We moved from Salt Lake to El Centro 2 years and 1 1/2 months ago. Before we moved I used to like 'mexican' food. Now, I am not talking Taco Bell mexican food, but what I thought was 'real mexican' food. I then discovered that I had never really tasted real mexican food until I came down here. Now, I am sure all of you Americans who live up north think that you have real mexican food, but really, you don't. I know, you don't really know the difference and are probably thinking 'hello rude woman, we do to have real mexican food' because I would have thought the same thing 2 years, 1 1/2 months ago. However, you don't. You have what I now refer to as Americanized mexican food. Tastes good, but there is much better! It is like eating Hersheys cholate and loving it and then eating Cummings chocolate and tasting the difference between chocolate and CHOCOLATE!
After we moved here my mom started saying that I was a mexican food snob. Well, I have come to the conclusion that she is correct, but if you were lucky enough to eat what I get to eat you would be too. Today James took me to a little hole in the wall called D'Poly. It is 100 to 150 yards from the border (Mexican border for those of you who are geographically challenged). You can look out the window and see the fence. We took my mom and sister to dinner here once and I complained as we drove up that it was not a good enough place. Then I tasted the food. mmmmmmmmm.......... Today the two of us went in and ordered. I had a machaca soft shell taco. It was bliss exploding in my mouth! I am so in love with machaca meat and it seems that no matter how hard I try to make it I can not quite get it right. This restaurant and one other (Zarapes) makes the best machaca! The whole way home I kept hmmmmming and wanting to go back and get some more (even though I was full). It is a good thing we don't live in Calexico or I would be getting them daily. So, I will gladly take and treasure the title of 'mexican food snob' so long as I can enjoy the pleasure that exists here so close to the Mexican border!
12 comments:
Umm, you're aware of how many "hole-in-the-wall" places we have in our neighborhood, right? Because a lot of those are JUST like the food you find on the streets in Tijuana. Ha ha ha. You're preachin' to the choir!
Nope, they are not the same. Just because they are a hole in the wall does not make it the same. Sorry lady! ;)
Ok I will admit this...I don't know what Machaca is. I need to come out there soon so I can out all this yummy food. My stomach is growling just thinking about it.
karen, machaca is a way that they marinate and cook beef. It is DELICIOUS!!!!!!! come down and we will take you there! yum! I will keep trying to figure out how to make it correctly and then cook you some! :)
Just two words....Red Iguana!!! Bite me! lol
mom, soooooo far from the same! Good but not good enough! lol and 'bite me'?! Hello!!!!! haha
there is a place in old pioneer area (200 Southish 900 Westish) that is called el rey de oros that has the best machaca that I have ever eaten in my life...including in mexico... their green chili salsa is to die for as well...we used to get six tacos for a buck...oh and they had good horchata (not the best I ever had, but still great). i wonder if that place is still there. we have a mexican joint here that is just...well...awful. i miss good authentic tacos. :D
by the way, red iguana is very authentic if you're ordering the right stuff...tacos no...but their mole is VERY authentic michoacan style and their enchiladas suizas are very jalisco style. *steps off platform*
Scott, the next time I go up to S.L. I am going to have to look for that place. James said that he LOVES horchata, but I have never had it. I just had enchiladas suizas the other day! hmmmm...I am totally starting to get hungry! If you are on your soap box I am assuming you are at least clean! lol btw, I like Red Iguana a lot, just not as well as some of the stuff I have eaten here (although, much better than the mexican food restaurants in Old Town San Diego). :)
I am so with you on that!! We miss the good Mexican food we had when we lived there!!! These norhterners just don't get it!!!
Emma, Thank you! lol
Oh, I understand what you are saying. Several years back, I went to a restaurant (Los Rancheros)in Acapulco and had chicken fajitas that were to die for. The next night we went to another restaurant in Acapulco, but it was Americanized and didn't taste the same. Since that experience, I have dreamt of flying to Los Rancheros just to have their chicken fajitas... and I haven't been able to eat fajitas anywhere else since then. They just don't taste as good.
Okay I totally agree with you. Being married to a half-hispanic I have learned the difference. There is nothing like good mexican food in utah except a place in Tremonton that are actually a family that came from mexico. They have the BEST shredded beef, it is marinated and is absolutely wonderful. I dont get the chance to go there much but I would say it is authentic mexican. I agree with Scott that Red Iguana has only good mole.
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