I believe I’m the only gringa in the unit where I work. I can say that and don’t really care who is offended. It was more of a term of endearment when I was a kid and I don’t care what the PC police now say.
Actually, as a kid we spent a lot of time in Baja and I came to love the culture, especially the food and the music. Anyone who knows me knows that if I’m asked where I want to eat, it will be a Mexican restaurant, and I don’t mean Del Taco. Last week it was Mitlas and this week Las Palmas; La Casita if I’m here in the desert. I think I could eat Mexican food three times a day and never get tired of it.
We seem to discuss food a lot at work. Yesterday it was Mole and today it was Tortas. When I worked at Del Rosa, there was a great place down the street to get Tortas. I’ve learned that good Tortas are an art and not always easy to find. Today I asked if there was a good place for Tortas nearby. Well I was directed to somewhere that I cannot remember the name of. When I walked in I realized I was the only gringa in the place. I also discovered that no one there spoke English. Ordering was fun. I didn’t care as long as I didn’t get the Cabeza Torta. I ended up with pork–they used a term for it I had never heard of and then finally asked me if I wanted Carnitas, which we all understood. OMG, I have not had such a good Torta in years. It was complete with Mexican cheese and avocado. The pork was so tender and cooked in a really good sauce. They have a new fan.
I had also been told they sold “Mexican Coke” and they did. I have to say I enjoyed the whole bottle. Finally, they had the yam/sweet potato/pumpkin candy (I had to point as they had no idea what I wanted and I couldn’t tell from looking at it which was which, nor could I tell from eating it. All I know is I ate the whole thing.
Anyway, Patty has said she is going to try to bring in tamales for us. I can hardly wait. There are lots of vendors selling them in the local WalMart parking lot but they usually catch me when I have no cash or when I’m entering the store but are gone by the time I leave. One day I’m buying a dozen and eating all I want!
Geez, what does any of this have to do with politics? I guess this story made me hungry at 1 a.m.
By Joe Smilor on December 4, 2008 8:02 PM
During the rest of the year, a tamale is part of a meal.
But during the Christmas holidays, the tamale is a delicious present from the past, a taste of family and a rich Latino heritage unwrapped with special joy.
Every bite is a memory, of Grandma, Mom, your favorite tia, of long and happy hours in the kitchen mixing the masa and creating perfect packets of chile and shredded pork or beef or chicken that are wrapped lovingly in corn husks.
(more…)