If you happened to be strolling past the adorable garden store Mi Alma Collective in Silver Lake over the last few weekends, you may have thought there was a run on vintage planters.
Yes, these people were here for the quirky flea market displays, the extraterrestrial-looking landscaping, the grandma’s-garden-by-way-of-architectural-salvage decor.
But they’re really here for the fish.
In the corner, on most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, tending to Jaws-size chunks of battered fish bobbing in vats of bubbling oil, wearing his ever-present straw hat, is Ricky, who serves up the best fish tacos (and sometimes shrimp tacos) this side of Baja. And maybe on that side, too.
A little cabbage, some pico, a drizzle of spicy crema, and three kinds of salsa, all made fresh. Then you take your fish tacos and retire to a wrought iron patio set, where you’ll share your table with pebbles, funky cement pottery, and two kinds of cacti. You’ll spend the next 10 minutes trying to figure out what’s in that crispy, delicate batter. Is it mustard? Is it fresh herbs? Does it matter? You’re sitting outside, in the sun, eating to-die-for fish tacos.
What a remarkable little scene that Mi Alma has added to the neighborhood. Today they even had DJs set up on one of the decks and guys selling lemonade and mint cucumber tea. I bet it won’t be too long until they start serving micheladas, too.
With the dearth of open-air, under-the-sun eateries in our perpetually temperate climate, we need more Rickys at Mi Almas all across LA. How about food trucks that deliver a sit-down experience at city nurseries? Chefs whipping up lunches inside community gardens? A beer garden where things actually grow? Until then, every weekend, we have Ricky’s. Succulent fish tacos, with a side of succulents.
Follow Ricky at @RickysFishTacos
