Casa Vega Guacamole – the Dish No Celebrity Can Resist

Guacamole has enjoyed a resurgence of late. Long gone are the days of a bland, tasteless green puree only palatable when scooped up by an overly salty tortilla chip. Gone, too, is the era where the only acceptable time to eat guacamole is in front of the TV watching football, or scooped to the side of your favorite Mexican dish. Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks, California has perfected guacamole to the point where celebrities all over Hollywood just can’t stop eating the dish and sharing with their friends.

If you stop into Casa Vega on a typical weekend night, you might just see Jennifer Aniston or Mariah Carey indulging in their favorite side dish. To be sure, the spot draws the most famous of Hollywood talent, many of whom make sure that their dishes include a healthy dollop of guacamole. But what makes Casa Vega’s guacamole so special?

Aside from its celebrity fans, Casa Vega’s guacamole deserves recognition for its smooth, creamy texture and unbeatable flavor. For those more interested in a chunky guacamole, Casa Vega offers that, too. Either way, who knows – the next time you visit Casa Vega for your guacamole needs, you might just spot a star.

Casa Vega Knocks the Traditional Bloody Mary Out of the Park

In the foodie world, garnishes are often taken with a grain of salt – that is to say, many foodies believe that if it’s on the plate or in the glass, you should be able to eat or drink it. Gone are the days of the limp leaf of lettuce, the shriveled parsley, and the faded wheel of lemon. Nowadays, if you want to garnish a plate or cocktail, you better be able to eat it. Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks understands the concept better than most.

A traditional Mexican restaurant serving family Mexican fare for over 60 years, Casa Vega once served the Old Hollywood Elite, like Cary Grant and Marlon Brando. Now, the establishment hosts celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Selena Gomez almost daily. As times have changed, so has the restaurant’s approach to how dishes are plated.

Perhaps the best example is that of Casa Vega’s micheladas and bloody marys. Traditionally a mixture of beer or vodka, seasonings, and tomato juice, Casa Vega takes the process one step higher and garnishes its bloody marys with an actual tiny taco on National Taco Day. No worries about useless garnishes here – Casa Vega’s tiny tacos are an example to be followed in the culinary world.

Grandmother Vega’s Tamales – Casa Vega’s Heritage Dish

Most family owned restaurants draw inspiration from the older generations of family members, particularly using the recipes and techniques of those that have gone before them to influence their current food. Casa Vega is no different, and features many dishes founder Rafael Vega grew up eating at his mother and grandmother’s tables. Perhaps the most beloved family recipe is that of grandmother Vega’s tamales.

The tamale, a Mexican dish featuring a cheese or meat filling, wrapped in decadent masa and sheathed in a corn husk, is the subject of much friendly discussion and debate. The proper way to cook the filling, the ideal way to spread the masa, the best way to wrap the husk – all are techniques and traditions passed down between family members. Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks continues to serve tamales just the way grandmother Vega would have served them – which is, arguably, the best way.

Utilizing sweet corn tortillas, strips of real cheddar cheese, Anaheim peppers, and a whole lot of love and care, Casa Vega’s tamales are prepared by hand as instructed by current owner and Vega family member Christy Vega. Top yours with crema, more cheese, or eat the way they were prepared for the ultimate Mexican family traditional dish.

Casa Vega – LA’s Best Spot For Cinco de Mayo

LA residents and visitors alike know that Southern California is one of the best spots in the country to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. With its Mexican-American scene, multicultural flair, and rich history, LA provides one of the best of Southern California’s choices for Cinco de Mayo fun. Casa Vega in the San Fernando Valley provides the old-school Hollywood charm and authentic Mexican atmosphere that makes it the perfect spot to spend Cinco de Mayo this year.

Although many Americans mistakenly believe that Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican Independence Day – that’s actually on September 16th – Casa Vega is one of the rare establishments that get it right. Cinco de Mayo is essentially a way to remember Mexico’s victory over the French army in the Battle of Puebla. As such, Casa Vega truly celebrates the unexpected victory of the underdog with the true joy and passion only a long-surviving family establishment can.

Stop in to Casa Vega this year for its classic combo plates, popular with the area’s oldest and most well-known families as well as Hollywood’s elite. As always, Casa Vega’s full list of creative Mexican cocktails and fine Mexican wine will be sure to make your Cinco de Mayo worth remembering.

Casa Vega’s Penchant for Fine Mexican Wine

Many Mexican restaurants are known for fun drinks such as margaritas, pina coladas, and daiquiris. Others become famous for an enhanced selection of Mexican beers, guaranteed to delight the taste buds of LA’s craft beer drinkers. However, LA’s own Casa Vega not only excels in both of these areas, providing an extensive line of cocktails and a broad selection of Mexican beers, but it has also begun to provide the area’s first, exclusive access to fine, Mexican wine.

Wine enthusiasts are familiar with wines from the Sonoma and Napa areas of California wine country. However, many wine lovers have much less experience with Mexican wine, particularly from the Valle de Guadalupe region of Baja – Mexico’s own Napa Valley. Casa Vega aims to change that.

Currently, customs regulations prevent wine enthusiasts from bringing more than one liter of wine into California. As such, Casa Vega remains one of the only restaurants in the city where you can fulfill your curiosity about these wonderful, Mexican wines. You can enjoy varieties such as Discreto Encanto Blanco, Jardin Romantico, Discreto Encanto, Tinto de La Hacienda, and Cursi. You’ll find Casa Vega a place to indulge in great Mexican food as well as these unique Mexican wines.