Way beyond tacos and burritos

Remember this? It’s what Baja Style brought to last summer’s Eat the Street: Pig Out! Every time someone ordered a taco, this pork was pulled into fresh handmade tortillas, until by the end of the night the pig had been picked clean. Even if you knew nothing else about Mexican food, you knew that was a pretty awesome taco.

Fast-forward a year, and Baja is the star of Streetgrindz’ upcoming second pop-up dinner series. Invitations for a media preview went out last Wednesday; on Thursday Streetgrindz’ tiny offices were packed. Amazing bites of delicately smoked ahi with poblanos and cactus leaves. Goat meat cooked to a chicken-like tenderness, and not at all gamey. And a family recipe chocolate-cinnamon trifle inspired by a hot Mexican milk drink. There’s more I didn’t get to try, including pork belly infused with citrus and garlic and roasted until the skin is crispy, deep-fried baby smelts, baked fish layered with herbs and spices, and baby squid baked in garlic sauce.

— Nonstop Honolulu