Life at Caleta 111 Revolves Around Limes and Tiger’s Milk

Feb 18, 2020 · 29 comments
MAGA (The Great Garden State)
Seems like the the place that closed in Flatiron district would have been a bit hit. Wonder why not?
North Carolina (North Carolina)
Ah, Peruvian ceviche. There are others. Mexicans have a ceviche but they mix tomatoes in theirs. Ceviche should be pure--puro--fish and limes, some aji, cilantro, onions, que mas? Nada. It is said that ceviche was invented in Peruvian coastal towns and cities when fishermen out at sea on the Pacific did not have enough food with them. They would prepare fresh fish from the ocean and "cook" them in limes they brought with them. Later, Peruvian ceviche tries to keep its fish dish from too many alterations. The sea, citrus, and some heat no more. Next time I am in NYC, this is a spot I want to visit--for the ceviche, the beer, and to talk with Chef Caballero.
shelley (Queens)
Finally!! The NYT's has discovered that Queens actually extends beyond Jackson Heights. Welcome to the authentic borough Mr. Wells.
Ann O. Dyne (Unglaciated Indiana)
No doubt it was a click-bait strategy, but for journalistic integrity, "Tiger's Milk" ought to have been in quotes. I was about to get on my "high horse".
Tammi (Maine)
Should Guy Fieri also have to put "Donkey Sauce" in quotes? Sweetbreads are neither sweet nor bread. No ladies are harmed in the making of ladyfingers. And let's not even get STARTED on Rocky Mountain Oysters. And, not to be that guy, but if you're going to nitpick punctuation you should make sure there are no errors in your post.
alex (Princeton nj)
Good stuff. I'll give you a topic."Sweetbreads are neither sweet nor bread." Discuss.
John OBrienj (NYC)
@Tammi Excellent!
Mary Fell Cheston (Whidbey Island)
Tiger's milk??? Seriously? Gee, that's just great. Exploit the completely endangered tiger by farming their milk. I am guessing it's like dairy cows, forced to produce milk and tossing off the calves, as of course there would be too many. Lovely.
Stephen Galat (Puerto Aventuras, Mexico)
@Mary Fell Cheston -- Actually, tigers are venerated, even lionized, in Perú and sustainable breeding programs ensure that the species thrives....alongwith an endless supply of Tiger's Milk, of course.
Wut (NY)
@Mary Fell Cheston Leche de tigre is a marinade that does not involve actual tigers...
Mark (Boston)
@Mary Fell Cheston A quick Google search reveals that the name of the marinade derives from the aphrodisiac effect it is believed to have on men and that actual tigers are not involved in creating leche de tigre.
Natalie (Alabama)
I see people frequently commenting that restaurants are too loud. Well, this restaurant has an official noise level rating of "low". I'm sure there will lots of readers heading out to Jamaica Ave to enjoy this one.
John Evans (Hackensack)
No pisco sour? There’s the best use of lime and nothing makes a Peruvian swell with pride than to affirm the drink was first concocted in Lima not Santiago. I bet it’s under the Hangover category PS Mr Wells you write the classiest reviews ever!
North Carolina (North Carolina)
@John Evans good on you for pointing this out as our Chilean friends like to try to usurp some of Peru's best inventions in gastronomy and mixology. Pisco Sour comes from Pisco Peru first and foremost and the drink was invented in Peru. If you are drinking a Pisco Sour it must come from Peru--all others are imitators and poor ones at that!
American2020 (USA)
Go have dinner and then take your antibiotics when you get home. Lol.
Marty H (Florida)
@American2020 Lived in Lima for several months and never needed antibiotics in spite of eating native cuisine most of my days there!
BarVincent (Los Angeles)
What are those hats and where can I buy one?
Tuvw Xyz (Evanston, Illinois)
@ BarVincent Los Angeles & @ David H. Iowa Google your Panama hat. You will find a great variety from two- to three-figure dollar prices.
David H. (Iowa)
I want to buy his hat. anyone able to tell me make and model?
Maurice S. Thompson (West Bloomfield, MI)
This all looks fabulous. Great article.
Tuvw Xyz (Evanston, Illinois)
Great! But specifically what fish and/or other seafood go into this ceviche? US Food and Drug Administration established in 2009 five microbially-transmitted deseases associated with ceviche. For some inexplicable reasons, I trust raw fish only in Japanese cuisine.
Steven M. (New York, NY)
@Tuvw Xyz From the article: "There is also an everything ceviche, into which Mr. Caballero will toss the whole fish market: clams, mussels, octopus, squid, shrimp and corvina." And ceviche isn't raw, no more than lox or ham is raw. The acid in the lime juice cures (or cooks) the seafood. Heat is not the only way to cook food.
Tuvw Xyz (Evanston, Illinois)
@ Steven M. New York, NY Thank you for the correction, I must have overlooked the list of the ingredients. Gorgeous!
dc (Earth)
@Steven M. FYI. A "shorter soak" in marinade, as opposed to cooking at an adequately high temperature, is no certainty that all microbes are destroyed.
Marie (Luxembourg)
The food looks good. But beer served in (disposable) plastic cups, water in plastic bottles poured into more plastic would not encourage me to visit.
SParker (Brooklyn)
@Marie If that were not the case, would you make the trip from Luxembourg to visit a restaurant under the J train line?
Marie (Luxembourg)
@SParker That’s why I say „would“. But who knows, once I get a better exchange rate USD/EUR (and maybe another POTUS) I will be happy to vacation in the US again.
North Carolina (North Carolina)
@Marie great. More ceviche for us!
Anon (Miami)
I've never seen photos of ceviche and thought "I wanna eat that!" Until now! Every one of those dishes looks absolutely delicious.