I'm continually asked how I like the food in Monterrey. I don't know how to make it clear that I eat Mexican AT LEAST twice a week in LA.
So let's talk about eating here in Monterrey. I eat at home most of the time.
But after some event at night, you get a little hungry...thank goodness that all taquerias in Mexico are open at night. Most are ONLY open at night. At least, the cheap joints are.
You got your basic tacos with asada, arrachera, or trompo...or there are the quesadillas.
Pirata--quesadilla with flour tortilla with carne asada...heavier on the carne asada. This is awesome because in the states, you get a steak quesadilla and it's cheese and little bits of meat that you have to search to find.
Gringa--quesadilla with flour/corn with trompo
Campechana--a quesadilla with flour/corn with both carne asada and trompo.
Trompo--pork that we call al pastor back in LA...the kind on a spinning "top" (trompo) like gyros
Arrachera--still can't figure out the difference between this and carne asada. Supposedly it's a better cut of beef...but they're both flank steak. Marketing. Monterrey's got arrachera signs everywhere instead of carne asada.
Papa asada--they bake a giant potato (or two smaller ones together) in foil on the grill, then they cut open the potato and smash it within the skin in a foil 'bowl'...then they take a big spoonful or two (think the spoon you use for cooking) of mantequilla (butter...but really they use margarine) and then pour on the cheese. Velveeta. mmmm. Then they put in the meat...asada or trompo or both. Then you can get grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, and avocado slices. Real healthy stuff.
Notice that I haven't mentioned chicken. The Regios (natives of Monterrey) love their meat. I eat chicken at home.
I have yet to eat cabrito. That would be roasted goat kid...a specialty here. There's a chain restaurant called El Rey de Cabritos...the king of goats...The one near the center looks like it takes up a city block and always looks packed. Like I said, they like their meat. If I do go, I'll try to take pictures. Before and after.
Back to the taqueria--for $4o (that's less than $4 US) I got a pirata gigante last night after church. It was large and filled me up. Pile on the grilled onions, salsa, lime, and cilantro and you got one messy meal...meat falling out all over the place. I love this city, meat lover that I am.
Taco plates always come with 5 tacos. I'm still trying to figure that out...4 aren't enough and 6 too much? Maybe for your average person. You can always buy additional tacos...the average cost is about $8 (60 cents) each. But they're the bitty ones.
Then there's just the concept of late night eating. We got to this taqueria over by El Tec (the tecnological university of Monterrey) at 9:30 and there was hardly anyone there. An hour and a half later, after just sitting there and yapping, the place started to fill up. On a Sunday night. Not bad for folks who gotta get up for work...well, there were mostly students.
Then of course, there's all the same stuff you find back home...McDonald's (although not very many and they don't have iced coffee!! so why bother??! or maybe I'm just not looking), Burger King, Carl's Jr, Pizza Hut, Dominoes, KFC, and of course, EL POLLO LOCO.
El Pollo Loco here only serves chicken with select sides. No chicken tacos because, of course, you make your own with the corn tortillas that still fall apart here, too, by the way. There aren't chicken burritos or pollo bowls or chicken quesadillas on the menu. Just chicken and the salsa bar. But here's one thing I love about El Pollo Loco in Mexico. They keep fresh tortilla chips (totopos as they're called here) at the salsa bar. I LOVE chips and salsa. You fill up on totopos and salsa while waiting for your order.
I can also find other things that I would back home...like boba. :> Neener neener. Except they just call it tapioca here 'cause bobo/a means stupid.
Movies are cheaper here, but the real beauty of the movie theaters is that they make fresh crepes...filled with yummy goodness like Nutella. Halleluyer!
All this eating...it's no wonder that this guy is from Monterrey:
World's heaviest man marries in Mexico
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jKhzniC1FpelvLRBq1wNsFKhiyIAD942MA680
It's probably a good thing that I'm only here for 6 months...
So let's talk about eating here in Monterrey. I eat at home most of the time.
But after some event at night, you get a little hungry...thank goodness that all taquerias in Mexico are open at night. Most are ONLY open at night. At least, the cheap joints are.
You got your basic tacos with asada, arrachera, or trompo...or there are the quesadillas.
Pirata--quesadilla with flour tortilla with carne asada...heavier on the carne asada. This is awesome because in the states, you get a steak quesadilla and it's cheese and little bits of meat that you have to search to find.
Gringa--quesadilla with flour/corn with trompo
Campechana--a quesadilla with flour/corn with both carne asada and trompo.
Trompo--pork that we call al pastor back in LA...the kind on a spinning "top" (trompo) like gyros
Arrachera--still can't figure out the difference between this and carne asada. Supposedly it's a better cut of beef...but they're both flank steak. Marketing. Monterrey's got arrachera signs everywhere instead of carne asada.
Papa asada--they bake a giant potato (or two smaller ones together) in foil on the grill, then they cut open the potato and smash it within the skin in a foil 'bowl'...then they take a big spoonful or two (think the spoon you use for cooking) of mantequilla (butter...but really they use margarine) and then pour on the cheese. Velveeta. mmmm. Then they put in the meat...asada or trompo or both. Then you can get grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, and avocado slices. Real healthy stuff.
Notice that I haven't mentioned chicken. The Regios (natives of Monterrey) love their meat. I eat chicken at home.
I have yet to eat cabrito. That would be roasted goat kid...a specialty here. There's a chain restaurant called El Rey de Cabritos...the king of goats...The one near the center looks like it takes up a city block and always looks packed. Like I said, they like their meat. If I do go, I'll try to take pictures. Before and after.
Back to the taqueria--for $4o (that's less than $4 US) I got a pirata gigante last night after church. It was large and filled me up. Pile on the grilled onions, salsa, lime, and cilantro and you got one messy meal...meat falling out all over the place. I love this city, meat lover that I am.
Taco plates always come with 5 tacos. I'm still trying to figure that out...4 aren't enough and 6 too much? Maybe for your average person. You can always buy additional tacos...the average cost is about $8 (60 cents) each. But they're the bitty ones.
Then there's just the concept of late night eating. We got to this taqueria over by El Tec (the tecnological university of Monterrey) at 9:30 and there was hardly anyone there. An hour and a half later, after just sitting there and yapping, the place started to fill up. On a Sunday night. Not bad for folks who gotta get up for work...well, there were mostly students.
Then of course, there's all the same stuff you find back home...McDonald's (although not very many and they don't have iced coffee!! so why bother??! or maybe I'm just not looking), Burger King, Carl's Jr, Pizza Hut, Dominoes, KFC, and of course, EL POLLO LOCO.
El Pollo Loco here only serves chicken with select sides. No chicken tacos because, of course, you make your own with the corn tortillas that still fall apart here, too, by the way. There aren't chicken burritos or pollo bowls or chicken quesadillas on the menu. Just chicken and the salsa bar. But here's one thing I love about El Pollo Loco in Mexico. They keep fresh tortilla chips (totopos as they're called here) at the salsa bar. I LOVE chips and salsa. You fill up on totopos and salsa while waiting for your order.
I can also find other things that I would back home...like boba. :> Neener neener. Except they just call it tapioca here 'cause bobo/a means stupid.
Movies are cheaper here, but the real beauty of the movie theaters is that they make fresh crepes...filled with yummy goodness like Nutella. Halleluyer!
All this eating...it's no wonder that this guy is from Monterrey:
World's heaviest man marries in Mexico
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jKhzniC1FpelvLRBq1wNsFKhiyIAD942MA680
It's probably a good thing that I'm only here for 6 months...
I thought I'd show you one of the yummies...a pirata...notice that there's no cheese oozing out. That's because it's ALL MEAT. mmm
5 comments:
RANDOM COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID:
BOBA: it's funny you say that coz in the philippines bobo/a means stupid too...that's why i snicker underneath my breathe every time i say BOBA :)
MEAT SPILLING OVER THE PLACE: nice. maybe i should think about being missionary there too. i seriously don't think there are going to be any vegetables in heaven.
MOVIES WITH CREPES: Halleluyer indeed!i think heaven will have lots of nutellas.
MCD's WITHOUT ICED COFFEE: sad news. ice coffee is da bomb!
IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING THAT I'M ONLY HERE FOR SIX MONTHS: are u SURE about that? is that what HE said?!?! :D haha just playing with ya!
FATTEST GUY GETTING MARRIED: for NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE with GOD. even if the fat guy ain't a christian,God still provided for him.
after reading that article...i thought to myself, as single women, we cant ever say "whats wrong with me?" or "he probably doesn't like me coz im fat!" coz surely beauty is in the eye of the beholder ;)
i miss you.
i totally had to send leo to taco bell for some AUTHENTIC mexican food after reading your post! LOL i just posted some new pics of the boys. hope you're doing well, sounds like it. we miss you and lucas especially misses his tita.
crepes with nutella while you watch movies? Stop.it.
Raymond just put in a new soda machine here with Mr. Pibb. Help me, Lord!!
meatlovers unite! *upward fist motion*
so i read about the uribe fellow awhile back when he was still the fattest man and was only beginning to shed the pounds. he accepted Christ as his savior two years ago. he already had thoughts of killing himself but when he became a christian he decided to lose weight instead and become a testimony of God's goodness.
here's a blog similar to the article.
http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2008/06/manuel-uribe-celebrates-43rd-birthday.html
><)))> <(((><
fish be with you.
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