Big Sweet Tooth

Roadside Shrimp Tamales

Mexico is a patchwork criss-cross of tiny villages, each touting their own specialty.  They sling up stands along the side of the road and every single vendor sells the exact same thing.  Pretty much identical to the core.  How the heck do you even know where to stop?  Sometimes it's oysters.  Could be truck campers.  Might be  elote.  Maybe dried shrimp packs.  Anytime you stumble across a little town that is obviously very proud of their goods, you might as well stop. 

Sometimes you even run across something you've never had.  Like shrimp tamales. 

Never have I seen shrimp tamales, so when I left San Blas and almost immediately hit up a slew of shrimp tamale coolers along a strip of arid desert, I had to have one.  Hmmmm...it was interesting.  Not quite what I was expecting--the shell was still on--and then as I dove into it a bit further, I noticed a couple of black beads. HELLO SHRIMP EYES BIG AS BLUEBERRIES. 

Good Christ, that was a hunger drainer.  I quietly wrapped my tamale back in its husk and slammed a Nescafe. 

Turns out these tamales are famous in the state of Nayarit...but it's just a wee bit too much sea for me.

Bubu Buries Misty

Playa Norte is definitely not my fave beach on Isla Mujeres.  It's just too crowded.  But, I did love getting buried there by crazy little Bubu one sunny afternoon.  She covered me with sand in a NY minute while Lupita played with shells and only halfway buried Alex.  If you've never been buried in sand, I suggest you try it immediately.  It's cool, calming and serene.  Especially when you are a couple/few down.

The snorkeling out by the rocks is pretty decent at Playa Norte...but man, that God awful looking hotel in the background is just a killer.  Oh, and everyone on the beach freaked out over a baby star fish.  I mean, full crowds were drawn, cameras were busted out, video was being shot.  Who knew a itty-bitty star fish would be such a novelty on a tiny island in the middle of the Carib.  You'd have thought that a giant talking whale had washed up on the beach from the commotion that was caused. 

I guess I passed out soon after that ruckus.

Lolo Lorena and Espresso Bliss

There are days when you simply do not want a Nescafe.  Sometimes it works for you--like when shoving a piping hot tamale on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere as you're driving toward the USA border...but whilst on Isla Mujeres, I usually hooked myself up with either a cappuccino at Manana or a sorta-cortado at a new little cafe called Lolo Lorena Bakery (just south of the marina). 

I would have to say that the cortado at her place was the winner (well, for as far as cortados go...Manana will always be #1)...only because the delicious smells wafting up from the rear kitchen were deadly.  Croissants, sweets, pan con chocolate.  For real, when you have had it up to here with Mexico (which I NEVER did)...roll into this small French-style cafe and grab a flaky croissant and a simmering pot of straight espresso with cream and copious amounts of sugar.  The whole blend is lethal and enough to drive one mad. 

The owner is also building some cute rooms to let above the shop (done in a few months, MAYBE) and also puts together this fantastic 3+ course Chef's meal where you pay a set price for dinner and she just serves up whatever is fresh that day.  I love it.

See, that is what I grew to adore about this little island.  So much different food, all over the place.  There's French, Italian, Mexican, Mediterranean, Mayan, Middle Eastern, and all sorts of other yummy stuff around every corner.  If it was just all Mexican, all the time, it might get to be a bit much (or not).   But, I have to say that on a tiny island 5 miles long and where you could practically spit and hit the other side, well...there's def. some good shizz happening.  It's sorta like the island version of Roger's Park, my Chicago neighborhood.  I miss you La Unica.

Casa O's, Peppery Ceviche and Blue Every Way You Turn

Beside the killer ceviche Jorge and Chef Roger made for the Pilates retreaters on the Cooking Workshop day of the PURE retreat, the very best that I inhaled on Isla was the mixed seafood version at Casa O's.  It's a tucked away palapa-style restaurant on the southeast side of the island and I was so pleased with the coldness of their beer and the spiciness of their ceviche (I now that the exact amount of pepper is the key to perfect ceviche) that I went back four days in a row. 

On the fourth day, I was talking to my favorite waiter and he informed me that I could go snorkeling off the wooden pier that juts out from their front door.  Oh really? 

Not too many people know that it's a free beach and though it seems like the pier is just theirs and theirs alone, it's quite the contrary. Anyone can play off the edge of it and the very next morning, I crawled over the knee-high stones surrounding Casa O's (per his instructions) and proceeded to shimmy on down the pier and dive in.  There weren't as many fishies around as other places I've snorkeled around Isla, but I loved having the entire pier to myself and lazing around for hours.  And, honest to God, even I look at these photos now and am stunned at the crystal blueness of the water and the perfect blueness of the sky. 

I ask you, how could someone in their right mind not want to partake in this glory every day? 

Chicken in the Truck

The first night that Lis arrived on Isla, I trotted her first to Manana for a few beers and then treated her to the culinary delights of the chicken guy.  The one who has his little pollo pit rockin' all day long.  It's on the West side of the island, just down the way from the little French looking bakery and has all the basics:  sopes, panuchos, pollo.  The food is so tasty and crazy cheap...and the perfect to go style food.  You get these little baggies of rice, beans and salsa along with a pile of steaming tortillas and charred chicken.  Maybe $5.

We happily chowed down in my dusty truck like a couple of fools (to the delight of all passerbys) before heading back to Casa Ixchel for a swim/near death wash away in the ocean.  For real, after a few cervezas at Manana, you better watch out how close you get to the water.  I feel like Lis could have straight never come out and just floated off into the horizon.  That's what pals are for, I think.  When you are in your deepest moment of content joy and sheer bliss, they are right there to rip you straight back into the madness that is reality.  Friends forever.

La Lomita--A Local Institution

Ah, La Lomita.  Once, when I was on Isla a year or so ago, I had fantastic chile rellenos there, though this time I didn't see them on the menu.  So, I went for the octopus drenched in butter.  Hi delicious meal X a gazillion.  I can only say this bright-as-shit gem of a restaurant is forever consistent and always up to snuff with the good stuff. 

When you order a beer, I think a kid runs to the grocery store down the block to purchase one and then slings it out on your table as if it just came from the rear kitchen. There are random cats slinking around hunting for scraps and some free bean soup rolls out with each dish.  It's a perfect mix of locals, expats, tourists and loners.  Nothing party like about it in the least. ..in fact, it is dead quiet.   And, definitely nothing real special about the decorations.  Just good food and cheap tickets.

Of course, on my last day on the island, I zoomed by when the doors were shut and saw a sign for chile rellenos on the door.  Maybe it's just not on the menu?  I also witnessed a crazy good looking bowl of sopa de lima plowing out of the kitchen.  Next time, for sure.

 

El Hurache...Again and Again and Again...

One of my all time fave places to eat on Isla Mujeres is a small, locals-mostly joint called El Huarache (it's just around the corner from La Gloria, the little English schoolhouse).  Nothing on the menu is over a few dollars and for real, they make everything to order including the unbelievable empenadas, huaraches and quesadillas.  But, these pups aren't just normal quesadillas or regular run-of-the-mill empenadas.  They are so dang superior to everything you've ever had made with maiz, you'll find it impossible not to keep ordering more and more and more.  And, then to top it off right, one MORE!

The TV is always blaring, the light is god-awful, someone is always passed out, not a soul is ever particularly delighted to see you, and there is no alcohol served.  I truly adore it. 

Sabor Michoacan and Ceviche on Isla Mujeres {From The Raving Dish}

Ceviche has always sorta freaked me out. I've never been able to wrap my head around the fact that this tasty dish is straight up raw seafood cooked in lime juice. How is that even possible? Is the acid from the limes that intense? Well, thanks to a recent cooking workshop I took in Mexico, I now know the answer. Acid is indeed the key, and it only takes a few minutes for it to hammer down its powerful effect.

To backtrack a minute, before I left colder-than-cold Chicago for sunny Mexico, I tested out a new restaurant, a tiny, family-owned Mexican restaurant called Sabor Michoacan in my Rogers Park 'hood. It had just opened in the sea of North Clark eateries, and for less than a can of Red Bull, I partook in the juiciest ceviche I've come across outside of mainland Mexico. Bright pink bullets of fresh shrimp came tossed with tiny bits of emerald-green cilantro, dots of tangy onion and chunks of ruby-red tomato. But, I didn't stop there.

Shrimp Ceviche at Sabor Michoacan in E. Rogers Park

The best ceviche I've ever tasted was in the tiny fishing village of Yelapa, Mexico.  I've been there three times and I'd have the ceviche pretty much every day (along with copious amounts of margaritas).  Since then, I've not found any that compares in the least to the sort that Hotel Lagunita dished out...until I stumbled upon Sabor Michoacan.  It's a relatively new, family-owned Mexican restaurant in the heart of East Rogers Park and they have this incredible shrimp ceviche tostada for $2.75 that literally evoked memories of Mexico and the pura vida I fell in love with while there.  It's a perfect combo of shrimp, lime, cilantro, onions, peppers all piled high on a crisp tostada slathered in some sort of mayo concoction.  There is no finer (or cheaper) in Chi~

Homemade Tortillas at Huaraches Restaurant {From The Raving Dish}

I'd say that no more than half of Americans have had the sublime pleasure of partaking in a homemade tortilla. And, you can credit that number to the Mexicans that call America home. Made-from-scratch tortillas are a thing of beauty; they're far, far superior to their factory-created counterparts, and based on the number of ingredients they take, it's a wonder why more cooks don't make them. Ahh, such is the convenience of our economy, though. We opt for what is fast and cheap, shunning that which is from the root.

Lucky for us, a few places in town, including Huaraches Restaurant, serve only homemade tortillas. In fact, Huaraches makes more than just tortillas. Via an old-school, well-worn Mexican tortilla press, it pops out crude but perfectly shaped sopas, gorditas and huaraches flecked with black beans, which are my favorite.

*Please note, photo was taken on camera phone, hence the poor quality!

Back to Busy Maxwell St. for Gorditas and Churros~

Yesterday was spent sailing and eating all sorts of goodies down on Maxwell St.  Which to rave about first?  Well, the winds were light, so it was more like pump the head and fill up the gas tank on the boat (which is all exhausting work, by the way).  Then, it was straight to Maxwell St. for freakin' incredible gorditas and made-to-order vanilla filled churros.  There are a few churro vendors tucked away on Maxwell, but the one to visit is the actual truck (the rest are just little carts).  They have plain, vanilla and strawberry and they're stuffed fresh to order.  I mean, talk about delicious.  It's so hard to pick where to eat down there...Lis and I got to the point of violent rage trying to decide, but I'm convinced the place we chose (wish I knew the name, not just the location) was the best one.  The gordita alone was worth the trip down.  It's all homemade and crunchy and crispy and wet and chewy and juicy and spicy and perfect.  You get the point, right??

Supermercado Chapala {From The Raving Dish}

What would you do with 20 fresh limes? Make a gigantic batch of minty mojitos? Whip up a bowl of lime-green Jell-O? It doesn't really matter…not when all 20 cost $1 at Supermercado Chapala, my favorite neighborhood grocer and Mexican diner. And that's only one of the deals at this always-packed market, where you'll also find fresh pineapple, melt-in-your-mouth carnitas and, best of all, an unassuming cafe in the back that only a handful of locals seem to have a clue about.

I happened upon it a few months ago when I first started really exploring my new Rogers Park neighborhood. The smiling fella out front, who served elote (corn on the cob slicked with mayonnaise, cayenne, cheese and lime) to everyone who happened by, caught my eye first. Then, out of my peripheral vision, I saw the word "taqueria". Ahhh, that's what I'm talking about. Taco joints in the back of grocery stores get first dibs on produce and meats, which means they serve up superior goods to a steady stream of customers all day long. And the goods at Supermercado Chapala are superior, indeed.

Tamale Addiction~

I can legitimately say that right now I'm riddled with a fierce tamale addiction.   I cannot seem to get enough of their melt-in-your-mouth flavor.  The ones I like the best are in the firm family and wrapped in a corn husk, but I have to say, some of the more memorable, I wolfed down on Isla Mujeres and they were softer and tucked in a still-warm banana leaf.  You can find them on Isla in the early AM from little roadside vendors and at some loncherias, and they usually cost about a dollar.  With the proper salsa and a Nescafe, they are heaven in the mouth.  I'm researching all my favorite tamale haunts for an article that I'm writing here in town and I've discovered a few new ones along the way.  I'll post more local intel about where to find these perfect little packets soon...and in the meantime, happy tamale hunting~

Between a Rum and a Hard Place {From the Raving Dish}

What a banner weekend, man: The sun was shining, the lake was blue as the Caribbean (well, if you were slightly buzzed and cocked your head a certain way) and frenzied Chicagoans were out in droves looking to enjoy it all.

Taking advantage of the perfect spring weather, some pals and I decided to head south to Pilsen and see what sort of deliciousness we could happen upon. The only thing we knew for sure was that a BYOB joint was in order…we planned on buying a big, fat bottle of rum to fuel the supersonic day.

Deserting my truck around the 1400 block of 18th Street, we hopped out and started hush-puppin' it a few blocks west toward Nuevo Leon and Mundial Cocina Mestiza. The debate began here: Do we go for the sure thing (Nuevo Leon) or the potentially incredible new kid on the block (Mundial Cocina Mestiza)? Though Nuevo's huevos rancheros called my name, we all really wanted to try a new place. Mundial it was.

Masa Mexican, Por Favor {From The Raving Dish}

Leave it up to me to lose my wallet on my first glorious weekend off in ages. I was out for St. Patrick's Day, slipping down rum like it was water and what do you know? Surprise, surprise, my wallet was long lost (full of cash, credit card, drivers license).

But, all things happen for a reason, and for me, that reason was losing my wallet so that I would stop at a random ATM machine on Clark Street so that I would then discover Quesadillas doa Lolis (6924 N. Clark St.) right next door. Blending in with all the non-descript Mexican storefronts, this little gem almost went under my radar, but something—perhaps the handwritten signs in the front window touting all the house specials—drew me in.
Needless to say, at 10 a.m., I was the first customer of the day. The waitress seemed tickled pink that I'd rolled in the door the minute the restaurant opened and shuffled right over to my sunny table with a colorful, picture-laden menu. The right side was all about seafood, but the left side called my name…flor de calabaza (squash blossom) quesadillas to be precise.

What a Dollar Buys in Baja~A Perfect Fish Taco for Starters!

And, then of course there are the dollar tacos.  Once you cross the border into Baja and slam through the chaos that is Tijuana, you hit these little roadside huts that are pumping out the best and cheapest fish tacos...The little hut dubbed Tacos El Palomito #2 is just past Rosarito and for a dollar, you get a delicious made to order fish taco.  The sides are simply different heats of salsa, cold cream, chopped cabbage and sunburst limes.  This little treat is the pure essence of Baja through and through.  And, just in case you miss this truck, no worries--a few KM's down the road, there is Tacos El Palomito #1.  The lines just wrap around the truck and both of the chica's runnin' the grill are happy as a goose to dole out these delicious tacos.

A Mexican at Heart? El Rey Del Taco to the Rescue~

You'd think that Mexican food around the world would go the way of Chicago—a taco joint on every corner. Not so in Africa. I was there for close to a month and saw neither hide nor tail of anything to do with my favorite south-of-the-border cuisine. No tacos, no burritos and certainly none of my beloved huevos rancheros. What utter baloney.
The quizzical looks I got every time I asked where the heck I could grab a quick taco were priceless. Apparently, the South Africans have yet to discover God's greatest gift to the weekend hangover.

Taqueria Puebla: The Real Deal, Lebanese-style

My fascination with Mexico builds on a daily basis, an allure I credit to the mass amounts of Mexican restaurants populating the streets of Chicago. Every time I turn a corner there's another hole-in-the-wall ripe for exploration. Thanks to the bravery of these sassy Mexican imports, my relationship with every far-flung region grows at a fantastically rapid pace.
For weeks my pal Lisa has been waxing poetic about a small Mexican restaurant she'd been hearing about, one that co-mingles the hearty influence of Lebanese cooking with the rustic bliss of homegrown Mexican cuisine. We finally gave it a go, proving the adage true: Good things come to those who wait.

The Joys of a Hard Shell Taco

There is a cute Mexican joint right on Ashland (just south of Belmont) called Torta's USA that I love.  I always forget how delicious all of their tacos and tortas are.  Walking around last week, I happened to wander by again and literally something took over my tastebuds and demanded that I have steak tacos--nothing else would do at all.  My mom used to make the best tacos known to man when I was a kid (never with steak, though---only with fantastically greasy ground beef, which is still my favorite)-but now I usually go for the super lean steak version.  There is nothing better than hard shell tacos that have soaked up the grease and become slightly soft/crunchy and then are covered with sour cream y queso (though when I am in Mexico, I just go for the steak, chopped onion, fresh cilantro type on grilled baby corn tortillas).  Tortas USA also has totally gigantic tortas that draw in all the locals and a wildly flavorful horchata that I cannot seem to get enough of.  Good stuff all the way around and cheap to boot.

Cafe con Leche and Hector the Cuban {From The Raving Dish}

Cafe con Leche is a hectic place. The tiny restaurant was throbbing with activity, slinging platefuls of cheap south-of-the-border cuisine (Mexican with a splash of Cuba) to a patient line. Hungry customers flowed in and out, managers offered advice on what to try, and pick-up orders were pushed out the door every few minutes. To my virgin eyes, it seemed to be the hub of all movement in Logan Square, yet it somehow maintained an airy, friendly feel.

I was standing in line when I met Hector the Cuban. He was an older gentleman who happened to be placing his order when I accidentally cut in front of him to ask about molletes (think Mexican pizza). I wasn't quite sure what they were and thought he was simply wrapping up his lengthy chat with the all-Spanish staff behind the counter. Once I realized that he hadn't ordered yet and that I'd broken rank, I stepped back, apologized profusely and lightly brushed his arm to show my sincerity. From that moment on Hector and I were buds.

On the Tamale Trail: Saborea Nuestros Ricos Tamales

I'm what you'd call a tamale nut.  Everywhere I go, I'm always scouting around, hoping to eagle-eye spot a tiny vendor tucked away on a shady street corner hawking homemade tamales.  There is something about the mix of soft/firm corn stuffed with pork or chicken or my favorite, chile and cheese, that causes me to melt.  I don't even have to be hungry and I could easily slam down a cool half dozen. I just happened across a new vendor yesterday as I was leaving a shoot in Logan Square and his tasty little tamale has rekindled my affair all over again. He's set up shot right on the corner of Belden and Milwaukee and sells tamales by the dozen along with big cups of cold lemonade.  Saborea Nuestros Ricos Tamales--each one goes for just 75 cents.  Not too shabby for this neck of the woods.  I know you can get a little cheaper down by Maxwell St. and in Pilsen, but this is one that's much closer to my hood, and therefore has created a regular customer out of me. 
++The best though are the Cuban pork tamales at La Unica, the Cuban grocery on Devon.  I also just discovered some delicious frozen chile and cheese tamales at Trader Joe's.  I was stunned at how authentic they tasted~

Carmela's Taqueria--Huevos Rancheros Indeed {From The Raving Dish}

First I take the luscious, pint-size Mexican lime and squeeze it carefully over three perfectly fried eggs covered in spicy chile sauce the color of my bloodshot eyes. Two tiny wedges of lime coat the eggs, as well as the piles of smoky beans and fluffy rice, splendidly. Then I start in with the thick crema, smearing it over each and every mound on my plate. Coupled with a side of steaming corn tortillas, this masterfully executed dish of huevos rancheros is like a sonic blast to my tastebuds. There's nothing like Mexican for breakfast.

The weekends are ripe for excuses to go out for breakfast/brunch. Who can deal with cooking after a busy week of maddening deadlines? But if you're like me, the idea of standing in line at Victory's Banner, Bongo Room, The Original Mitchell's or Toast one more time in akin to suicide, so I've found a new way to enjoy my breakfast. And depending on what hour I arrive, there's usually not a soul around.

Tony's Burrito Mex: Late Night Mexican Delights

It's time to give my favorite late-night Mexican haunt some props.  Tony's Burrito Mex is right on the corner of Damen and Belmont and has been on my favorites list for some time now...who knows why I've never given them their due...but finally, I was in there the other night chowin' down with some friends and it hit me--this is just damn good food!  I always get the exact same thing:  cheese quesadilla (with cilantro and sour cream), chips and salsa, french fries with nacho cheese (their fries are the skinny kind and friggin' delicious--it is IMPOSSIBLE to eat just one at a time), bean and cheese dip, and a big cinnamony horchata to wash it all down with.  My bud Chezne was craving a chile relleno and of course, it was absolutely cheesy and spicy and perfect in every way a chile relleno should be (how I managed to restrain myself from eating the whole thing off her plate is beyond me).  I just adore this joint because the help is so friendly, the food is insanely cheap ($14 for all three of us to stuff our faces--and my pal Lisa raves about the pork tacos), it's close to home, there's always a booth available, they keep late hours, and everything is consistently good.  It's the ideal place to eat when you've had one too many or are too lazy to cook.  So, you see, I'm there quite often.

El Nuevo Mexicano (Coconut Shrimp Memories)

Some meals haunt me for years. I can remember every succulent twirl of pasta laced with garlicky pesto that I had in a tiny trattoria perched high above the choppy Amalfi Coast; I can envision each fingerlickin' tear off of a whole spit-roasted chicken I devoured while gazing up at the clouds in a tiny village in France; and I can conjure up visions of every last forkful of wild nettles I inhaled at a cozy, lesbian-run vegetarian restaurant in the mountains of Switzerland.

Meals like these follow me around the city with reckless abandon. I've come close to finding a relative of them all in Chicago (save for the wild nettles), and my most delightful new quest was matching the fresh coconut-coated jumbo shrimp of a quaint, seaside shack on the azure Sea of Cortez in Baja, Mexico. Where'd I find it? Practically in my own backyard, of all places.

Guanajuato #3--Delicious Steak Tacos

I always blame my belly rumbles and wild, have-to-be-fulfilled-right-now cravings on the weather and right now it's totally freezing (not as bad as it has been the past week, but still...it's just not friggin' normal).  When the temp. drops to this level, I'm always on the hunt for Mexican--and not just the delicious/but standard quesadilla I always get from Tony's Burrito Mex (on Belmont and Damen--they also have killer cheese fries), but a carne asada taco (this taco just reeks of Mexico through and through).  That being said, there are a sprinkling of grocery stores around the city called Guanajuato and most of them have a tiny restaurant in the back doling out perfect steak tacos (I like Guanajuato #3 on California).  They're laden with just enough bits of chewy pure-flavored fat to make the meat still totally edible. They're plain and simple little tacos ans come piled with charred meat, cold sour crema and a fistful of fresh cilantro.  Each one can easily become two and with a big shake of the house made spicy salsa, each bite transforms the mirage of Mexico into total reality.  Well, sorta.

Tacos Del Pacifico: New Article in Time Out Chicago

This weeks Time Out Chicago has an article I wrote on Tacos Del Pacifico.  This tiny, far southside taco hut has the very best Baja-style fish tacos that I have ever tasted...including the ones that I've actually trekked across Baja sampling (well, they're tied).  I know the haul is forever, but I'm telling you, it's worth it for these little gems.  The fish are the best, with the shrimp coming in a close second.  Go before winter hits.  Here's the article~

Save this restaurant
Unsung spots that deserve your dough

Tacos del Pacifico
3544 E 106th St between Avenue L and Avenue M (773-221-1143)

You'd think Baja, Mexico, would be the best place to find glorious fish tacos, but this gem's simple menu offers some fierce competition. Deep in southeast Chicago lies one of the most inspiring taco stands in the area, with only three tables, ten stools and a walk-up counter. Though they're from Guadalajara, young owners Mario and Martha Romero (pictured) hope their aspiration to make a Baja-style taco even better than the original will snag customers. But with little foot traffic, and a nearby Mexican community that Martha claims only eats meat and doesn't like seafood, business for the year-old restaurant is slow.

But that's no fault of the insanely delicious tacos. The only item on the menu, it comes two ways: blandito (soft) or dorado (crispy), jam packed with your pick of seafood, crispy cabbage, diced tomato, chopped onion, a squirt of sour cream and chili sauce. The heavenly deep-fried shrimp and whitefish (both battered with Mario's secret family recipe) are our favorites, but the broad spectrum also includes scallop, squid or octopus, all a steal at $1.75. Order them dorado, and your seafood-stuffed tortilla is fried until crispy and then tossed into a plastic basket ready to be doused in lime and smeared with charred jalapeño. One bite and you'll believe Mario's claim: "Once you try our tacos, you'll always want to come back."—Misty Tosh

The Makings of a Perfect Torta

I know this is going to sound nearly impossible to believe, but I have never really had a torta (that fantastically addictive Mexican sandwich).  I know, I know...how is that even true?  Chicago is a city with thousands (it seems) of tiny Mexican huts, all specializing in this tasty sandwich, and I've never tried one?  Blame it on me not eating meat (we all know I fall off that wagon time and time again), and thinking that a veggie torta just doesn't sound appealing.  Well, everything has changed (I guess I do eat meat now and again) and I can see what I was missing.  Now I can proudly say, my perfect sandwich is a freshly toasted torta; imagine crispy homemade bread, toasted just right, covered in a pile of spicy pulled chicken, and coated with crunchy lettuce, thinly sliced tomato and a heavy smear of thick sour cream.  What's not to love?  And, now that I've had a superfine one (thanks, La Perla Tapatia), I'm ready to bombard all the little Mexican stands that I happen upon during my wildly varied days.  I can't seem to get them out of my head; the whole sandwich is just plain sublime.  And, they are way cheap; most are about $3-4 and really, let's face facts...though I love ya, Potbelly's don't have nothing on the torta.  Sars to letcha, PB~I guess I'm always just looking for something to wrap both my hands around when it comes to food.

Meaty Ground Beef Burrito at La Perla Tapatia~I'm Back on the Wagon

It has been forever since I've chowed on a full-blown ground beef burrito.  I usually try to stick with the veggie kind, but sometimes, you just gotta throw caution to the wind and go for the gold.  I found this gem of a burrito at a tiny, rough-hewn Mexican dive on North Ave. (La Perla Tapatia) and this little mama was so brutally delicious, it was the perfect intro back into meat for my protein deficient stomach.  Easily weighing a good solid couple of pounds, the lightly toasted flour tortilla was stuffed with tiny crumbles of juicy ground beef (there were little potato cubes floating around in that mixture, as well), sliced avacado, whole beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese and sour cream.  I loved it because when I cut it in half, nothing oozed out, save for a little bit of juice and the thing was just so damn tidy (that is always the problem with veggie burritos, something is always pouring out).  I only was able to eat about half of the monster but I'm here to tell you, every single bite brought me one step closer to being a blazing carnivore again (don't eat meat, my ass)...and I will say, after eating just a half of a meat filled burrito, my energy level reached a whole new level of insanity...could be something there~

Tacos Are a Girls Best Friend

Tacos are the most delightful thing that I crave. They come in so many different forms; pork, steak, chicken, chile rellenos, avocado, bean and rice, fish, shrimp, and my all-time favorite, ground beef.  My mom used to make them when we were kids...very simple, very plain and very poor.  She'd ground up the cheap meat (picking it apart with her fingers), fry it up, drain the oil (just a little bit, though), pour in the taco seasoning, and make these little fatty spheres of corn tortilla come alive with shredded cheddar cheese, chopped lettuce and diced tomatoes, all covered in sour cream, of course.  The juices from the meat would soften up the crunchy shell of the tortilla (I didn't even know what a soft corn tortilla was until I hit the age of 20) and every bite would be one swallow better than the last.  Now, my taco cravings run wild, especially compared to what I thought was taco nirvana as a kid.  The type I now love look nothing like the beef tacos of my youth and instead come loaded with greasy meat, gobs of cilantro, sweet onion and are topped off with a bunch of fresh lime.  I'm always on a quest for the best tacos in the city...I know I have located the best fish tacos, this side of Baja; the best pork tacos this side of deep Mexico; the best ground beef tacos, this side of my grating, hellacious teens; and the best chile relleno taco, this side of California Ave.  I am, however, still on the hunt for the best full-on vegetarian taco--with beans, rice, etc...I've had some okay ones, but nothing that haunts me; and the haunt is what it's all about, right?

La Finca: Ya had me at the chips

La Finca had me at the chips. The basket, plopped on my table, was toppling with the best tortilla chips ever made, those thin, crispy ones. You know, the ones that seem to be made from five layers of phyllo-like tortillas crammed on top of one another, fried perfectly and then served with a bowl of spicy, homemade salsa. It's just so easy to consume a half-dozen baskets, especially when coupled with some frosty margaritas. Those chips are a rare breed among Chicago's hundreds of Mexican restaurants, so once I've found them, watch out.

I have driven by La Finca Restaurant close to a million times and never once thought to slow down and sample the fare (I was thinking it was going to be just like most other Mexican restaurants, with half-way decent fare, too-thick chips and watery margaritas). That all changed a few weeks ago, and I can officially say that I no longer have to make the trek to Wholly Frijoles in Lincolnwood to get awesome Mexican food; I've got a new margarita buddy right in my own 'hood.

Addictive Cheesecake-like Flan @ La Finca

I've never been a fan of flan, at all, in any capacity...it's just eggy, liquidy, and too much like jello...not my idea of a good dessert, ever.  But the other day, I was having lunch at La Finca on Elston Ave. (I've raved about their strawberry margaritas before) and the sweet woman who runs the place was just going on and on about their house made version, so I had to get one.  Holy moly!  This was the best flan I've ever tasted.  I shoved the thing down so quickly, my compadre didn't even know what hit him...and then, I friggin' ordered another one.  Jeez, just a full blown, whole other piece (I was horrified later, but in the moment, bring another, and make it quick!).  The texture was so thick, much like cheesecake and there wasn't really a trace of gooey egg.  It was dripping in caramel sauce that was literally slurpable, though.  The owner said that it might have set a bit too long (hence the cheesecake-like texture), but I told her it was perfect, don't change a thing.  If a longer set is the secret to flan, maybe I'll try makin' some at home.  Then again, maybe not....with no one watching me (I couldn't very well order three, you know?), I'm sure I'd eat the whole damn thing.

Maxwell St. Madness

Attempting to dodge the throngs of buzzing crowds is just about the only thing I can manage when exploring the Maxwell Street Market (especially with the charred meat and earthy maiz smells distracting me every which way I turn). With an amazing view of the Chicago skyline dominating the background, I decided to simply start at the top of the southernmost "hill" and weave my way in and out of taco vendor after gordita vendor after tamale vendor; eventually I'll end up at the end of the mile-long line.

The question of the moment was: Which taco hut do I lay claim to on my very first foray into the coordinated mess that is the legendary Maxwell Street?

Nuevo Leon: Huevos Rancheros All Day, Every Day

One of my favorite things to chow on the morning is a big, fat plate of Huevos Rancheros (especially after a drink or two) and it's really hard to find a place in my 'hood that creates a decent version but, Nuevo Leon, a charming Mexican restaurant down in Pilsen, has a splendid take on them that I'm desperately craving right now.  I love how the fried eggs (both whites cooked and runny in the middle) are just floating in the red sauce and the beans are still whole (some Americanized places serve them with refried beans or with black beans, but to me that just takes away from the dish).  The ranchero beans have little slivers of smoky peppers and onions throughout and they've been cooked so long, they sneak their way straight down my throat (no chewing involved). I like to squeeze fresh lime all over mine and turn it into an egg & bean soup of sorts...then all I need is some warm, homemade tortillas to sop it all up with.  The thought of them is so friggin' iintoxicating right this second, I think I'm gonna have to haul down~

Tijuana Restaurant: LA's Westside Mexican

So, in Chicago, I love Wholly Frijoles Mexican on the far north side and in LA, I love Tijuana Restaurant on the west side.  My latest write up for The Raving Dish brought about all sorts of controversy...I dished about how much better Chicago food was than LA food and the masses came out and defended their sunny west coast city.  Yeah!  I mean, come on, there are tons of things I love about LA.  It's just my own humble opinion, you know?  I lived in LA for years, I have many friends out there, I continue to work there,  I have a sailboat there and there will always be an awesome place in my heart for the place...BUT, Chicago rules when it comes to cheap, off-the-beaten-path type of food.  Sorry...prove me wrong, you know?  Anyway, I do love the enchiladas, margaritas and chips and salsa at Tijuana.  They make their own corn tortillas over the fire and bring them out steaming hot, with little pats of butter that melt in about five seconds flat.  So, for all you readers of the Raving Dish and the Tooth that emailed me (personally!), I will showcase a few of my favorite memories about LA over the next couple of Tooth entries.  Thanks for caring~

Wholly Frijoles: The Best Mexican Ever

After listening to no less than five reputable people tell me that Wholly Frijoles was the best Mexican food they'd ever had, I finally trekked up to the far north side (Lincolnwood) to see what all the fuss was about.

Attempt No. 1 yielded a total drive by (this is a blink-and-you'll-miss it sort of hole-in-the-wall), a near fatal flip around into oncoming traffic and a harried zoom into a tiny parking lot that doubled as a bumper car holding tank. After the mess of finding this gem in a haggard strip mall patch of suburbia, I wasn't at all prepared for a two (yep, two) hour wait. Goosebumps rose on my arms at this news. Though I couldn't stand by for this long, I prepared myself for my return trip later in the week (basically that consisted of me telling everyone that I could that I'd hit the golden jackpot; finally a restaurant that no one had heard of boasting a longer wait time than most of Chicago magazine's Top 20).

Attempt No. 2 and I wizened up a bit. Not only did I arrive before the harrowing lunch crunch (by 12:30 p.m., there was an hour wait), I kept my tummy flat-out empty and went nuts on the menu.

Is it Possible to Eat Hundreds of Tamales?

There is this super cute little restaurant and bakery down in Pilsen called Kristoffer's.  Crazy name for a Mexican style cafe, but who cares!  They seriously have the best little tamales every day.  Just $1.50 each and I could eat them by the hundreds (the one I had today was filled with peppers and cheese).  Now, of course, I am going to have to hunt down a place that maybe specializes in tamales.   Where to go, where to go????  A few years back, I helped some friends make 50 lbs. of homemade tamales.  I swear we made that much and they were just so delicious and addictive.  All the farmers markets in LA have little stands that serve only homemade organic tamales, filled with peppers, goat cheese, chorizo.  YUM!!!

Pork Cooked in Lard~Need I Say More?

There is this tiny little restaurant on the south side of Chicago called La Michoacana and when you walk in, not only is the place packed with Mexican families chowing on huge platters of pork, there is this cute little butcher up front whacking away at tender, falling off the bone pork...that has only been cooked in LARD!  (He is also very generous with the samples, loading up a little paper boat with the juicy meat and just grinning away.)

The state of Michoacana in Mexico is renowned for their authentic way of cooking an entire pig in a huge vat (with nothing but lard) for hours and hours.  It is usually served up on a platter loaded down with melt-in-you-mouth pork, stacks of steaming tortillas and bowls of fresh limes.  For about $120 bucks, you can get a pan full of chopped pork, dripping in grease and it will feed 40 super-hungry people.  I know I have said it before, but I will say it again, I LOVE Mexicans!!!!!