Mexican Food.. or is it all Tex Mex?

Ask my wife what my favorite food is and she will tell you it's Mexican.  Whenever we go out and I ask her where she'd like to go, she usually asks back where I'd like to go and then realizes her mistake too late because she knows what I am going to say! Oh yeah baby!  But is what I eat truly Mexican food?  I would have to say that 85% of the time it is actually Tex-Mex cuisine.

So where did my love of Mexican food come from?  Maybe it started from eating dinner next door when I was about 11 or 12. The family next door was the Serna's. Mr. Serna was in the Army and he had a son and a beautiful daughter named Jennifer.  No one really knew this, but my first crush was on her. I remember our family eating over there one day. The only thing I can recall is the frijoles. I think I ended up having thirds caused I liked them so much. Jennifer thought I was nuts and when I asked her if she liked them she said they had them all the time and was tired of them. For me it was my first taste. I can't even remember having tacos nights at this time. I do remember having tacos at home later, but not till I was in my teens and it was Old El Paso brand stuff.

What came next was the Del Taco restaurants and then Taco Bells. I really miss the Del Taco chain. I would stop at one on my way to or from work at the Home Depot and I preferred them to Taco Bell which was everywhere as a teen.  I still eat at Taco Bell once a month or so as it is quick and so damn good.

But I prefer is a sit down place with good salsa.  The first one I started to go to on a regular basis was El Toro Mexican restaurant in Valdosta, Ga where I was going to college after my accident.  The salsa is a basic red with plenty of heat. My favorite meal ended up being the chicken flautas. Whenever I am down we still go here if time permits and that is what I have. It never tastes the same at the other places I go to.  Now at the time I had no other exposure to salsa other than theirs. Boy was my world about to turn upside down!


Once I got married and moved back to the south of Atlanta area I started to look for more Mexican restaurants. The first one we started to go to was La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant.  Wow, right then I learned that not all salsa was created equal! It had small bits of onion and tomato and OMG the cilantro! For me that's what I like best. Cilantro! Now I judge the places based on their cilantro content. My wife really liked La Hacienda when Diego was working there. He was older like ourselves and sounded like he belonged in a swanky upper class restaurant! Eventually he left and my wife got sick from something with chicken so we don't visit very often. Also they played the music way too loud.

The next place for me to frequent was Frontera's Mex- Mex Grill in Conyers since I was working down the street from it.  Now I know what I said about I judge these places on salsa but Frontera's a little different. They have a roasted tomato/pepper salsa which is really really good and a basic red. What I liked about this place was the service. After about a year I figured I knew who the best waiter was and requested his section every time. He was good and I went there so much he knew what I drank and wanted so when I sat down he came to my table with my sweet tea with an extra cup of ice and extra salsa for my chips.  My normal fare is the Xochilt soup and Carnitas "Michoacan".  I don't go here as much as Carlos has now moved on to New York (according to co-workers). Good service is a really big deal to me!

While going to the above on a frequent basis I discovered a place called San Diego grill located in Mcdonough. The salsa was very much like La Hacienda and I went here so much that one of the guys knew me by sight and service got really good. I think his name was Gambino. He even introduced me to his wife and kids!  Now here it was all about the salsa and good service! I almost always got chips and salsa to go! This place was my favorite place and is where my wife and I went to whenever we ate out. Sadly, Gambino stopped working there and I felt service really suffered. Next thing I know they closed up shop but there is another one in Locust Grove that I visit. Sadly, they changed the salsa recipe to exclude onions and it's not my favorite anymore.  We still stop by here and there but I've just be so unhappy. At least it still has Cilantro, but not as much as before.

Recently my bride and I tried a new place in Stockbridge called Pueblo Viejo. Salsa is good and comparable to San Diego Grill before the change. Service was nice and food was really good. Will have to visit more to know more. I paid cash as I read things online about this place warning use of credit cards. :)

This next is called Toribo's located in  McDonough by the Applebee's. I have visited before and I was not happy with the salsa. No cilantro! Anyway my wife and I went out and decided we would try it again. OMG! they have cilantro in the salsa again! Apparently from what I read they had been going back and forth on this and finally settled on this as it got more positive feedback. The server was good and I got something that was oh so good. I checked their website and it's not on the online menu but it had steak,chicken,shrimp and chorizo with onions and lots of cheese served in a giant volcano rock mortar! Sooo good!

One last place is called Pacho's in Covington. The food is good, but it's usually in the opposite direction that we need to be for shopping so we go here very little. I know a former co-worker that loves this place as does my dad. Every time I go I just haven't been comfortable. Just doesn't feel friendly.  It's been so long that I can't even remember what kind of salsa they have.




Well. That's pretty much it. Gonna take a break from Mexican and cook some Italian tonight. What do you like about Mexican food? Just leave a comment! Adios!