BajaNews - 5-3-2006 at 12:41 AM
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/travel/story.html?id...
Laura Paquette
May 02, 2006
TIJUANA -- If your taste buds need a wakeup call, take them to Mexico. In four weeks, we could not even come close to sampling all that the country
has to offer. But we certainly made a valiant attempt.
The key is to have an open mind. We ate food from street vendors, convenience stores, markets, bakeries ... you name it. More than once, we ordered
something from the menu without knowing what it was. Even with this element of mystery, we were seldom disappointed.
Our Berlitz phrase book included a "menu guide." This feature came in handy when we ate something tasty and didn't know what it was.
The delicious meals we had ranged from simple pork tacos in Tijuana to Oysters a la Mexicana on the beach in San Blas. In Mazatlan, we had
all-you-can-eat seafood for only $10 US. We definitely got our money's worth.
In Tijuana, we came across a restaurant that strangely claims to have invented the caesar salad. We didn't try its version of the salad, but they were
quite proud of it.
One thing you can't avoid eating in Mexico is a taco. They come in all varieties and taste fantastic, especially when they come with a bit of
guacamole on top.
Interestingly, despite our searching, we could not find a hard-shell taco. The closest thing we found is a tostada, which is hard and flat. When it
comes to tacos, they are always made with soft tortillas and usually small enough to eat with one hand.
If you want to take a break from eating traditional Mexican food for awhile, there are plenty of options in most cities. I was surprised at the number
of sushi restaurants with decent quality Maki rolls of every kind.
One Mexican restaurant chain worth trying is called Pollo Feliz (happy chicken). They specialize in rotisserie chicken served with salsa and
tortillas. French fries are usually standard, too. The price is great and the quality is on par with Swiss Chalet.
Of course, with any good meal, good drinks are essential. There is no shortage in Mexico, all for unbelievable prices. If you pay more than $2 US for
a beer in a restaurant, you're paying too much. In Tijuana, two margaritas cost $3.50 US.
The most interesting beverage by far, however, was called a Michelada. It consists of beer, tequila, lime juice and sometimes a dash of tomato juice.
These were usually served in one-litre portions for about $2.50 US.
Several people we encountered during our journey could not believe how "adventurous" we were when it came to eating the local food.
We met a retired Canadian couple who brought six months' worth of frozen food in their large RV. They had been camping at the same beach for 29 years,
but were unable to recommend any local restaurants.
Many travellers to Mexico fear that the restaurants are dirty. They often argue that the way food is prepared can't possibly be as hygienic as the
standards we are used to in Canada.
It was helpful that both of us have worked in the kitchens of Edmonton restaurants. Trust me when I say that the hygiene in Mexico is comparable. The
only difference is that in Canada you usually can't see the kitchen.
Truthfully, the only time either of us became ill was en route to Mexico, in Las Vegas, after eating a few 99-cent hot dogs. As a general rule, any
room-temperature meat product that costs less than one dollar is not the best choice.
From our experience, there is absolutely no reason to be afraid of the food in Mexico. Be open-minded and your taste buds will thank you.
Don Alley - 5-3-2006 at 08:26 AM
"We met a retired Canadian couple who brought six months' worth of frozen food in their large RV. They had been camping at the same beach for 29
years, but were unable to recommend any local restaurants."
Canadians. Ther're just so cute, eh?