Barney Brantingham

Ex-Fiesta El Presidente Roger Perry grilling tri-tips

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I Came, I Saw, I Ate: But before I took a bite at El Mercado del Norte at MacKenzie Park, I ventured into a virtual kids’ world of rides and fun things to do.

Thursday afternoon families were swarming the place, leading tykes from the pony rides, slippery slides, inflated fun houses, a petting zoo and much, much more. The first thing you need to know about Del Norte is that it is family oriented — far more space than at El Mercado De la Guerra Plaza downtown and the place for families. (One negative: Lack of parking. But it’s been ever thus.) On the positive side, there are umbrella tables for sit-down dining.

On the Beat

True, it will cost you a few bucks to give the kids a thrill, but so what? Before long they’ll be teenagers and want to be with their friends, not going on pony rides with their parents or grandparents. So enjoy these years.

Salsa music was thumping at the stage and a group of snappy young women were dancing with style, kids staring up at them.

Oh yeah, eating: my main mission. I was stunned to find chicken mole (“mo-lay”), that wonderful Mexican specialty hard to find even at most Mexican restaurants and never in my Fiesta history. But there at the Isla Vista Teen Center booth, Patty Zagorsky served me an $8 plate of chicken mole, rice and beans. If you’ve never had mole, here’s your chance. As you may not know, it’s made with chocolate, which was invented below the border. No, it’s not sweet. Michelle Hernandez was the chef and sombreros off to her. She’s the executive chef and owner at Chefs on a Mission Catering.

I’m a sucker for tamales and found a good one at the Apostolic Faith Tabernacle, served by Martha Angeles. They’re homemade, and wrapped in the traditional corn husk. They’re mild and suitable for kids, but I’d suggest adults top one off with salsa. They also serve homemade enchiladas.

A must for me every year at Del Norte is a blended mocha at the Gay Café, where Alina Kutsenko was peeking out of the tiny window to serve. Also on the menu: iced coffee and Hebrew National hot dogs. I peeked around the corner and there was former Fiesta El Presidente Roger Perry, insuring that slabs of tri-tip were grilling nicely, to be served as tortas as a treat to Fiesta sponsors, along with margaritas.

Former City Councilmember Richard Hidalgo, responsible for giving the Northside Fiesta a home 30 years ago, will be honored Friday, Aug. 1, at 5 p.m., at the park, with Assemblyman Pedro Nava and Mayor Marty Blum, Perry said.

Perry raved about the expanded kids’ area, especially geared to youngsters. “It is absolutely the most wonderful thing,” he told me.

Barney Brantingham

Good Scout Jackson Macomber

Looking sharp in his Boy Scout uniform was an articulate Jackson Macomber of Troop 2, in a booth selling Choco Tacos and frozen lemonade. Troop 2 Scouts will be pulling an all-nighter Friday night, standing guard at equipment to be used for the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at Alameda Park Saturday morning. “I challenge you to find something cheaper at Fiesta,” said Lisa Burns, pointing to the $1.50 fudge bars. Her son Matthew is also a Scout with Troop 2.

Across the way, Troop 1 was selling burritos and corn on the cob. By that time, the tastiest thing I could find, despite a bloated belly, was a heaping bowl of strawberries and a brownie, topped with whipped cream. But I picked out just two berries and left the rest for my daughter Frances and her granddaughter Brianna, who promptly dipped her fingers in the whipped goo.

So what? Viva la Fiesta.

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