EDL Taste Test: Craft Gourmet Got Tacos!
NOSA: In the last week or so, Craft Gourmet has done some major work on their menu. A lot of new additions and none more noticeable than the tacos. Putting tacos on your menu is like a bat signal for me because I love the hell out of some tacos.
NOSA: I really wanted the goat tacos, but those weren’t available so we had to settle for the chicken and the fish.
FOLLY: Same here, especially since it was pulled goat as opposed to slices or cubes.
PRICE
NOSA: The Tacos are in the 3500 - 6000 range. The ones we got, in particular, were N4200 for the chicken and N5500 for the fish.
FOLLY: Which to me is a bit expensive - Crossroads level expensive. Before Crossroads lost their marbles and damn near tripled the cost of everything on their menu, it used to be N2800 for their fish tacos. Bottle's "3 Amigos" is also in that N3000- N3200 range currently.
SIZE
NOSA: The other day, I saw a food person on Instagram make “tacos” with pita bread. Don’t think I’ve been that scandalized in my entire life. So it was a bit of a relief when Craft Gourmet offered actual tortillas. If you’re going to offer “authentic” tacos, the least you can do is to not stray from the core essence of a taco.
Anyway, that's for another day.
Compared to other tacos in Lagos restaurants, the Craft Gourmet tacos are bigger than anything you’ll find.
FOLLY: Most people do three, but Craft's is duo of tacos and considering how big each one is, I think that's fair.
NOSA: Just look at it, it’s a quarter to a burrito.
TASTE - Fish Tacos
NOSA: There aren’t any rules to it, but I’d have loved it if the fish was battered and fried. Again, there’s not “right way”. This is just personal preference
NOSA: The fish tacos could have done with some flavor. Everything felt so bland. Maybe it’s my inner Nigerian talking, but some spice would’ve taken this a long way.
FOLLY: First, what I liked: It was remarkable was how fresh all the veggie ingredients in the tacos (and teh pico de gallo) were. Everything was crunchy and the lime in the cream added a much welcome tang to the entire thing.
Now, just like Nosa I also felt the actual fish was missing something. I scooped some of the "mashed avocados" from the chicken tacos on to this and it tasted a lot better. The owner of Craft Gourmet said she feels she may switch these up a bit, and I agree, cause the fish tacos need an extra ooomph.
TASTE - Chicken Tacos
NOSA: The chicken tacos were as solid as it gets. No frills here. Like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. Does a job and keeps it moving. Also like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible, it’s boring as shit. Like an empty soul, the chicken is devoid of a personality.
FOLLY: I fully disagree with Nosa on the chicken tacos and I thought the chicken tasted pretty good and the "mashed avocados" gave it something that the fish was lacking.
NOSA: And what on earth was going on with the guacamole? It tasted like mashed avocados and not actual guacamole.
FOLLY: That's because it was "mashed avocados" fam and not guacamole, the menu was pretty explicit.
NOSA: They weren't very good.
VERDICT
NOSA: Both tacos were well made, but they feel like they’re missing something. A little something to tie them in. Maybe some sour cream or some cheese. I have no idea, but it just tasted incomplete.
FOLLY: La Taverna chef said the other day that he toasts the tortillas before making his tacos, I think that could also be something here.
NOSA: Both tasted like something a chef with no Tex Mex experience made. Instructions followed to the T, but nothing exciting. Think Jamie Oliver and his take on Nigerian jollof. Or Gary Neville as a right back. Despite its flaws, you might not find a better taco in Lagos, which is ultimately a big shame.