100 Years of Yelpitude at Macondo

Macondo was some of the best tapas and fun I’ve had! This a romantic and beautiful East Village/​LES location right on Houston. My favorites of the night had to be the duck arepa and the churros in the chocolate dipping sauce.
The Unilocal VIP table was a fun adventure and so was the long list of delicious drinks.
Thank you Jane and Unilocal team!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
This was a great time and a great event. I tip my hat for everyone that made this happen… You did a great job.
I met a lot of great people while eating yummy appetizers and sipping that white sangria. I also had one of their signature cocktails, guava and whiskey.
I think my food highlight was the churros with the hot coco, I think I had at least three of them.
I thought the night was a great success and can’t wait for the next one.

To open the year with the first NYC Unilocal Elite Class of 2012 which gratitude goes to NYC CMs: Jane, Jando, with Chicago CM Candice, together warmly greeted me with open hearts.
A quaint Latin cuisine in a rustic theme but upscale, yet it does not lessen their divine quality of fluid revelry concoctions and tapas to surely uphold solid substance. Always a pleasure to finally meet fellow Unilocalers after corresponding by compliments, fanning by following and via private messages.
The evening took by storm in plentiful tapas, tasty Sangrias of an exclusive private event for NYC Elites soirée of:
* Churro dipped in hot chocolate served fresh and hot from the kitchen
* Salmon Arepa holds solid definitive underwriting
* Duck Arepa warmed my heart to salve the broken
* Calamari
* Salmon Ceviche’s composition is well presented
Macondo’s Sangrias are very subtle without overpowering with fruit nor alcohol nor sweetness, which the white Sangria was my choice for the evening. Our exclusive event menu were printed on 100% post consumer recycled Kraft paper including Macondo’s business cards on recycled Kraft chipboard for a rustic appeal. I would surely return for a visit. Nethertheless, my mouth is thinking of more Churros, my quench is salved in hopes of Macondo’s white Sangria, but my smile radiantly glows to happily see fellow Unilocalers.

Perfectly-​sized venue, and well-​coordinated event thanks to Jane, Jando, and Candice. Our bartender was spot-​on, getting us where we needed to be, and quick[1]. Every member of the staff I dealt with was super chill — I’ll definitely be back for drinks (they had one with jalapeño peppers!) and food (duck and salmon arepas, oh yes).
Good crowd, glad the community managers know how to pack a house[2].
[1] Remind me not to do shots on Mondays. Tuesdays are OK.
[2] Finally met Elsie W. She’s muy, muy cuter in person, which shouldn’t even be possible.

The space is a very nice one… the wood has a good feel to it… the food was quite amazing…
My favorite was the mushroom coquettes with figs, almonds, and truffle mushroom aioli. I loved them and hopefully, they loved me.
The Colombian chorizo and shrimp in chili-​garlic-​tomato sauce over fufu and tostones was interesting. I didn’t give it the chance it deserved. However it was good.
The Calamares Crujientes which were crispy calamari in rocotto pepper-​honey aioli really stood out. It was very well done.
Both the Shrimp and Salmon Ceviches were great. I am biased but I LOVED THE SALMON CEVICHE. I wanted more and more. I am glad I only got one, because I would have been eating fish all night.
The Chicken Empanadas — were great.
I also got some Sangria, which was good. I learned that there is a sister restaurant around the corner that has lots of food from many countries.
The Churros were really good as well.
I also had a banana drink with Brazilian rum in it! That was pretty good.
I heard a rumor about watermelon sangria being served for brunch. It may have been for the sister restaurant, but it was well worth exploring.
The place was so hot you didn’t need a sweater!

What a perfect start to the Unilocal Elite Club of 2012 ! The setting was right and ambience was dead awesome. It was one of those intimate events which gives good opportunity to mingle with fellow Unilocal Elites and CM.
I was running little late for the event. As soon as I entered, I was welcomed by Jane K. My hometown girl Candice G. helped me and my friend Bobbi with our badges. I know everbody was raving about Candice’s hair, I love them too.
Now coming to the hospitality, the staff was über friendly and very courteous. The food and drinks were really awesome. The food kept on coming again and again. Sangria and Latin food was very tasty. The floor manager visited us on the table twice to make sure that we were doing fine.
Thanks to Emily for acknowledging my request for some pictures. Jando took some really nice shots of me and my friend.
Finally Cheers to Jane K and team (Emily, Candice and Jando) for giving such a good start to the Unilocal Elite squad of 2012.

Leave it to a Unilocal Elite event to knock me off my healthier eating habits as of late! I mean really, how can any diet withstand the devilish temptations that was thrown at us last night? Don’t you people realize I am trying to get into bikini shape for the summer!!! Or at least neon speedo shape. Oh well, what’s another hour on the treadmill tonight?
Walking in the door I saw the familiar cheery face of Jane K greeting everyone, and the flaming red haired vixen Candice G in from Chicago checking people in and handing out name tags. It was nice to mingle around and see some familiar faces, and also meet some new Unilocalers too. Good crowd tonight. Jando was on photo duty and taking all the snapshots of the festivities.
Macondo did offer up a delectable selections of tapas inspired delicacies last night, along with five different cocktails to wash them own with. Everything tasted great — where should I begin?
A La Lolita — mushroom coquettes with figs, almonds, and truffle mushroom aioli. Wow!
Chorishrimp — Colombian chorizo and shrimp in chili-​garlic-​tomato sauce over fufu and tostones. Loved this!
Calamares Crujientes — crispy calamari in rocotto pepper-​honey aioli. Nice!
Croqueta de jamon — Serrano ham croquettes in a horseradish-​panca pepper aioli. Yum!
Shrimp and Salmon Ceviche. Fresh and delicious!
Empanadas — Aji de Gallina (free-​range chicken), Txangurro (shrimp and crab meat) Bacalo (cod fish, rocotto pepper, tomato), and De Cordero (ground lamb). All good!
The bartenders here did a great job keeping us all sufficiently inebriated throughout the evening. They were fast and friendly whipping up glasses of Maracuya Vodka, Acai & Ron, Banana & Cachaca, Blanca Sangria, and Tinta Sangria cocktails. My favs of the evening were the Acai & Ron, and the Tinta Sangria. Yup, I surely had more than a few of those!
We were never left without food or drinks in our hands as the servers kept it coming fast and furious. There was just so much food here! All terrific. The owner and staff at Macondo were wonderful and really catered to any needs we had. They really took care of us.
Gotta thank Jane K and the rest of the Unilocal Staff for a kick ass start to 2012 with this first Elite event of the year!
Oh yeah, I have to mention that dessert was served as a close-​out to this chill event. All of a sudden servers were coming around with Churros con Chocalate which were served piping fresh, hot and crisp, along with a bowl of melted chocolate to dip them in.
And now, add ANOTHER hour on the treadmill tonight…

Well… goodness, Lara G. You set the bar high!
All I really have to say is THANK YOU, Jane K. for kicking off 2012 Unilocal Elite with style!
So much food, so many drinks… so many wonderful Elites!
The food was exceptional… and will certainly bring me and some friends back for more! I’m not sure the name of it, but the drink with Canton Ginger and Jalapeño peppers was FANTASTIC… just the right amount of kick and flavor.
Bravo, Unilocal team (including the CM from Chicago with her fabulous red hair) for kicking 2012 into high gear and making me want to get out there and Unilocal!