paddy cake paddy cake microwave
june 12, 2008
my two prior excursions in search of a good local burrito, at taqueria tierra caliente and taco & burrito express #3, were two too cold and too bland, respectively. but the burrito i got from the taqueria inside carnaceria guanajuato was delicious, and is the closest thing to a mission-style burrito i've yet to find. i'll be the first to admit that my disappointment of the first two burritos may have had less to do with taste or quality (temperature, though, i'm standing firm on that), and more to do with having had my burrito coming-of-age in the san francisco bay area.
i'd come to expect a burrito to be available in two sizes: regular and super; it to be filled with a choice meat or vegetables, beans, rice, and salsa (regular) - perhaps additional cheese, guacamole, and sour cream (super); the tortilla to be warm, almost steamy, and for it all to be rolled up whole and wrapped in aluminum foil. it offers everything that is tasty, often combined in perfect quantities, and, based on the option of size, conscientious of how hungry i am.
these "chicago-style burritos" are a huge step down. still with a choice of meat or vegetables, but only available in one size. and instead of the glorious blend of ingredients hailed above, it's a jumble of meat/vegetables, beans, chunks of lettuce, chunks of tomato, and cheese, then wrapped up, grilled, and sliced in two. the difference is not minimal. it's obvious it's worse: where's the burrito fanatic who loves this style so much he's written a wiki page about it? answer: no fanatic and no page, so consequently, no good.
i should have known how good carnaceria guanajuato would be - it was the first taqueria i walked into (before either of the two above) and the counter was packed. it was lunch time. i was hungry. i moved on. but this past sunday, in response to that "ever-ravenous" hangover stomach, i stopped in at 3pm. the counter deserted i easily made placed my carnitas burrito order and was home in no time. first: the burrito was not sliced in two! second: rice!! third: guacamole!!! fourth: salsa!!!! however, there was lettuce - though thinly shredded, not big icy quadrants of it sporadically located. and it's not quite the same as stuffing your face late-night at taqueria cancun, but these are countered by the fact it was a mere $3.64. luckily i'm only 1 month into my lease and have 11 more.
other notables:
- friends brian and karen were married on saturday. congratulations!
- mike w. was in town sunday. we had an excellent time running amuck for several hours, including beers on the stoop, outside pizza eating and beer drinking, whiskey/coke drinking and pool (two previous activities with new chicago friend bijou), a walk to another bar for another beer, a taxi ride for mozarella sticks, and falling asleep watching koyaanisqatsi.
- finally, been ridiculously productive this week. seriously, like my brain is firing on all 12 cylinders - that's right, 12. my brian's like an expensive european sedan.
i'd come to expect a burrito to be available in two sizes: regular and super; it to be filled with a choice meat or vegetables, beans, rice, and salsa (regular) - perhaps additional cheese, guacamole, and sour cream (super); the tortilla to be warm, almost steamy, and for it all to be rolled up whole and wrapped in aluminum foil. it offers everything that is tasty, often combined in perfect quantities, and, based on the option of size, conscientious of how hungry i am.
these "chicago-style burritos" are a huge step down. still with a choice of meat or vegetables, but only available in one size. and instead of the glorious blend of ingredients hailed above, it's a jumble of meat/vegetables, beans, chunks of lettuce, chunks of tomato, and cheese, then wrapped up, grilled, and sliced in two. the difference is not minimal. it's obvious it's worse: where's the burrito fanatic who loves this style so much he's written a wiki page about it? answer: no fanatic and no page, so consequently, no good.
i should have known how good carnaceria guanajuato would be - it was the first taqueria i walked into (before either of the two above) and the counter was packed. it was lunch time. i was hungry. i moved on. but this past sunday, in response to that "ever-ravenous" hangover stomach, i stopped in at 3pm. the counter deserted i easily made placed my carnitas burrito order and was home in no time. first: the burrito was not sliced in two! second: rice!! third: guacamole!!! fourth: salsa!!!! however, there was lettuce - though thinly shredded, not big icy quadrants of it sporadically located. and it's not quite the same as stuffing your face late-night at taqueria cancun, but these are countered by the fact it was a mere $3.64. luckily i'm only 1 month into my lease and have 11 more.
other notables:
- friends brian and karen were married on saturday. congratulations!
- mike w. was in town sunday. we had an excellent time running amuck for several hours, including beers on the stoop, outside pizza eating and beer drinking, whiskey/coke drinking and pool (two previous activities with new chicago friend bijou), a walk to another bar for another beer, a taxi ride for mozarella sticks, and falling asleep watching koyaanisqatsi.
- finally, been ridiculously productive this week. seriously, like my brain is firing on all 12 cylinders - that's right, 12. my brian's like an expensive european sedan.