I will never forget the first Mexican street taco I ate. It was from a cart in Mexico City and it was a revelation, having previously thought that the crunchy tacos from Taco Bell were the real deal. Since then, I’ve probably eaten a thousand tacos from dozens and dozens of different sources. I’ve rarely met a taco I didn’t like, but some are better than others. … [Read more...]
No-Cook Restaurant Style Salsa Recipe
I love chips and salsa. However, I’ve yet to find store bought salsa that is anywhere near as good as that which most Mexican restaurants serve. Well, here is a salsa recipe that I really like for making restaurant style salsa without having to cook anything at all! Ingredients: 1 14.5 oz. can whole tomatoes, with juice 1 10 oz. can Rotel diced tomatoes with green … [Read more...]
TALES OF TAKEOUT #11—Sandy Sensation: Sobe Eats
A few years ago, during a Made in Utah festival hosted by Utah Stories, I met the three brothers behind a unique culinary concept called Sobe Eats. The brothers are Salvador Soberanis, Fernando Soberanis, and Victor Soberanis - hence “Sobe.” Maybe they thought Soberanis Eats was a little too clunky sounding. The Soberanis’ are all professional chefs who have worked at high … [Read more...]
Fill ‘Er Up! Bargain Hunting at Lorena’s Mexican Restaurant
In the beginning there was La Frontera restaurant - a family-owned place that would go on, over time, to spin-off Mexican eateries such as La Puente, La Luna, La Fountain, Cafe Silvestre and Lorena’s. I won’t go into all the details and family tree here, but there’s a good article in The Salt Lake Tribune archives that gives an accounting of the “genealogy” of popular Utah … [Read more...]
Oaxacan-Style Chicken Barbacoa Recipe
This Christmas, a friend of mine - Chef Dave Jones of Log Haven - gave me an awesome cookbook called OAXACA: Home Cooking from the Heart of Mexico by Bricia Lopez. The Lopez family owns and operates Los Angeles’ renown Mexican restaurant Guelaguetza. I’ve spent many months in Oaxaca, but have never found an English language cookbook that captures the vibrant flavors of … [Read more...]
Family Values: Dropping in on Taqueria Los Lee
At its most basic, the taco - a beautiful thing - is a simple (if holy) trinity: a tortilla, stuffing, and salsa. Of course, those three humble components can spawn a near infinite variety of taco types with an equally mind-boggling array of fillings, garnishes, and salsas. That the taco has become a cornerstone of many American diets is proof that God is good. Need more proof? … [Read more...]
Tasting Mexico at Alamexo Cantina
Matthew Lake has a passion for Mexican fare Matthew Lake, the owner and executive chef at Alamexo Mexican Kitchen and its newer offspring Alamexo Cantina, is passionate about Mexican cuisine. He doesn’t cut corners when it comes to sourcing ingredients, which is one of the things that separates his Mexican meals from so many others. To wit, he tasted and tested more than one … [Read more...]
Alamexo: A Downtown Treat
Benjamin Franklin said, “Do not live to eat, eat to live.” However, it is hard to stick to this rule after a very hard week when enjoying our weekend encompasses great food and delicious drinks. We decided to try a new place this time, Alamexo, that opened last November. Alamexo rose from the former Zy’s in only four days. “We kept our same local sourcing of ingredients and … [Read more...]