Students Flock to Mexicali
All Photos by Ben Horney
Rain, Snow or Shine, College Town Burrito Joint Thrives
Mexicali Blue Storefront. The unique name is inspired by a Grateful Dead song.
“Mexicali is one of the first places I By Ben Horney ate at freshman year,” says Junior Michael queezed in between Ricci’s Barber Ouimet, who waits at one of the stools that Shop and Manny’s Art Supply, just line the two counters. “It’s literally the across the way from Starbucks Coffee on Main Street in the town of New Paltz thing that stood out to me about New Paltz.” Mexicali has expanded its menu since sits Mexicali Blue, a tiny burrito joint. The its grand opening, in December 2003. What building is painted a sharp, piercing sky started out as a simple blue; on a sign protrudsteak, chicken and fish ing from the door hangs burrito and taco haven a picture of the mascot, now offers pork, chili a smiling skeleton donand shrimp, as well as ning a sombrero, holding various quesadillas, and out a fish taco. Today, plenty of sides, ranging just days after a bitfrom salads to salsa and ter blizzard struck this —Michael Ouimet chips. “This is where college town, Mexicali I come when I need a Blue should seem out pick-me-up,” laughs juof place. Cars are entrenched into their nior John Mingione, as he hungrily awaits a parking spots, crunched in by almost a foot chicken burrito. of snow, and passersby are clad in large It’s half the size of Ricci’s Barber winter coats, gloves and hats in an attempt Shop, which is one fourth the size of Manto escape the harsh winter air; and yet, ny’s Art Supply, but Mexicali still manages 12 hungry students are crammed into the to do business, and prosper. “We offer well ridiculously small Mexicali Blue.
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“It’s literally the thing that stood out to me about New Paltz.”
Top Left to Bottom Right Two customers sit in the window seats, awaiting burritos, the decrotive menu counter and bottles of hot sauce, a worker chopping up beef, homemade hot sauces on the counter, a student waits for his meal, workers palling around in the kitchen.
priced, healthy and natural food,” says at the place. We were so busy and didn’t get to go, but one of the last things they owner Sal Nicolosi. “It’s all based on the said to me was that I had to go there,” he Californian mindset. We prepare fresh, says. “I pointed out that they had no idea healthy and delicious food quickly.” It’s whether it was good one of two Mexican but they stood their style burrito places ground, and I’m glad on Main Street; the other is Taco Shack, —John Miller, on his they did,” he continues. which sits up the first taste of Mexicali Blue Another staple hill, next to K&E of the shop is the Beverage Center. variety of hot sauces “Even though we are two similar places, our styles differ greatly. offered. They have Frank’s Hot Sauce in packets, or you can choose from a number We have tried to make Mexicali a Southern of different flavored, homemade sauces, Californian restaurant 3,000 miles away in such as blueberry, lime or garlic. “I tried upstate New York,” he says. The name Mexicali Blue is taken from the lime sauce before I tried a burrito,” says John Miller, a Grateful Dead a senior at Stony song of the same Brook. “My title. The skelefriend had a little ton logo plays off of it leftover at that same theme. his apartment New Paltz, of and I used it on course, is a small tacos we made town with a rich ourselves for history of loving dinner. I fell in jam bands. In love.” There are fact a new store tiny tins that you up Main Street can fill up with has the Grateful whatever sauce Dead bear as its you desire and logo. “We wantbring home. ed to play off The little shop’s the nature of the brush with fame A student orders a burrito at the counter of Mexicali. town,” Nicolosi came recently, says. It seems to when Anthony work. Bourdain, acclaimed chef Sophomore Eli Herband host of the Travel Chanst, who has just finished nel’s Anthony Bourdain: No chowing down on a catfish Reservations, stopped by burrito, explains how his Mexicali Blue while filming parents suggested Mexicali a segment for his show in Blue based off the name the Hudson Valley. “That and logo, having never eatwas great,” says Nicolosi en there themselves. “At “He came by, we chatted, freshman orientation they Chicken Burrito, a few bites in. he had a catfish burrito. I were so excited just looking certainly think he enjoyed
“I Fell in Love.”
it.” The whole encounter was filmed, but Mexicali was ultimately not featured. It may be on the next Hudson Valley episode of the show. The food is cooked to order right in front of you, on two grills that sit just behind the counter. Mexicali Blue does not accept credit cards, they accept cash and Hawk Dollars. “We don’t have
the machine,” Nicolosi says. “It’s that simple. We’re a small business there’s no need to go buy a credit card machine.” Burritos are around $10.00, while tacos fall to $5.00.
Mexicali Appetizers, Veggie, Burrito and Taco Selections ~~
Cheese
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Grilled Chicken
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Grilled Steak
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Grilled Shrimp
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Cumin Delight
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Tuna
~~ Fresh Cole Slaw
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Catfish
~~ Vegetable Rice
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Salmon
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Pork
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Steak & Shrimp
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Grilled Pork & Pineapple
~~ Guacamole & Chips ~~ Fresh Salsa & Chips ~~ Black Bean Soup ~~ Guiness & Steak Chili ~~ Southwestern Potato Salad