Today is a sad day for America

[UnrepentantSinner]

One city where is it very,very, difficult to get decent Mexican food, is London. The situtation is pretty grim. The only two decent places I have encountered is a place called La Pacifica near Convent Garden, and a Tex Mex place called "The Republic of Texas" right off of Trafalgar Square.

{TAM 2 Anecdote}
Peter Bowditch made a special trip to Outback steakhouse and told the host, "mate, I'm the most Australian thing in here".
{/TAM 2 Anecdote}

If I ever make it to London I'll have to try a similar thing with The Republic of Texas.

Tex-Mex is simply heat.

Uh, no. And I can say that since I'm also a fan of Southwest. Tex-Mex is just a different flavor.

 

[rwguinn]

{TAM 2 Anecdote}
Peter Bowditch made a special trip to Outback steakhouse and told the host, "mate, I'm the most Australian thing in here".
{/TAM 2 Anecdote}

If I ever make it to London I'll have to try a similar thing with The Republic of Texas.



Uh, no. And I can say that since I'm also a fan of Southwest. Tex-Mex is just a different flavor.

We shall have to disagree on that, then.
I am native to New Mexico and Texas, thus you MUST respect my Authori-tie.

 

[Roadtoad]

My dad's family was originally from Texas. One of the things he was noted for was his love of REAL Mexican food, and I don't mean anything from Chevy's. (Too bland, just right for jueros.)

According to a family friend, he and my dad would go to a little place near the Coliseum in LA. They'd have to take along a copy of the Times, appropriately rolled, because while the food was wonderful, you'd constantly have to keep swatting the cockroaches who wanted to share your enchiladas.

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

We shall have to disagree on that, then.
I am native to New Mexico and Texas, thus you MUST respect my Authori-tie.

I'm a Texan jus sanginous, have lived here my entire adult life and my parents introduced enchiladas to mom's side of the family in Mass. So there!

 

[Hokulele]

I was walking along Kapiolani Street when a car full of tourists pulled up alongside of me. The driver leaned out of his window and asked, "Where is the closest good Mexican restaurant?"

I answered, "California."

Sad, but true.

 

[Roadtoad]

I was walking along Kapiolani Street when a car full of tourists pulled up alongside of me. The driver leaned out of his window and asked, "Where is the closest good Mexican restaurant?"

I answered, "California."

Sad, but true.

The worst part of it is: Which part of California?

Sacramento? Forget it.

 

[rwguinn]

I'm a Texan jus sanginous, have lived here my entire adult life and my parents introduced enchiladas to mom's side of the family in Mass. So there!

I am Texan jus soli and jus sanguinis (G'g'g-Uncle David was kilt at the Alamo) and New Mexican by virtue of "right of discovery" Ok, maybe not)
My soli and sanguinis beats your sanguinis (unless, of course, you shoot out the lights and kick the table over)

 

[CelticRose]

Try finding an "Air Sienna Moompah"* anywhere in Anaheim...



* - That's an "RC and a Moon Pie" to those not raised in the Midwest.

RC Cola? My word, I haven't heard of that since I stopped talking to my dad about 16-17 years ago. That was his beverage of choice.

Being an Arizona native, I think I can state with some authority that Taco Bell is not Mexican food. It's not even Tex-Mex, Sonoran cuisine, Mexican-American food, or whatever else you want to call the version of Mexican food served in the U.S.

I've been there once, admittedly over a decade ago, and was served a bowl full of what was supposed to be refried beans and looked like something else (think scatological here) topped with imitation cheese. I poured two entire packets of the "hot" sauce over it -- it may as well have been catsup. No heat at all. I haven't been back since. [/rant]

 

[rwguinn]

RC Cola? My word, I haven't heard of that since I stopped talking to my dad about 16-17 years ago. That was his beverage of choice.

Being an Arizona native, I think I can state with some authority that Taco Bell is not Mexican food. It's not even Tex-Mex, Sonoran cuisine, Mexican-American food, or whatever else you want to call the version of Mexican food served in the U.S.

I've been there once, admittedly over a decade ago, and was served a bowl full of what was supposed to be refried beans and looked like something else (think scatological here) topped with imitation cheese. I poured two entire packets of the "hot" sauce over it -- it may as well have been catsup. No heat at all. I haven't been back since. [/rant]

I lived in Roswell, NM from 96-2003. The South side of town had a Taco Bell, as did the North. The South side Taco Bell closed because they couldn't compete with the "hole in the wall" mom & pop burrito and taco stands. I found it humorous...

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

I am Texan jus soli and jus sanguinis (G'g'g-Uncle David was kilt at the Alamo) and New Mexican by virtue of "right of discovery" Ok, maybe not)
My soli and sanguinis beats your sanguinis (unless, of course, you shoot out the lights and kick the table over)

Never! Did you vicariously through your father who was born in Texas introduce your mothers family to Tex Mex? Unless you have some such similar story with either Tex Mex or Southwestern I reject your technical geographical birthright superiority.

 

[UnrepentantSinner]

Had a volcano taco tonight along with my two baja gorditas. A tasty change of pace, but not the second coming of the one true taco.

 

[Ferguson]

I will miss the Volcano Big Box meal, it's back to the Beef Chalupa Supreme and Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes for me.

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

The only thing that can make up for this is the permanent inclusion of the McRib sandwich on the McDonald's menu.

Or better yet, the Chedder Melt!

 

[Checkmite]

I know that making fun of/putting down fast food chain restaurants and referring to their food as various levels of inedible if not disgusting is the "in vogue" thing to do around these parts, but unfortunately I'm unable to join in. I'll concur that it isn't exactly gourmet cuisine. But when I think of those instances of restaurant-made food that I've promised myself I absolutely would never eat again even if I could, I have to say that not a single one of them came from fast-food joints.

I have yet to try something from McDonald's or Wendy's or KFC that wouldn't do just fine in a pinch.

 

[Roadtoad]

I know that making fun of/putting down fast food chain restaurants and referring to their food as various levels of inedible if not disgusting is the "in vogue" thing to do around these parts, but unfortunately I'm unable to join in. I'll concur that it isn't exactly gourmet cuisine. But when I think of those instances of restaurant-made food that I've promised myself I absolutely would never eat again even if I could, I have to say that not a single one of them came from fast-food joints.

I have yet to try something from McDonald's or Wendy's or KFC that wouldn't do just fine in a pinch.

In pinch. Fine.

But we're talking about the need for REAL food.

Personally, we have the "roach coaches" in NorCal, and some of those have tacos to die for, and one of their burritos can see you through a good 600 miles without a stop.

 

[Cicero]

I'd like to point out that even though I have legitimate Mexican restaurants where I live (and I bet cwalner would agree with this) sometimes you just have to have a volcano taco or some other fake Mexican food item.

For the lovers of the volcano taco, never fear. Taco Hell usually replaces one discontinued item with something new. I'm sure there will be a replacement soon.

How fake can it be if it is made by Hispanics and served by Hispanics?

 

[Cicero]

Fast food joints have different menus for different areas. In Chicago, for example, you can get KFC Spicy chicken or Original in black neighborhoods. In white and Hispanic neighborhoods your options are Original or Crispy. In mixed neighborhoods it's a crap shoot which options you get.

But the spicy recipe is the best!

Popeye's beats KFC in all neighborhoods.

 

[Cicero]

RC Cola? My word, I haven't heard of that since I stopped talking to my dad about 16-17 years ago. That was his beverage of choice.

Being an Arizona native, I think I can state with some authority that Taco Bell is not Mexican food. It's not even Tex-Mex, Sonoran cuisine, Mexican-American food, or whatever else you want to call the version of Mexican food served in the U.S.

I've been there once, admittedly over a decade ago, and was served a bowl full of what was supposed to be refried beans and looked like something else (think scatological here) topped with imitation cheese. I poured two entire packets of the "hot" sauce over it -- it may as well have been catsup. No heat at all. I haven't been back since. [/rant]

It seems that the "real" Mexican food restaurants in AZ have a difficult time passing food inspections. Taco Bell may not have the requisite spice, but at least they seem to cook the ingredients to the proper standard.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/busine..._food_inspections_5_pass_followups/index.html

13 Major Violations:
LOS ARMANDO'S MEXICAN FOOD, 5105 W THOMAS RD, PHOENIX 85031

10 Major Violations:
COMEDOR GUADALAJARA, 1830 S CENTRAL AVE, PHOENIX 85004
BARRIO FIESTA, 941 W ELLIOT RD, CHANDLER 85224

 

[CelticRose]

It seems that the "real" Mexican food restaurants in AZ have a difficult time passing food inspections. Taco Bell may not have the requisite spice, but at least they seem to cook the ingredients to the proper standard.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/busine..._food_inspections_5_pass_followups/index.html

13 Major Violations:
LOS ARMANDO'S MEXICAN FOOD, 5105 W THOMAS RD, PHOENIX 85031

10 Major Violations:
COMEDOR GUADALAJARA, 1830 S CENTRAL AVE, PHOENIX 85004
BARRIO FIESTA, 941 W ELLIOT RD, CHANDLER 85224

Where did you get your data from? Your link shows data for the Tucson area, but you've listed restaurants in the Phoenix area.

Also, only 8 businesses in the Tucson area and 3 in the Phoenix area failing the inspections or having a large number of major violations doesn't seem that excessive. In fact, considering the little mom and pop places that spring up seemingly every five minutes around here, only 11 bad ones in the two metro areas sounds pretty darn good to me!

There are plenty of perfectly reliable Mexican food chains around here that serve better food than Taco Bell as well.

 

[Cicero]

Where did you get your data from? Your link shows data for the Tucson area, but you've listed restaurants in the Phoenix area.

Also, only 8 businesses in the Tucson area and 3 in the Phoenix area failing the inspections or having a large number of major violations doesn't seem that excessive. In fact, considering the little mom and pop places that spring up seemingly every five minutes around here, only 11 bad ones in the two metro areas sounds pretty darn good to me!

There are plenty of perfectly reliable Mexican food chains around here that serve better food than Taco Bell as well.

Let's see. Both cities in AZ with the posted info showing the number of complaints in two Phoenix "Mexican" restaurants and a link showing violations in Tuscon "Mexican" restaurants.

Mexican cuisine is not exactly extensive or difficult to prepare, yet so many of these non-fast food "Mexican" restaurants are hideous. Perhaps that is why there are so many M&P Mexican restaurants in your area. If any of these places could do it right, they wouldn't have so much competition.

Even the up scale Vincent on Camelback Southwestern cuisine is a crap shoot.

The Taco Bell menu isn't much different from these M&P menus, and if nothing else, TB is consistent in their quality. How difficult is it for you to add your own store purchased hot sauce to improve the kick of a TB offering? If TB could serve Tecate/Dos Equis/Carte Blanca it would leave most of the other sit down Mexican restaurants in the dust.