Friday, May 11, 2012

So Many Choices, It's Not Fair

I had to run some errands today which brought me to the city of New Rochelle, which was founded by Huguenots fleeing persecution in France. New Rochelle is a very ethnically diverse community, and has had a sizable Mexican-American population for the past four decades. New Rochelle's Mexican restaurants are the best in my neck of the woods, and even Mexican food aficianados living in New York City would be well-advised to check them out.

After parking in front of a friend's (he's the guy who hired me to work at for The Gates project) place of business, I ran to the bank, passing such fantastic Mexican restaurants as The Little Mexican Cafe, The Mexican Corner Restaurant, La Herradura Mexican Pizzeria and Restaurant. I also passed by Indian restaurants Rangoli and Coromandel and Peruvian restaurants La Brisa Marina and Cholo's Kitchen. Golden Krust Jamaican Bakery was also within easy walking distance. Each place beckoned, but I was in the mood for some tacos from hole-in-the-wall wonder El Michoacano. Having a ravenous hunger, I ordered four tacos- carnitas (roast pork), cabeza (stewed beef head), buche (pork stomach), and chorizo (hot sausage)- to wash it down, I ordered a large horchata. Before my order came to the table, the charming proprietress placed a bowl of sliced, pickled carrots and jalapeños and a small plate of corn chips with refried beans on my table. The tacos came, garnished with sliced radishes quartered limes, and some quickly fried onions. The horchata came in a 32-ounce takout container.

I ate a leisurely meal, watching La Rosa de Guadelupe with a young family and a couple of guys on their lunch break. The meal itself was stellar, I won't have to be eating dinner tonight.

I used to work in New Rochelle years ago, and fell in love with the restaurant scene- there are a lot of great places from which to choose. Unfortunately, I don't get there too often these days (the city, while not far from my home, is a pain in the ass to get to, a drive there involves travelling on local roads which tend to be congested). I was grateful to have an opportunity to partake of the local cuisine, and even more grateful to run into my friend and shoot the breeze for a while.

I don't forage all the time! Bonus New Rochelle trivia, the superhero defender of New Rochelle is The Blowfish Avenger.

UPDATE: I put this post together pretty hastily, so I forgot to add my joke that the city would have been cooler if it had been founded not by Huguenot refugees from La Rochelle, but by heathen refugees from Averoigne, though the city would have been called New Ximes under those circumstances.

Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the post title is cribbed from a relentlessly poppy Guadalcanal Diary song:


11 comments:

fish said...

What? No tacos de lengua?

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

now I'm hungry.

Maybe I will take Wife Sublime to La Perla for Mom's Day tomorrow.

M. Bouffant said...

Try any tuna tacos?

Rob & Laura Petrie like them. (Richie, not so much.)

Jennifer said...

I second what Bouffant said. New Rochelle makes me think of Rob and Laura as well.

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

What? No tacos de lengua?

They were an option, as are tacos de cesos, but I went with two "off meats" (cabeza y buche) and two "normal people" meats. Their tacos de lengua are good. I thought they did barbacoa (goat), but didn't see those on the menu.

now I'm hungry.

My work here is done!

Try any tuna tacos?

The proprietress didn't offer.

I second what Bouffant said. New Rochelle makes me think of Rob and Laura as well.

Rob is short for "Roberto".

Smut Clyde said...

a relentlessly poppy Guadalcanal Diary song

Now I must go listen to 'Ghosts on the Road'.

Dr.KennethNoisewater said...

I hate you*.


*not really, of course. Just super-jealous.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

The Blowfish Avenger is pretty hilarious.

I've never been to New Rochelle. For some reason, I've always associated the name with The Roches (who are actually from N.J.).
~

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

P.S. Now look what you've done.
~

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

Now I must go listen to 'Ghosts on the Road'.

For great justice?

*not really, of course. Just super-jealous.

Don't be, I have to go to NYC to find Vietnamese food, period!

I've never been to New Rochelle. For some reason, I've always associated the name with The Roches (who are actually from N.J.).

I bet Carole and Paula were Roches fans. Man, I don't know any guy around my age who grew up in the NY metro area who didn't have a huge crush on Carole.

P.S. Now look what you've done.

Gotta love The Tick!

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

Spoon!