Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Reflections of Mexican Food

by Andy Lawrenson

Tacos

Burritos

Chalupas

Enchilada

Sopapillas

Tamales

Anything with Grande tagged at the end

Rice and Beans 

(those of you that order beans without rice, or vice versa, are messed up.  I know I'm

a graduate of Las Manitas University of Rice and Beans, Austin, Tx.)

There is a "Tex Mex" restaurant in Atoka, Oklahoma, the El Adobe.

El Adobe is the only Mexican food restaurant I've ever been in that puts

shredded american cheese on their food.  That's not even right.  But their salsa is good.

There is a gas station in a small town of Caldwell, Kansas, just beyond the border of Ok.  In this 

gas station you can get some of the best tacos I've ever had in my entire lifetime.  All home made stuff and they put limas, potatoes and peas in their taco meat, different yet very tasty.

In Lynchburg, Va., there is a family of restaurants, La Caretta.  They have great food.  Mish and I used to go there when we had 5 bucks left to our name to eat.  We were young, stupid and in love with both each other and mexican food.

Chi Chi's, ahhhh, the blessed fried ice cream.

Abuelos, not liking this chain all that much.

Taco Bell, I eat there maybe once every two years.  Taco Mayo in Ok and Tx is much, much better than the Bell.

Herb Albert and the Tiajuana Brass.  Speaking of Tiajuana let me just give a shout out to velvet Elvis paintings and the donkey painted with stripes that you can pay to have your picture with so it looks like you had your picture with a "zebra".

Chiclets!  Gum with a whole 3 minutes of flavor.

One wintery day I was helping my friend Mike shovel snow off the walk of his Taco Mayo restaurant.  I walked up to the drive in window and got a hot bean burrito.  It was one of the most memorable moments of my life.  Something about freezing, standing in snow, and eating a piping hot bean burrito full of cheese and red sauce.  It was an incredible experience.

Dinner at the Zazuetta's home.  Killer dude!  Mrs. Zazuetta kept bringing food to the table from like a magical, mystical portal of goodness.  It was as if a thousand flavor angels were dancing the flaminco on my tongue.  Her beans were the best I have ever had in my entire existence as a human being.  My sister-in-law's, Gail, come in second, and that is an incredible compliment.  Mine are OK but often end up too thick and stiff (I'm working on perfecting that)

My hometown favorite is La Fogatta's.  I consider the white cheese sauce a beverage, it's that good.

I don't like fish but according to those that do, both Mama Kwans (my favorite restaurant on the beach, next to Prim Only) and Rundown Cafe (another favorite) both have good fish tacos.

Terasita's (spell check Ramon') tamales the best!  Made with banana leaves as opposed to corn husks.  Fantastico!  Full of flavors and S-spices.  Good washed down with S-spring water.

The dream of Clay and Esma coming to visit this summer and Esma teaching me how to make tamales.

The fact that you took the time to read my reflections on Mexican food proves that you too are a lover of this wonderful ethnic food from our neighbors to the south.

Have a Happy Cinco De Mayo and please visit your local favorite Mexican restaurant today.

Asta La Vista Baby! (spellcheck!)