Making chicharrónes de queso with Jimmy Shaw

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Aren’t these almost too pretty to eat?

They’re the chicharrónes de queso that Lotería Grill’s chef-owner Jimmy Shaw cooked on the flat-top the other day, just as his Hollywood restaurant was opening for lunch. As he worked (you’ll find the recipe here), he talked about eating the snack in his hometown of Mexico City, where it’s commonly served in restaurants.

After Shaw shaped the hot grilled Monterey Jack into the sculpture on the left, which is how the appetizer is served, he kept going, forming more chicharrónes around a big metal rolling pin and dropping them into pint glasses, like bistro-style pommes frites.

Then he had me make some, the results of which I did not photograph.

Of course I’m not the only one who loves Shaw’s chicharrónes. The first time I tried them, I spotted LA Weekly’s Jonathan Gold and his family at an adjoining table. Here’s Gold’s review of the restaurant--and the chicharrónes.

Seems we all love those bits of melted cheese.

Lotería Grill Hollywood, 6627 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 465-2500; www.loteriagrill.com.

-- Amy Scattergood

Photo of chicharrónes de queso by Amy Scattergood.