Dining Around: Take a culinary vacation without leaving home at High Desert Farmers Market
If you love to travel but cannot get away, consider this option: You can experience a culinary world tour at the High Desert Farmers Market Thursday mornings, sampling ethnic foods ─ many with imaginative and delicious twists ─ that will make you feel like you actually left town.
It is simple: Start by tasting cuisines from nearby countries expertly prepared by people who have enjoyed the dishes from childhood.
Here are three Latin food and drink vendors whose traditional dishes feature distinct variations. Each business is family owned. The camaraderie within their vendor spaces is evident right away.
Aguas Veganas Y Antojitos Mexicanos
If you are “vegan” but have not yet tried plant-based protein dishes from south-of-the-border, visit the Morales family’s Aguas Veganas.
Their full name, “Vegan waters and Mexican snacks,” conjures up vegan subs, asada fries, tacos and more. “Meatless” choices include asada, chorizo and birria textures and flavors .
Try a Soyrizo Burrito or the popular “crunch wrap.” Other items are Single Tacos, Super Nachos, a Quesabirria with mozzarella cheese, and Tortas. Combo meals and plates are available.
This is their second year at the HDFM. They “stay local” but participate in the Inland Empire’s Vegan Sundays in San Bernardino twice a month. (Information is on Instagram @ievegansundays or Facebook).
Soy, flax seeds, pinto beans, nuts, and green peas are some of the plant protein sources that, when artfully teamed with vegan cheese and cashew cream, create healthy dishes that have vegan fans coming back for more.
“We do catering,” their card says. Call 760-239-1168 or 760-995-6105.
SOLe Pupuseria, Traditional Food
One of our personal favorites in traditional Latin American cuisine is the pupusa, a Salvadoran “stuffed tortilla” or corn “pancake” containing savory fillings like beans, cheese, meat or a combination.
The 10 pupusa combinations on SOLe Pupuseria’s menu board include Revueltas ─ bean, cheese and pork or just chicken; potato and cheese, garlic and cheese, and Loroco, named for the flower buds with a distinct flavor that may very well become your new favorite.
You can also custom an order with up to three flavors.
There’s more. Curtido is a pickled cabbage “relish” served atop the pupusa, adding what we think is a delightful texture to the dish.
Delmy Martinez is CEO and chef of SOLe Pupuseria. Husband Gian oversees Customer Service, and daughter Sofia Molina wears many hats ─ greeting customers, explaining the various menu items and assisting as needed.
Their colorful trailer, the “pupuseria,” is found Saturdays at the Hesperia Farmers Market as well as Towns End in Apple Valley now and then.
They also offer shaved ice, and you can order a combo of two pupusas and one drink for $12. Try their horchata, too. It gets rave reviews.
SOLe Pupuseria caters and supports special events. They are on Facebook and Instagram. Their phone number is 760-991-7281.
Tequilas Raspados
This vendor serves shaved ice treats named after the hometown of the person responsible the product they sell. A young girl named Laura grew up in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. She made and served these delicious drinks using her family’s recipes.
Today, Laura, her husband Antonio Avila and their daughter Maria are making a name for themselves at the HDFM using those same family recipes with perfectly shaved ice and syrups made from expertly pulverized fruits and berries, nuts, and other unique flavors like vanilla, and bubble gum. (That is not a typo).
Maria says their most popular flavor is Coconut and Pecan Shaved ice.
When the weather turns cold, the Avilas serve atole, a hot beverage that comes in several flavors including champurrado and coco. These beverages contain no caffeine.
Another treat also available is Mexican corn in a cup ─ esquites ─ with mayonnaise, cheese and chili powder.
Tequilas Raspados has been a fixture at the Victorville Market for about a year. The Avilas also support the La Puente Farmers Market and the Junior Foundation and Vendor Swap Meet in San Bernardino Saturday and Sunday evenings.
They are available for all kinds of events like soccer games. Find them on Facebook under “tequilasraspaderias” and on Instagram. Call them at 626-665-4159 or 626-825-6964.
When you go
High Desert Farmers Market, 18244 Bear Valley Road, VVC lower campus. 760-247-3769, contact@highdesertfarmersmarket.com. Every Thursday rain or shine from 8 a.m. to Noon
Dining Around
If you would like your restaurant profiled in Dining Around or want to tell readers about your favorite eatery, please contact Kathy Young by text/voicemail at 760-953-8682 or email kaynhuey@aol.com.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Take a culinary vacation without leaving home at High Desert Farmers Market
