I wasn’t always the Mexican food connoisseur I am today.
In fact, much of my childhood was spent dining at Casa Elena Restaurant in Houston where my sister and I both grew to believe that we were speaking Spanish when we said, “HOT PLATE! HOT PLATE!”
Honestly, I don’t remember if the food was any good or not, but I do vividly remember that it was where I experienced chips and salsa for the first time.
Another childhood favorite was The Monterey House. The women in my family would order the “Summer Special” which consisted of a scoop of guacamole, a round queso chip, and a crispy beef taco. All I cared about was the candy made out of brown sugar that was always buried in the chip basket.
Then, when I was in high school, I discovered Casa Ole. To this day I will order the Dinner El Paso, which is two cheese enchiladas covered in queso and is truly a culinary disaster on a microwaved plate. However, old habits and addictions to processed cheese die hard.
As will my arteries.
College was filled with midnight trips to Taco Bell or Taco Cabana depending on how much money I had left in my checking account. It was during this time that I discovered two things:
1. Taco Bell hot sauce will take the tarnish off a penny
2. My daddy had automatic overdraft protection on my checking account
Who says college doesn’t equip you for the world?
After graduation I moved to San Antonio. Honestly, I wasn’t that excited about it, in spite of the fact that it is the home of the best Mexican food in Texas. There are seriously over 800 Mexican restaurants in this city.
Thanks to San Antonio, I discovered there is more to a breakfast taco than the folks at Whataburger would have you believe. The Taquito is just a cheap imitation that really only tastes good at 3:00 a.m. after two or eight beers. (That’s actually a third thing I learned in college.)
After I moved here, there was an unfortunate period of time where I was employed as a door salesman.
True story. I sold doors. And cried a lot.
And wondered why I decided to major in Speech Communications.
The only thing that kept me going during that dark career day was when one of the other salesmen introduced me to the Taco Feo (Ugly Taco) from El Milagrito. The Taco Feo is refried beans, beef fajita meat, and scrambled eggs wrapped in a homemade flour tortilla. Add a little spicy green chile sauce and your life will never be the same again.
Colors will be brighter. The air will be crisper. Angels will sing.
Sure, you’ll have horrendous heartburn but you won’t care.
In the fourteen years I’ve lived here, I’ve discovered what I believe to be the best crispy tacos (Teka Molina) and the best puffy tacos (Patty’s Taco House).
By the way, a puffy taco is like a crispy taco on steroids. Think big puffy shell filled meat, cheese and lettuce.
However, it’s only been in the last year that I made the discovery of my life. The Taco Norteno.
A Taco Norteno, which I believe translates to “Taco of the North” or perhaps “Yankee Taco”, consists of beef asada (thinly sliced beef), refried beans, shredded cabbage (this is crucial, no lettuce allowed), serrano peppers, Monterey Jack cheese, and a slice of avocado all wrapped in a lightly fried corn tortilla.
Let’s give a handclap of thanksgiving for the corn tortilla.
And the Monterey Jack cheese.
And the serrano peppers.
My tastebuds will never be the same.
In fact, I may never be able to eat another Dinner El Paso, which will cause my arteries to rise up and call me blessed.
Upside Brown says:
clearly, you’ve been deprived of my famous wild turkey nuggets and homemade honey mustard for dipping. i can assure you they’re like a carnival for your tastebuds. but you’ve managed to make me hungry for Mexican food and it’s 5:30 a.m.! a peso for your queso??
November 13th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Theresa (YewNorkBabe) says:
I may have to take a trip to NY just to eat some Mexican Food now. I haven’t found a good one here in CT yet.
It’s too early in the morning to be thinkin’ of such things.
November 13th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Jan says:
You are making me cry, here. I was born in El Paso and grew up in the DFW area. When I was 42, my husband moved us to Ohio.
Ohio. There is one Mexican restaurant in the entire town, and its idea of a chile relleno as a hunk of green bell pepper inside a hunk of unseasoned hamburger meat.
Yeah.
And I would die for a Whataburger Taquito at 3 a.m. Heck, I’d die for a Whataburger. I WANT A WHATABURGER AND ONE OF THOSE TACO NORTENO THINGIES!!
I’ve been up north waaaaaay too long…
November 13th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Kelly says:
You are so funny. I love your love for mexican food. I think I could eat it every meal for the rest of my life and be happy!
November 13th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Kari says:
You are making me so hungry. I grew up in Oklahoma on Tex Mex. We live in Missouri and the Tex Mex is super limited at best! Makes me miss home so much!
November 13th, 2008 at 7:38 am
cindi says:
now that you are living on the edge and branching out you must RUN to los barrios and have their puffy tacos…then, RUN to teka molina (the best is on st mary’s) and have a guacamole cup and bean roll.
my day is happier just considering that someone i know is eating this stuff in my place. no-thing in dallas comes close. sigh.
November 13th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Becky says:
Great! Now I have to swing by Taco John’s for breakfast as my mouth is watering. Have a great day!
November 13th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Susan says:
I have never encountered a SINGLE other soul who remembers those wonderful brown sugar candies at the bottom of the chips basket at The Monterrey House!!! It was the earliest of bad food psychology and probably has contributed to my inability to stop eating the chips until I get to the end of the basket.
November 13th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Susan says:
Also, I wanted to let you know of the Mexican food horrors we encountered on a trip to my husbands hometown of Fargo, ND. His family was so proud to take me to the local Tex-Mex restaurant because it was “just the best in town!” Oh my…..I knew I was in trouble when the menu description of enchiladas mentioned they were covered in GRAVY!!!
November 13th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Bailey's Leaf says:
I’m from the north. Can you tell us what a “puffy” taco is? I’m sorry to throw out Taco Bell references, but is it a Gordita/Chalupa kind of thing?
Help us in our time of ignorance!
November 13th, 2008 at 8:13 am
daniella says:
Thanks to your frequent talking of Mexican food, last night I couldn’t fall asleep because I was craving crispy tacos and cheese enchelada. And I’m not even pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder if I can find the recipe to the Taco Norteno. Sounds so goooooood!
November 13th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Karen says:
OK, you’ve convinced me. I’m going to start my search for a Taco Norteno. Do you think I’ll find one in Virginia? Technically it’s the south, but it’s so full of Yankees I might have a chance.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Gina says:
Mexican food is one of the few things I can consistently eat now with morning sickness!
But one of the things I learned was fabulous while living in Phoenix was the fish taco. Deep fried fish, cabbage, salsa, and a special white sauce done up in a corn tortilla. Yum! I’ve considered trying to get someone to mail one to me.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Gabby says:
Obviously the one day of exercise has stimulated your appetite! Ole!
I wish we had some good Mexican food around here. We have NOTHING. Not even one Taco House or cute little place that has good _____________.
I am so jealous.
Could you UPS me something? I’ll even take it microwaved.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Kim H. says:
This post is cracking me up - because I can totally relate! Of course I’ve never had the new tacos that you’ve been introduced to - because I’m in Houston and we don’t have those finer things in life… but I can absolutely relate to digging in the bottom of the chip bowl for the candy as a kid.
Somehow I’ve never really counted myself as a true lover of Mexican Food - I eat it and like it - but I’ve never truly craved it. I did marry a man that I think could move to Mexico and die a happy man… so maybe I never crave it because we eat it so often!?
November 13th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Sufficient Grace says:
I have lived in the great State of Texas every day of my life and this is the most extensive and thorough review of tacos I have ever read. Thank you.
Oh, yeah - do you all have El Fenix in San Antonio? It is really popular in North Texas, but with its Wolf Brand chili over tortillas prentending to be enchilladas, it just does Tex-Mex wrong. Just wondering.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:46 am
rrmama says:
I have logged many hours at Casa Ole’. I could seriously eat a Dinner Laredo everyday of my life! Along with an un-ending bowl of chips and hot sauce.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:54 am
gulley says:
I feel like there should be some sort of lovesong playing in the background of this post. And shout out to Bops for supplying us all those tacos over the years!!!
November 13th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Carrie says:
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the mexican food tutorial! NOW I can rest easy, knowing what the elusive Taco Norteno is. YUM! Of course, really, you can”t go wrong with mexican food–lots of salsa, cheese, and guacamole can cover a multitude of ills.
Thanks for the enlightenment. Being 19 weeks pregnant…of course now I am starving for mexican food. And it’s only 8:10 in the morning here! Have a great day:)
November 13th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Elizabeth says:
Congratulations! You are officially on the short list with multi-generational appeal. I have actually caught my daughter sneaking off to read your blog on another computer! She has now come out of the blog closet and reads her favorite parts aloud - which generally I have already read, but they make me laugh harder when she is laughing too! She aspires to be a bilingual teacher and we are anxiously awaiting a letter from the college of education in College Station!
November 13th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Jen says:
There is no greater culinary masterpiece than the breakfast taco. I lived in Louisiana for a year and a half and they have never heard of it there. They are in my prayers.
I feel like I have found my mexican food kindred spirit in you.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:16 am
smcvicker says:
thanks again for starting my day off with an out loud laugh!
November 13th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Luke Holzmann says:
Ah, but I do love me some tacos.
And Taco Bell has long been my good friend (or smiling enemy bent on my destruction via heart failure), and I love it.
~Luke
November 13th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Heather says:
I may now cry from the mere mention of El Milagrito. I’m from Fort Worth and about five years ago my husband and I went with some neighbors to San Antonio. The husband grew up there so he knew of all the goooood places to take us. I don’t remember the names of any of them (the house-looking place with the large outdoor area that we went to for a breakfast of biscuits and gravy, or the little deli place downtown with the yummy rootbeer) except for El Milagrito. I can remember every single moment about my first taste of the breakfast taco. I have to admit I was a little leery at first. At this time I still considered Don Pablo’s to be the finest of Mexican cuisine. But Philip; nice, clean-cut, attorney Philip introduced me to the wonders that await when you lower your visual standards and my Mexican dining has never been the same. El Milagrito truly is The Little Miracle. And it’s five hours away. Sniff, sniff.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Jill says:
i kept wondering what a taco norteno was…and i have to go to patty’s taco house. puffy tacos are my favorite! when i was in college in lubbock i remember ordering a puffy taco and the waitress looked at me like i was speaking a different language. (and apparently it wasn’t spanish)
November 13th, 2008 at 9:19 am
NancysLostandFound says:
Well, thank you, thank you vey much for the taco norteno description. And by the way, cabbage? Yum! I was cluless about them too after yesterday’s post, but I have an excuse because I live on the east coast no where near the border. I was so curious about the taco norteno when you mentioned it yesterday that I Googled it, and you know what came up?…the big mama blog. Of course.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Tara says:
Don’t ever try the “taco MUY norteno”. Here in MN we get mildly mildly mildly spiced ground beef and cheddar on a white flour tortilla. To really toss things up a bit we add a dollop of sour cream and some shredded iceburg.
My family has REALLY boring tastebuds.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Ann says:
You speak Mexican food as a fluent second language. I love that you thought “hot plate, hot plate” was Mexican. I’ll have to send the husband to your post today. He too is quite the conniessure of all things Mexican (or meat moreso). I’m sure we’ll be going out to dinner this weekend to a fine Mexican establishment in Dallas- third to San Antonio and probably Houston.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:24 am
amy says:
First Mexican food love… El Papagayos in Lubbock, TX… second, Pancho’s mexican buffet (questionable cleanliness @ all locations, but good food!) As kids we always went there on our birthdays for the free pinata.
In our town Papacitas is THE place, however, last fall we went to Austin for the first time and I ate at Matt’s, a Mexican restaurant that I will now and forever love more than any other. It was there that I learned what Tex-mex really SHOULD taste like and where I may have drunk my own weight in Mojitos.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Julie says:
Where can I find this Taco Norteno? I just moved to San Antonio and love some good tacos myself. If you get a moment, email me where it is so I can check it out!
Thanks!
November 13th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Jodie says:
Dang it. Why is all the best Mexican food in Texas? Don’t answer that.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Lysa TerKeurst says:
I have clearly been deprived my whole life. Between Boo’s post yesterday on crispy corn bread and your post on crispy tacos, I am starting to crave all things crispy.
And the real tragic thing is, my local Taco Bell just burned to the ground.
So, when I am in Texas in January, I am requesting a good and proper introduction to all things both crispy and Mexican… smiles!
November 13th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Linda says:
Ah, the “Summer Special” from the Monterey House, and 3:00 a.m. taquitos from Whataburger…memories of my youth!
November 13th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Shara says:
I have been reading your blog for some time now and am laughing that of all the posts to respond to, I choose this one.
However, I have a great adoration for Mexican food like you. Four years ago our family moved to Oregon from Texas. We miss BBQ and Mexican Food so much as there is very little here and nothing compared to our OK/TX roots! BTW, the only time one can combine Oklahoma and Texas in the same sentence is when speaking of food!
My mouth is watering after your post. One of my favorite restaurants in San Antonio is Mi Tierra - oh yumminess!
Enjoy your yummy, taco-filled day!
November 13th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Marilena says:
You crack me up! My mouth is watering and it’s not even 8am here yet.
By the way, I read all of your posts about your trip and you had me in tears. Those kids are so precious! We are so blessed in this country…
November 13th, 2008 at 10:01 am
HennHouse (Karin) says:
I laughed my way through this post… so funny!
November 13th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Autumn says:
Ya make me laugh, and ya make me glad I’m not alone. I could… seriously… eat some form o’ Mexican cuisine EVERY day of the week for the rest of my life.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:16 am
prof in alabama says:
As a Texan who has left the state I loved the blog today. I am even forwarding the link to an aunt in SA. Also already sent a text message to friend with whom I am lunching asking for Mexican at lunch today PLEASE. It won’t be San Antonio but it will have chips and salsa and hopefully warm flour tortillas.
Jealous in Alabama
November 13th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Lucinda says:
I’ve learned more about Mexican food from you this week than I’ve know in my whole life. Gracias!!
November 13th, 2008 at 10:32 am
zoom says:
My husband grew up in San Antonio. One of my favorite things about San Antonio is that old forlorn buildings are resurrected into mexican restaurants. An abandoned Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, or Shell gas Station will breathe new life with a can of hot pink paint and a margarita machine.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Steph at the Red Clay Diaries says:
Okay, this sad former Californian is now craving a carne asada burrito. And a fish taco. And pollo asado. And real guacamole (i.e. without tomatoes!).
We have decent Mexican food here in GA, but nothing like I ate in college in San Diego.
Sigh. Now you’ve made me all wistful.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Anna Bearden says:
Really…..one word…..YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bring on the Mexican Food(though here in Idaho it is a little harder to come by. Thank heavens for Armando at Chapala’s)
November 13th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Headless Mom says:
I know that I don’t comment often but this post is perfection.
Secondary only to the perfection of a taco.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Emily says:
How cruel you are writing about all that delicious food! Now I really need some good Mexican food which is hard to come by sometimes in Ohio.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Meg @ SpicyMagnolia says:
My mouth is watering. It’s only 10:20 a.m. but I am seriously thinking about making a run to Chuys which is right down the street. Seriously. Having been born and raised in El Paso, I know Mexican food. Don’t know how to cook it, but I know how to devour each bite. There’s not a week that goes by that I don’t have some type of Mexican food. It is the absolute best. THE best. Dialing right now…
November 13th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Lori says:
Have you ever eaten at Casa Bonita? The food isn’t so great, but the environment is fun– especially for kids.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Melanie says:
Hubs’ favorite is a simple avocado taco.
I have to know- Did you sell doors door-to-door? TEE HEE
November 13th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Sarah Valente says:
I’m just gonna stop reading! Seriously, you are torturing this Texan turned mountain girl. I’m putting on a pot of beans right now, and if it’s not ready by dinner time (which it won’t be) I’m gonna be mad!
November 13th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Heather says:
Ok, you just made me call my mama, for the 2nd time this morning! I’m from Houston, and when I read Monterey House, it sounded very familiar from my early years. Sure enough, we used to go to the one, down the street from our Church, often after Sunday morning service. Thanks for jogging some more childhood memories!
November 13th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Britany says:
If you ever find yourself traveling down I-35 to a town named Dilley, you have to try Garcia’s. I grew up in Pearsall and Garcia’s is better than anything you will find in San Antonio. Okay, so maybe that’s not true, but it was a whole lot closer to home and my brother-in-law did, in fact, ride his bicycle from Pearsall to Dilley, just to eat at Garcia’s, one time while visiting my family. In July. You can imagine how sick he was by the time he got home.
As for the 3AM binge at A&M, that’s where I learned to love the bean and cheese taco from the Taco Cabana (class of ‘92 - whoop!).
November 13th, 2008 at 11:49 am
OhLookADuck says:
Oh my, Monterey House! I’m in California and we don’t have them and I’m not sure they even exist any longer, but I’ve been known to go there just to get a stash of that fantastic candy. It’s the best.
November 13th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Heather P. says:
All the talk of mexican food has made me a. go eat at a mexican restaurant (which I am sure isn’t nearly as great as the ones in TX) b. make a mexican meal and c. is continuing the desire of more mexican. LOL-loving your journey!
November 13th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Heather says:
Oh my Southeast TX amigo…how I dream of the brown sugar candies from Monterey House (there is a Mexican food restaurant in Temple, TX that has the same candy but it’s not free in the bottom of the chips) and the Dinner El Paso is my numero uno at Casa Ole. I have tried so many times to copy Casa’s queso but to no avail. Any time we visit San Antonio we head over to Mi Tierra’s for some enchiladas mole…YUM!
November 13th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Ashley says:
wow!!! we really ARE on a mexican food trip aren’t we?? Mmmmm does sound good though! I personally, well, I like it hot!! I love spicy spicy food. the kind that gives you heartburn. when my FIL puts buffalo sauce on the wings, just breathing in the smell alone makes my nose run!! So good!!!
November 13th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Diana says:
I’m hungry now.
November 13th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Kelly @ Love Well says:
Dang.
I should NOT have read this at lunchtime when I don’t have a stitch of Mexican food in the house. (Unless you count my daughter’s beloved frozen burritos, and I’m not sure I do.)
We lived in San Diego for almost 8 years. The Mexican there is decent as well. Moving back to the Midwest, where they call pico de gallo “salsa” just about killed me.
November 13th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Corrie says:
Oh…seriously!?! We MUST talk M into a FAMILY trip to San Antonio…it’s just not fair that he gets to go all by himself! I’m telling you…when we lived there, we were too young to know that the greatest form of entertainment is discovering the best local food. Really…Taco Cabana breakfast tacos were our idea of good food back then. And if I don’t get a Taco Feo and a Taco Norteno soon…well…I don’t know! lol The Mexican food here is ok…but it’s Tijuana style and mostly taco shop fare…it’s just not the same as south Texas!
November 13th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Anne N. says:
Oh how I miss the Monterrey House candy. It was in little wax paper like wrappers. That straight shot of sugar was BLISS. Thanks for the memories….
November 13th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Brian Seay says:
The Dinner Laredo at Casa Ole’ is muy bueno and those square candies at Monterey House were good enough to make me swipe them from my siblings when they weren’t looking and then blame the busboy for the theft.
Next time you are in Nashville we can take you to eat this little Mexican food place…nevermind, none of the use Velveeta as part of the cheese sauce so it will just leave you wanting to return to the land of Tex-Mex.
November 13th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Rocks In My Dryer says:
Unfortunately, my daddy did NOT have over-draft protection on my college checking account, a fact that may have left scars on my heart (or at least my credit report) to this very day.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Aunt LoLo says:
Ok, I just had to chime in. I hardly EVER comment here (sorry!) but I’ve been a lurkin’ fan for quite a while. I even love me some Mexican now and again.
However, I have NEVER EVER EVER met another Speech Comm. major since I graduated 5 years ago with my degree in speech comm. Now I KNOW we were meant to be bff’s.
(Actually, I doubled in Sp. Cmu and vocal music…which means that, yes, I got through two and a half years of my college life doing nothing but talking and singing all. day. long. It was brilliant!)
November 13th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Heather says:
I grew up in OK and then lived in Texas for my early adult years. I miss the Mexican Food SO BADLY!!! This post literally made my stomach growl!!!
November 13th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Tracey says:
Mexican Food and BBQ! All the best can only be found in Texas!! I love my state!
Hugs!
Tracey
polkadotsandpicketfences.com
November 13th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Dana says:
Girl! We are food twins! Monterey House, Taco C (the pink house) and all the rest. Love it all! I love La Fogata in SA. Have you been there???
November 13th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Amanda says:
What an outstanding culinary post! Thank you for ending my shame of not knowing about the taco norteno. Hubs and I rocked it old school at El Gallo today. You may remember that place from Htown. I love that they speak to you in Spanish the entire time. Also, I will forgive you for dogging Whataburger taquitos. Just don’t let it happen again.
November 13th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
shellee says:
ok…i have no clue where you grew up…mostly because I don’t know you!!..But growing up, if we ate out, it was ALWAYS Monterey House (I grew up near Beaumont, TX)! Then, Casa Ole’ moved in and became the date restaurant of choice (and I always ate the Burrito Con Queso…but the green sauce made the microwaved food so worth it)! I, too, spent some time in Aggieland, and loved Fajita Ritas…mostly for the Ritas! Good Times!
November 13th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Stacy says:
You’re mean!! I just came back from a visit to TX cuz now I live in Yankeeland (NY). Now I am positively drooling!!!
November 13th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Amy says:
You are too funny! And I, also, wondered what a taco norteno was.
November 13th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Jenn says:
I’m laughing at your obsession with Mexican food. Too funny
November 13th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Emilie says:
Okay… stock up on the pepto and find the most respected taco truck nearby… They are the BEST!
November 13th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Blogaroni and Dees says:
ok, i feel so much better knowing what that taco is, but my 3-months-pregnant self NEEDS one now, and i’m in Dallas! husby and i may have to take a weekend trip here soon… :0)
November 13th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Dionna says:
Oh. my. Gosh. I think I need to do some taste tests. You just can’t write a post like that and not let us sample some!
November 13th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Meredith says:
we always went to casa ole growing up for our birthdays and waitstaff would sing, we pretended like we hated it, but loved me some chips and salsa there… and monterey house we went to on sunday evenings after church w/ youth group.. yum, makes me miss my TX!
November 13th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Mama Dog says:
I grew up in Houston too and Los Tios was my first favorite Mexican place! In high school my best friend and I would go for ice tea and the free chips and salsa when we were broke! But then I discovered Papasitos. Or more like then they opened Papasitos! I have never found better fajitas anywhere! And in NC, where I live now, even Chili’s isn’t as good! I do miss Houston restaraunts!!
November 13th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Gina says:
I think you are inspired–I read you everyday and I don’t know how many times your post intersects with my life. And today–The Lexicon of all things mexican food! I’m a Texan living in the midwest. Fortunately I’ve met another one of us here and weekly we must satisfy our mexican cravings. Our choices aren’t great but we found one that is close enough. I haven’t thought about Monterrey House in years. It was also our Sunday after church lunch place.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Jai says:
Ever been here?
MMMMMMMMMMM
Los Barrios Mexican Restaurant
4223 Blanco Rd
San Antonio, TX 78212-1178
Ever had Mexican food in Kentucky? Not so much …
Longing for the days of GREAT tacos .. puffy, crunchy, soft, shoot just good!
November 13th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Ruth says:
This just made me laugh out loud. I’m leaving in the morning for 10 days in China, and I have a feeling that the first thing I do when I get back to Texas (after hugging and kissing my kids, of course) is to run straight to the nearest Tex-Mex restaurant for all the chips and salsa I can stand. (Lord help us when we are actually LIVING in China — I don’t think they have a Chuy’s there.)
Your posts from the DR were amazing — may God use your time there and your words describing it to touch many, many lives and many hearts to His glory.
November 13th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
she-she says:
Let me just tell you, my co-worker and I live for Friday to use our excess weekly leftover lunch money for great mex. food from Los Margaritas. We have the same thing, Chicken Faquitas and bean and cheese dip. Yeah, makes you wanna slap somebody. I could live on mexican food. We have another good one here in good ole Tupelo MS called Mi Pueblo. Also, I was raised in Texas, Longview to be exact and remember Casa Ole’ and El Chico and Monterey House….. Love your blog…..
November 14th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Cydney says:
That is my co-worker above me here and it is currently 5 minutes until 11 in our little city and our Las Margaritas will not even answer their phones for togo orders until 11 on the dot. Reading this post has got us both chomping at the bits to get our order in and back the office to dig in. Thanks for such a fun post. I don’t know how often you hear this but….you are such a hoot!
November 14th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Christina Jay says:
Not just applause–this needs a STANDING OVATION! I’ve lived all over the state of Texas and a few other places too. I could write my biography around Tex-Mex.
I freely admit to actually liking the green sauce at Taco Cabana. (Much to my dear hub’s dismay.) And I recently discovered a Chuy’s here in Houston so my life is somewhat complete.
November 14th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
John says:
All right, I am starving now. Our family loves Mexican food also. We have multiple favorite Mex. food places around here.
November 15th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Amy says:
Your dedication to all things taco-related is wonderful… it makes me want to move to Texas right this minute. Here in Ohio there are a few good Mexican places but I’m sure it’s nothing compared to what you find there!
November 15th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
missy @ it's almost naptime says:
When I was in high school, we used to go to Case Ole after finals etc. Between three of us, we would scrounge up enough quarters and pennies to order one child’s plate, which we would all split. That, along with baskets and baskets of chips and that yummy green sauce would be our lunch. And we would order water and lots of lemons, and put sugar in the it to make our own lemonade right there at the table.
Oh yes. They loved the sight of us walking in in our Catholic school uniforms.
November 15th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Rachel @ badgersontheloose says:
Melanie, you make my mouth water with envy. I grew up in Southern New Mexico, home of the green chile. Now I live in the north, where I assure you they have never heard of the Taco Norteno. Nope, here they think a sweet bell pepper is spicy. It’s a sad, sad fate for a Mexican food lover.
November 17th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Amber says:
I have recently discovered the wonder and love a Taco Norteno can bring…except with queso freco instead of Montery Jack. I am truly truly addicted to Queso Fresco. MMMMM.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:02 am
lauradodson says:
Monterey House on Gessner. ’nuff said.
Um, forget that…do you remember the brown sugary candy at the bottom of the basket? DUDE! Whenever my parents said we were going to Monterey House, I did the happy dance. I remember it vividly.
Now, living farther South than Houston, I have friends that cook the real deal. YUM-O!
November 18th, 2008 at 9:14 am