way to this shining star in Brooklyn (in boots not Jayz)…and i was not disappointed by this fine eatery.
an outside vestibule is set up – traps the wind & cold air so it doesn’t polar vortex the rest of the bar and restaurant. not sure why people complain about having an extra set of doors to open. but whatevz. i like.
walked into a cozy waiting area. stocked with gift bags. got barcode scanned. name tagged. said whatssup to Ruggy. strolled right in. looking for my plus 1 who ended up running late. later in the story tho.
walked into the dining area. lowly lit, but not too dark. large handsome bar on the right, anchored the space. lots of backlit glowing booze bottles. range of draft taps. love the setup. behind me a bunch of comfy booth/​table setups. to the left a ton of tables (that would typically occupy the middle of the dining room) stood flush against the wall displaying a chips– and guacamole-​palooza for Unilocalers to feast on… opening up the space greatly for the flood of Unilocalers. a giant booth lay straight ahead with «HOLA» emblazoned and lit on the wall.
ordered a jalapeño mint margarita on the rec of Peter D. and Mitch E. what a spectacularly spicy drank. really bold – and subtle flavors – as well as a spicy bite in a glass. in love.
typically i’m always trying to get dat GUAP $$$, but today it’s all ’bout dat GUAC. perfectly seasoned avocado dip of the Gawds for crunchy not oily chips. definitely cheated on the margarita with this chip dip combo. in love with the guaCo Co… as the song doesn’t go.
plus 1 showed. YAY. after reviving my guest from the brutal cold climes. we dived into some of the tacos being passed by waitstaff. started off with the chipotle pork taco which was spicy a lil sweet… had nice crunch… and cradled in the softest of soft tacos skin. next up fish taco – perfect fried crunch. no greasy feel. crunchy good. creamy addictive (sauce was called CHIPOTLE «CRACK» sauce). blanketed again in a supple taco jacket. so gooooood and probably a dead-​tie with the mushroom quesadilla and CHIPOTLE «CRACK» dipping sauce. so good. so cheesey. so mushroomy in my belly!
went back to the bar because i needed booze to cut on that food avalanche. went for another cocktail: Night Owl. red. smoky. smooth. all i can say is wow. well played bartender well played.
Peter D. intro’ed us to the owners/bro’s of the place who are extremely kind, super friendly, answered a lot of q’s and were as hands on as their staff who were slinging drinks, cleaning up, and serving delish eats. good people. i like. the staff are some hardworking folks who deliver excellence with a grin.
speaking of good people. met a lot of new folks like Danny R.; Marlin/​Martin/​Marvin (not a fish or bad-​spelling wizard; or a comedian; or a Martian. i need to pay attention to people’s nametags more closely. sorry dude) his name is Harlan (but i am not changing any of my name mistaking); Adam S; Stephanie A (who i have been checkin bombing for months and was rocking that Carmen Sandiego lid, where in the world is she? she wuz here.); Stephanie J (aka Kelly Fauxland aka Molly Meatloaf); and Carolina (sp?). really chill folks at a hype Mexi spot. so much fun.
got to chat with Unilocal royalty Matteo R. as we got to bask in the post-​Patriots glory of that Super Bowl win. #InBradyWeTrust. sorry SeaChickens – yall are still the worst and deserved to lose. haha
there was a gift bag didn’t snag one – had t-​shirts etc in it. DID snag two Negra Modello glasses which were being given away. the staff kindly rinsed out the glasses after i knocked back two drafts of that dark brew. in fact, someone who i will not name (Kelly Fauxland) knocked over one of my glasses cuz she was throwing bowz (that’s a lie) and the staff here swept up the glass before you could blink an eye and found me another glass. so super cool. really above and beyond.
thank you to Peter D for orchestrating this madness.
props to Calexico for bringing that authentic Cal-​influenced Mexican food and drank as well as for welcoming us in from the cold.
dropz mic so i can two fist these Baja Fish tacos.
i out!
BUT will be back here with a group of amigos and amigas to dine, drank, and swagga!

As someone who has spent way too much time hosting events, I can truly say this was a great event.
The space is lovely, with a well-​lit bar and star shaped light fixtures. (For the event, the banquet seats remained but the café tables were set against a single wall, leaving the room very open.) The staff were incredibly enthusiastic and attentive. The music was fun and at a reasonable volume. And the drinks and food were free-​flowing. I actually had to say no to a couple of passes, as much as that truly pained me. All of the food I tasted was delicious. There was a station with green and red salsas, housemade chips, good guacamole, and spicy wings. Then there were passed items: perfectly crisp fish tacos, pork tacos, delicious black bean tacos, cheesy mushroom quesadillas, and rich steak quesadillas. All of which featured their signature chipotle «crack» sauce, a bright, spicy, mayonnaise sauce.
I tried the partido blanco tequila, which was very crisp and slightly sweet. I also tried the el buho («owl,» for the Anglos) mezcal, smokey, but very smooth, not as rough as some mezcals can be. (For non-​aficionados, agave for tequila is steamed, and agave for mezcal is roasted, giving it that distinctive smokey flavor.) Calexico has a solid, if limited, selection of fine tequilas.
Apparently, this is the second time the venue has hosted Unilocalers. The crowd was friendly and positive. The bathroom was tidy, with a sign on the door reminding us that: «By the time you’re done in here another 105 Unilocal Reviews will have been written.» Apparently Unilocal relies too much on the passive voice, but who cares when there’s free tequila?
Sadly, a few of us didn’t get grab bags at the end. I seriously love a free t-​shirt, so this was a bit disappointing. (I’ve already set a curse on anyone who took more than one or who took one that didn’t fit them.) Other than that, I had a blast. We did, however, get a nice negra modelo glass.
Huge thanks (and another high five) Peter D. And the staff.

How do you make Unilocalers happy? Give them awesome food and free swag. The Calexico Unilocal event definitely delivered on both.
I hadn’t been to a Unilocal event in a few months, and this one was delayed a week due to the «blizzard», so expectations were high.
The Calexico space was huge. The bartenders were slinging a ton of different drinks. And the wait staff was bringing out SO. MANY. TACOS.
The mahi mahi fish tacos were amazing. The carne tacos and the pork tacos were also great. The mushroom quesadillas were delicious with the spicy nuclear orange crack sauce. The wings were great, and the guac (which was NOT extra) was fresh and amazing. Sorry Pete, but I *may* have been a bit ravenous.
There was also mezcal courtesy of El Buho Mezcal, which was deliciously smokey. They were also raffling off a sweatshirt and a bottle. John Henry was a super cool guy, and I’ll definitely be buying a bottle next chance I get.
We were also surprised when Pete (who was looking particularly svelte) announced that the Negra Modelo chalices were free for us to take home.
There were also free gift bags with shirts. I grabbed a medium, but I’m pretty sure it’s a female medium. Good thing I have a girlish figure.
All in all, a wonderful event to kick off 2015 in Brooklyn!
Thanks to the Calexico staff, El Buho Mezcal, and the wonderful bartenders and wait staff!

First BK event evarr! Have I been missing out? Best bet your sweet @ss I’ve been. Thanks to newly anointed BK Unilocal-​tress extraordinaire Ms. Shai, I mustered enough resolve to brave the second ice storm of 2015 in order to make it down to this Brooklyn elite event at Calexico as her +1.
Energy levels: a slow pleasant burn; nothing short of something beautiful. As a guest to a
BK elite event, it was an unparalleled delight to see a familiar face in the form of NYC CM (Ruggy) greeting the incoming crowd into this (apparent) BK staple/​landmark of a Mexican joint.
If anyone knows me (an intellectual moderate liberal), my most definable characteristics would revolve around my criticisms towards the Vietnamese and Mexican food selection (or lack thereof… buh-​zing) in this metropolis of NYC. Haply, you can now (likely) nix the latter from that list of criticisms to NYC (to a variable degree… thanks Calexico for the revelation).
The fish stole the show, I could eat cheese, and smokey mezcal… sentiments/​ideas/​facts, respectively, that could be used to illustrate the kind of night which I, as well as many others, luckily/​thankfully experienced.
I mention fish… while the strongest of the tacos (and the rest of the food selection at that), the other offerings were delicious in their own right. I ate two things with cheese as a primary component (and enjoyed them); trust, this is a big deal (re: mushroom quesadilla and Baja bean taco).
Our bartendress was also on her game; though bombarded with drink requests for 2 hours straight, she always managed a smile… in addition to getting my drink orders (of 2 times plus drinks) spot on each time. Kudos. The jalapeño-​mint concoction of a margarita had a kick, while the mezcal heavy «Night Owl» («who’s watching the Watchmen?!?») was nothing short of a smokey trip to sleepy time. Well done, Calexico.
A tip of that hat to Peter (and the rest of the BK Unilocal community). An awesomely warm event (despite the below freezing temperature weirdness going on outside); definitely one for the history books. Cannot wait for what else BK Unilocal had to offer (if you’ll have me!)!