Hangovers and the Healing Powers of Cabo Breakfasts
One of the great things about exploring the nightlife scene in Cabo San Lucas—which often includes a disproportionate tequila to common sense ratio—is knowing the morning after won’t be that bad. Mexican cuisine features a lot of hangover cures. In fact, virtually every traditional dish has been trumpeted as a cabeza calmer at one time or another. Perhaps it’s the spiciness, the unending parade of hot sauces—fiery salsas, flaming jalapeños, volcanic chile peppers—that encourage your body to sweat out last night’s bad decisions. Or perhaps it’s simply the fact that you’re eating breakfast at two in the afternoon, and the worst is already over.
I don’t expect a Nobel Peace Prize or anything (although it would be nice), but I have done a lot of research on this matter, and I’ve come to some pretty solid conclusions. There are some Mexican dishes that will unerringly slay the most savage hangover: Chilaquiles, aguachile, menudo, and pozole verde are all consistent “consequences” killers.
Looking for a surefire hangover cure? Try a plate of Chilaquiles Verdes.
If you don’t mind a little hair of the dog, I can also recommend a couple of breakfast pairings. These dishes and drinks are wonderful singly, but when mixed possess magical healing properties. Many of my Mexican friends recommend aguachile—a spicy seafood dish with shrimp, onion, cucumber, pepper, and lime juice—with a michelada. In my humble opinion, aguachile and Bloody Marys were made for each other. They’re the perfect couple. My football Sundays during the fall begin with a celery-garnished drink order and a call to Mariscos El Torito (624-144-4682) for an aguachile delivery.
El Torito is a bit off-the-beaten tourist track (1530 Janet Wilson), but it is well worth a visit. Those that believe spiciness alone kills hangovers should ask to sample the bottle of Da Bomb: Beyond Insanity. This little monster rates 120,000 on the Scoville scale, and a few drops on the head of a toothpick should be enough to scare your hangover away. More sensible sorts, however, should stick to the seafood offerings. El Torito is one of the top stops for family dinners, and features a variety of traditional dishes made from fresh local seafood. For morning after purposes, stick with the Aguachile.
Speaking of local favorites, Lolita’s Restaurant (624-143-1026) has been killing Choyero hangovers for over 40 years. Their chilaquiles are perhaps the best in town, particularly the chilaquiles verdes. The green sauce isn’t meant for timid souls, but if you can handle the heat, you’ll be feeling better in no time. Lolita’s Menudo is also a surefire hangover cure, and the Baja California Sur version of this Mexican classic is made with beef belly and heel cooked in their own juices with onion, cilantro, and serrano chile peppers, and served in an aromatic white broth. Don’t be afraid of menudo, gringos. It’s delicious, and it will certainly kill your hangover. However, if you’ve already been a little more adventurous than you thought prudent, I’ll be happy to recommend an more conservative, international approach.
Don’t worry. Lolita’s colorful mural may initially exacerbate your hangover, but their delicious Menudo will ultimately soothe the tequila-addled soul.
Baja Peppers at the Hotel Mar de Cortez (624-105-0339) is beloved by locals for its tasty, not to mention affordable, morning meals. Huevos rancheros or chilaquiles are your traditional Mexican breakfast options at Baja Peppers, but there are days when nothing will smooth out the turbulent waters of the soul but eggs Benedict and a mimosa. That’s another perfect pairing, and one which gratifies my sense of Cabo San Lucas as a cosmopolitan destination. Mix English muffins, Canadian ham, and Mexican orange juice and sparkling wine from the Valle de Guadalupe, and you’ve got the makings of a great American breakfast, and another perfect day in paradise.
As I’m writing this on a “morning after,” I must now take my own advice.
¡Saludos!