Sunday, June 03, 2007

Mexican Food for Thought

Next month I will have lived outside of the US for 6 years. I can safely say up until Friday, I had never eaten in the street before. A mom with food poisoning is not a pretty picture. Guapo took risks (and occasionally suffered the consequences) eating hot dogs, of all things, off the street in Venezuela. But, after being laid out flat for 3 days from eating at a ward Father's Day party in Small Town, Mexico, he has been a whole lot more careful.

Ever since we found out that we will be leaving Mexico at the end of this month, I have been craving Mexican food. The three years prior, I didn't much care for it. I always wanted safe, American-style Mexican food. But now I want the real thing.

Here's a pretty picture of some typical Mexican food: Queso fundido- they put cheese in a bowl and melt it over the grill, sometimes with mushrooms or meat of some sort-it is yummy. And the flat green items are "nopal", which would be cactus. I still am not quite loving the cactus, but it is really good for you. And of course the chiles:




To satisfy my craving, we have been frequenting the "safe" taco joint in the mall nearest us. Our favorite type of taco here is called a "gringa" it has some kind of meat that comes off of a spit that's been there for who knows how long (I try not to think about it), cilantro, onions, cheese and pineapple.

So here are a bunch of "gringos" eating "gringas":



Friday, Guapo and I were out and about doing some last minute errands and we were close to a "reputable" (according to our friends) street taco stand; I decided to take my chances and finally try the real McCoy.

All was well; we were sitting on buckets out on the side of the busy street, eating our tasty tacos, tying to fit in but getting stared at like crazy. Then, near the end of our culinary experience, Guapo and I each found a hair embedded in the taco meat.

Ewwwwwwww.

It still makes me sick to think of it. I spent all day certain that I was feeling rumbling in my tummy that would lead to a very unpleasant night. But, happily, the yummy, hair-filled tacos didn't make me sick. Still don't think I'll be going back.

One last word on tacos:

Julio (6 years old) brought home an assignment that he did at school on the computer. He had to sort a variety of foods into three groups: foods you should only eat a "few" of, foods you should eat "some" of, and foods you should eat "lots" of. Here's a picture of his "lots" group:



Yep. Fruits, veggies and, you got it, tacos.

We must be in Mexico!

20 comments:

nikko said...

Yay for tacos! How funny that you're starting to crave it now that you'll be leaving. ;o)

Super Happy Girl said...

The hair was probably form the horse, so no harm done.
I love Julio's "Lots" picture :D
That top picture looks so delicious, I love queso fundido. Queso con poblanos is my favorite, Thanks for that picture amiga.

Gabriela said...

NCS: that pic was just for you- I knew you'd appreciate it. :)

Special K ~Toni said...

NCS-the hair was probably form the horse, so no harm done.- that is so wrong, but yet so funny!

I was the same way with German foods- there for 4 years, didn't really eat the food until a few months before we came back to the states. Weird, eh??

Janice said...

Queso Fundido looks wonderful but I have to admit, eating from street vendors scares me as well. The "lots" taco thing is hilarious.

Life shifting said...

hey Gabriella,
I went to visit my daughter today, she lives an hour away and we too were craving mexican food. She said mom you have to try this wonderful Mexican food place I have found. So we went and the place was called El Guapo's. I thought of you all imediately and smiled. I have always loved the name guapo and my kiddo's always tell me because of my endearing love for all things mexican food that I should have been born mexican, lol.
I am so excited on your move as well. I have always wanted to visit Spain!!! One day I will.

Erickson Family said...

I have to tell you that I still crave real authentic Mexican food -- now 3 years since I have been there. It is hard to find a restaurant in the States that doesn't want to "gringo-ize" it for you.

I do not wish the overabundance of chile, however. My mouth still burns from some of the dishes we had.

The queso looks wonderful --- I too am not a fan of nopales either. Now tacos poblanos, those I could go for. (or Pollo Pibil, or Enchiladas Suizas, etc. etc.)

Lei said...

How fun Gabriela - I love the pics. That food does look yummy.

Lei said...

Of course - the hair - not so yummy. Lol! ;)

utmommy said...

Hair tacos? At least you didn't get sick!

momofalltrades said...

Ah, I think I'd brave food safety issues to have some of the genuine stuff too. You should see the places we dig up over here in Fort Worth! LOL I love the taco in the lots group!

Anonymous said...

My prego tummy is rolling. How disgusting!!! Real mexican food is wonderful though. I have never quite got the taste for tamales though. I am glad you did not get sick from your "Taco de Hair." Yuck!!! I am glad I didn't end up making Taco Soup for dinner tonight, or I may not be able to eat it.

Nettie said...

Mmmmm, that grilled cheese stuff sounds nummy!

The hairy taco, less so!

I'm very glad there were no negative repercussions from it!

Karla said...

Now you've discovered the secret ingrediant. . .

Super Happy Girl said...

I miss you. So much.
You take care, ok?

:)

Tristi Pinkston said...

I love tacos . . . yum. Now I'm hungry!

The first five months of my pregnancy with my daughter, I worked in a restaurant a lot like Taco Time. I was in Taco Heaven!!

Anonymous said...

You're making me hungry. I'm glad everything went well venturing out.

Sketchy said...

Are you in Rio??? Miss you!

Anonymous said...

I know you are swamped with fun stuff in Rio. But I tagged you anyways!

Nettie said...

Whew! You are in Rio? I was starting to worry there were hairy taco repercussions after all...duh, duh, duduh...(sound of funeral dirge...)