La Mina Cantina
La Mina Cantina
By: Dining Divas
For the new group of Dining Divas, there was no better place to kick off the first gathering than at La Mina Cantina in northeast Bakersfield.
This place offered the right kind of food, drinks and atmosphere, particularly so that one new Diva could get to know her newfound friends.
First meeting, first impression
Katie: For me, it was sort of like going on a blind date — with four dates. I was the only one of the five Dining Divas who didn’t know anyone in the group. And I didn’t realize that until I arrived at La Mina in northeast Bakersfield (at Auburn and Oswell Street). However, since I’m not shy in the least, I wasted no time warming up to the other ladies, and I managed to eat myself to oblivion just fine. When we first sat down, I was praying they would serve us shrimp. And my prayers were answered! As you’ll soon find out, there was shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp! And it wasn’t just your run-of-the-mill shrimp either. It was both unique and delicious.
The other dishes were yummy as well, but the shrimp was the definite hit of the night. That, along with the three charming owners — Art, Alex and Omar Ruiz. Let me tell you, Manny, Moe and Jack have nothing on these three. They have combined their unique talents (Art is the money man, Alex the food guy and Omar the drink guru). Together, they came up with a thriving restaurant (actually, there are five locations in Bakersfield) that is both comfortable and classy. We’d like to thank them for making our night so enjoyable!
The night began with a sampling of some of La Mina’s famous signature drinks. They were all fabulous!
Amanda on the 50/50: This seemed like dessert because it was so yummy! It was comprised of whipped cream vodka, OJ, Triple Sec and a splash of liqueur. The combination made for a frothy, sweet concoction that I enjoyed very much.
Katie on the Cucumber Bloody Mary and pomegranate margarita: My first drink was the cucumber bloody Mary, and it was to die for! It was mildly spicy with cucumber vodka, Clamato juice, A-1 steak sauce, salt, pepper and, of course, a slice of cucumber (instead of celery), along with green olives and a salted rim. It was shaken and served on the rocks. All of the Divas had to try it and agreed it was amazing! The pomegranate margarita was made with infused pomegranate mix, triple sec and salt on the rim. It was a refreshing twist on an old favorite. I was sort of disappointed when all the Divas wanted to try it because that meant less for me.
Lisa on the sexy alligator: Who couldn't love a drink with this creative of a name? It was a vodka drink made with Midori, Malibu and OJ. I found it to be sweet.
Molly on the orange margarita: Wow! This was a very good drink! It combined Cazadores tequila, sweet and sour mix, triple sec and a splash of orange juice shaken over ice. It was very simple and, yet it definitely complemented the food that followed.
Onto the appetizer
Tammara on the triple shrimp appetizer: This was by far the best part of the evening’s food selections. If you like shrimp, you will definitely want to give this a try! The sampler included four large coconut shrimp with a tasty chipotle ranch dipping sauce. It was so good. There were also four large bacon-wrapped shrimp with a sweet chili dipping sauce.
When I see the words chili or chipotle, I am likely to run the other way because I automatically think it will be too hot for me. However, I took a chance and was pleasantly surprised. These two choices were just right on flavor and kick. The final part of this trio sampler was the most amazing shrimp nachos with cheese, crispy homemade chips and a rich white cream sauce like an Alfredo sauce with a twist. This is definitely a “meal” I would order again and again.
Dive into the main course
Lisa on the shrimp mignon: This was a hands-down favorite of the entire group! It was a wheel of shrimp wrapped in bacon served in a dijon mustard and garlic sauce and served with Yucatan rice. This dish was so tender and juicy that we kept pulling the plate towards us to get another bite!
Molly on the tacos patron (otherwise known as premium steak tacos): I happen to love tacos, so this was the perfect dish for me. It came with two corn tortillas filled with New York steak cut into bite-sized pieces and seasoned with lemon, garlic and salt. To top off the meaty goodness was a flavorful pico de gallo salsa and avocado slices. The tacos were also served with another of my faves — cheesy refried beans and rice. As a dedicated taco aficionado, I can promise that the tacos patron will not disappoint.
Katie on the camarones al mojo de ajo: This was a Mexican-style shrimp scampi, and it was as good as any of the best I’ve ever had (and believe me, I’ve had a lot). The shrimp was served in an inch-deep dish and was sauteed in butter, garlic, salt and cilantro. I’m no Julia Child, but I think it was the cilantro that made this so good. On the side there were black beans (very tasty), a green salad and Yucatan rice. The worst thing about this dish was that it was served toward the end of the sequence, so I couldn’t eat as much of it as I would have liked.
Amanda on the vista del mar (translation: View of the ocean): Although this wasn’t something I would typically order, I was pleasantly surprised by this sumptuous seafood offering. It had just the right touch of butter, garlic and white cream sauce, complemented by shrimp, halibut steak and crab. It was rich, but not so much so that I didn’t enjoy all the flavors. Grilled bell peppers rounded out the mixture, giving me a sense I was eating on the healthy side.
Amanda on chicken tiritas: Another dish that was a must-try was chicken tiritas — fajitas with a twist. It consisted of chicken strips with sauteed squash, zucchini, mushrooms and fresh tomatoes. It included Mexican rice, refried beans, fresh guacamole and sour cream. Flour and/or corn tortillas served on the side.
For dessert, we sampled the cheesecake chimichanga and the deep-fried ice cream. Both were tasty treats, but the cheesecake was especially decadent. As Lisa put it, “OMG! It was wonderful and divine!”
We should also mention that halfway through our meal, our gracious hosts served us the most scrumptious sangria. It was not too strong, yet had just enough punch to make it memorable. It went well with all of the dishes and added an interesting flare.
All of the Divas decided this would be their perfect meal at La Mina: a cucumber Bloody Mary, the shrimp platter appetizer (with an emphasis on the shrimp nachos), the shrimp mignon and the cheesecake chimichanga for dessert. And if we could have the three Ruiz brothers as our waiters — the night would be more than perfect!
The new Dining Divas
Molly Clark has been married for 10 years and has a 7-year-old son. She works commercial real estate developer Wilson Investments. Molly enjoys riding her bike, walking her standard poodle (“The Dude”) and spending time with her family and friends. She loves to cook, but also loves eating out! She assumes this is why she was asked to be a Dining Diva.
Amanda Meszaros is a teacher at Stockdale Elementary School, a wife and mom of two. She was born and raised in Bakersfield and claims to be a Bakersfield restaurant junkie. She’s an avid runner who hits the pavement nearly daily so she can eat and enjoy some of Bakersfield’s best foods without guilt.
Lisa Verdugo has been married for 12 years and has three wonderful children. She has been a hairstylist for 13 years and currently works at Essentiels where she is a network educator for the product Bumble and Bumble. She enjoys working out and loves to hang out with friends and to travel.
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Copyright 2012 The Bakersfield Californian