Centro’s meal kits brings home Mexican restaurant’s classics | Review
For the first few months of the pandemic, exploring delivery and curbside takeout options close to home provided all the variety I could ask for. As time goes by, though, I find myself pining for food from restaurants outside my delivery zone, some of them requiring the better part of an hour for a round-trip takeout run.
I have made that drive a few times, and the results have been rewarding, by and large. That said, by the time I get home, food that’s meant to be hot and/or crispy has — through no fault of the restaurant — inevitably suffered on both counts.
A growing number of restaurants are addressing this problem with ready-to-heat meal kits. Recently, I was pleased to discover that one of my favorites, Centro, a Mexican restaurant in downtown Raleigh, has done just that.
Centro’s current offering includes three “Take & Bake” meal kits. I’ve already tried two of them.
The Taco Kit comes with eight corn tortillas and your choice of filling: cochinita pibil (sour orange-marinated, slow-cooked pork shoulder), or Centro’s “Infamous Steak” version of carne asada (which I got, as I’m already a big fan), plus cilantro and onion to to dress your tacos taqueria style.
Our order also came with shredded cheese and pico de gallo, though the online menu doesn’t mention these last two. Sides of cilantro rice and Centro’s distinctive creamy-smooth black bean take on refried black beans round out an ample meal for two for $20.
Fresh ingredients, each in its own tub, plus clear and easy instructions for preparation, make this one a no-brainer, even if you live within walking distance of the restaurant.
Two weeks later, I was online again, ordering the Enchilada Platter. You get 12 pre-rolled enchiladas (four of each: chicken, bean and steak), with a different sauce for each. Bake them up per the included instructions, and top them with the sauces — tomatillo for the chicken, Mexican crema for the bean, and chipotle salsa for the beef — and you’ve got a tri-color presentation that sometimes goes by the name of Mexican flag enchiladas.
Served with cilantro rice, the enchilada platter is a feast for four people (or in my two-person household, two meals for two) for $40 — another bargain.
I haven’t yet tried the Chilaquiles Kit for 2, Centro’s DIY version of a popular dish featuring grilled chicken, corn chips and tomatillo crema, with pickled red onions and cilantro to garnish. It’s next on my list.
Then I’ll go for an encore presentation of the Taco Kit. Next time around, I’ll try the cochinita pibil. I’ll add the Chip-N-Dip Party (salsa, guacamole and queso, with warm yellow corn tortilla chips) to my order.
What the heck? Let’s throw in an order of Centro’s margarita mix and make it a Cinco de Mayo party for two.
And as long as I’m pretending, there’s nothing stopping me from making it May 5, 2021.
Centro
106 S. Wilmington St, Raleigh
919-835-3593 or centroraleigh.com
Takeout Tales
Send me your experiences with restaurant delivery and curbside pickup at ggcox55@gmail.com. I’ll publish as many as I can (edited as needed for brevity and clarity) in this space.
Bloomsbury Bistro
Elissa B. sings the praises of Bloomsbury Bistro’s family style meals and picnic feasts.
“I have always enjoyed Bloomsbury Bistro and now love their take-out menu. We try to get their take-out at least every two or three weeks. The food is amazing, and we get the family meals, so we have leftovers for two more days.
“Their recent menu change has an amazing paella Valencia with North Carolina Shrimp, chorizo and chicken over saffron rice, plus green beans and two other sides. It was so good, and we were able to share it with friends and still had leftovers. They also have a family chicken option with two herb-roasted organic chickens and three sides, which we often get.
“But my new favorite is their Cold Summer Picnic Feast that is advertised as feeding at least six for $85. It fed a birthday bash with five people, plus we enjoyed the leftovers for two days. The 2-1/2 pound cold shrimp picnic went fast, and we also loved the 2-1/2 pounds of pecan tarragon chicken salad, cucumber-pea-bean salad, potato salad with bacon and dill and cold pasta salad with feta and greek olive pesto. The dessert was fresh made Pomegranate sorbet.
“I live in Cary and am happy to make the 20-minute drive to Five Points to get quality, healthy food with amazing flavor. I encourage you to try them.
Manchester’s Grill
Robert K. is a big fan of the signature thin crust pizza at Manchester’s Grill in North Raleigh.
“I’ve been getting takeout from Manchester’s in North Raleigh at least twice a week during the quarantine. Their process is quick and efficient at reasonable prices. I love their thin crust Mediterranean pizza, chicken Piccata, and black bean chili.”