Mexican restaurants and bland food.
- Thread starter Kern Dog
- Start date
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I'm pretty sure the restaurants are being careful. "Spicy" is highly subjective, so what's tame to one person sets the next person on fire. That's hard for the cook to get right, so they play it safe.
I'm pretty far up there on the scale of spicy food. In my younger days I was forever making dinner that others couldn't eat. Now when I cook now I make it pretty bland so others can eat and enjoy it. I solved the "bland" problem by making up a mix of dried chili peppers I grind up in a coffee grinder (note to self, DO NOT mix up which grinder is for the peppers, and which one is for coffee beans...
). It's about 50% Habaneros, with the rest a variety of Pasillas, Chiltecpins, Japans, and Guajillos. It's as hot as you want to get things and very flavorful. I'm a junkie, I keep a small bottle of the mix in each car, travel bag, etc. I find a place that makes good tasting food and add the mix on top to make it as hot as I want it.
I'm pretty far up there on the scale of spicy food. In my younger days I was forever making dinner that others couldn't eat. Now when I cook now I make it pretty bland so others can eat and enjoy it. I solved the "bland" problem by making up a mix of dried chili peppers I grind up in a coffee grinder (note to self, DO NOT mix up which grinder is for the peppers, and which one is for coffee beans...
). It's about 50% Habaneros, with the rest a variety of Pasillas, Chiltecpins, Japans, and Guajillos. It's as hot as you want to get things and very flavorful. I'm a junkie, I keep a small bottle of the mix in each car, travel bag, etc. I find a place that makes good tasting food and add the mix on top to make it as hot as I want it.
These folks were definitely the real deal.
Most times no plates were used.
Each person was given a stack of hand broken soft tortillas and you used those to reach into the pot in the center of the table and grab chunks of stuff out.
Several times the meal was pork...and they ate dang near every part of the pig.
I tried the heart, but not again, thank you.
Most times no plates were used.
Each person was given a stack of hand broken soft tortillas and you used those to reach into the pot in the center of the table and grab chunks of stuff out.
Several times the meal was pork...and they ate dang near every part of the pig.
I tried the heart, but not again, thank you.
I find it interesting that in the last 5 or so years "Nashville hot" has become popular.
I'd have never associated Nashville with hot foods prior to KFC introducing theirs.
The first time I tried it, the term I used was "lawsuit hot".
I'd have never associated Nashville with hot foods prior to KFC introducing theirs.
The first time I tried it, the term I used was "lawsuit hot".
Back in Time
Well-Known Member
If for some reason you ever get to Greeley, Colorado check out a place called Alberto's Express. Their hot is burn your lips hot but I prefer the "Half and Half" because you can still taste the flavor of the food. It's still owned by the original Family unlike Alberto's restaurant which has gone downhill. Armidillo and Farmers Inn up the road in LaSalle are good also. These are all TEX-MEX which I prefer
dart_68
Well-Known Member
I ate at a Mexican restaurant last night. A couple of items can get spicy but for the most part everything is mild. I usually order a couple of chile asados to get some spice but DAYAMM...I think the ones I got last night were grown in Chernobyl!
pishta
I know I'm right....
Why is some of the best Mexican food I ever had was bacon wrapped hot dogs served off a cart in the street at 0300 in the middle of Mazatlan? I think horse would taste good that night.....we stayed there till the sun rose in the east and we watched the guys cart while we sent him to buy more beer. Ah good times....
diymirage
HP@idle > hondaHP@redline
Hey, dont knock horse till you tried it
My grandmother would cook horse meat
Its been over 20 years, and I can still smell it cooking
I would come home from school for lunch and if would she would allready have it rocking in a cast iron skillet
It wouldn't be done until dad got home at 6
By then, the meat would be almost black, and so tender you could point a fork at it and it would fall apart
Some of the sweetest meat I ever had
You guys are making me hungry. I may have to do a bacon dog for dinner. Or maybe a Sonoran Dog. With a beer or two!
Krooser
Building Chinese Free Engines since 1959...
I used to load lettuce and celery at Bud of California in San Jose.
There was a great family Mexican restaurant 2 blocks from the loading docks.
Fabulous steak tacos but I didn't want to see the kitchen....
There was a great family Mexican restaurant 2 blocks from the loading docks.
Fabulous steak tacos but I didn't want to see the kitchen....
Mopar-Mitch
Well-Known Member
I went to Texas last month and ate at a couple Mexican places, thinking it would be spicy but it was the same as here in Kentucky, maybe I just didn't find the right place.
69DodgeMan
Well-Known Member
La Posta, de Mesilla, New Mexico
Been years now since last visit, so it may not be what it once was. (but we can all say that, can't we).
Been years now since last visit, so it may not be what it once was. (but we can all say that, can't we).
gunbunny
Well-Known Member
I can't eat spicy at all and it makes my wife nuts.
My gut can't take it. Bland is the only thing I can do. A White Castle will give me heartburn for hours.
Shame to, because I like the taste of Mexican, Korean, Chinese foods. Hate Indian food. I guess it reminds me to much of the crap in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
My gut can't take it. Bland is the only thing I can do. A White Castle will give me heartburn for hours.
Shame to, because I like the taste of Mexican, Korean, Chinese foods. Hate Indian food. I guess it reminds me to much of the crap in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Yep - Richardson's is good (and Dick's Hideaway, one of their other spots down the road, around the corner from where Richardsons used to be (fire, I think?)
Sadie's in Albuquerque hit's the spot, too.
Haven't eaten much Mexican food in CA since I escaped 26 years ago ;-)
I don't mind spicy food. I dump Tabasco sauce all over a lot of things. There's a difference though between spicy and something actually having flavor. My chili I make for example. I don't make it spicy at all. Anyone can eat it. I also don't use chili seasoning. It flat out sucks dead elephant balls. It's horrible. I use low sodium taco seasoning. It's not spicy at all, but it has a ton of flavor. Makes for some kick butt chili.
autoxcuda
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Typically You have to ask for it the hotter version at authentic places...
But when you're in LA for Fall Fling go to Manual El Tepeyac's
El Tepeyac Café | Authentic Mexican Food | Boyle Heights & La Mirada
Boyle Heights (Location #1)
812 N Evergreen Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 268-1960
Looks good! I love that they use yellow cheese too. I cannot STAND all that white cheese most places gob all over everything.
SLOPAR72
Well-Known Member
Most Mexican food is not that hot even on it's best day...... There is a local Thai place near me and the owner is all about putting the smoke on you if you ask for it. Been there, done that but it killed the flavor but was fun watching others try it lol.... RRR you are right there is a difference and a line of demarcation between hot and spicy flavored food....
JW
JW
Not an expert by any means, but what most of us are accustomed to is considered Tex Mex. About 30 years ago, a friend and I spent about a month in Mexico. The food was pretty good, but nothing like we are use to here. I can't remember ever seeing any cheese that wasn't white. I do prefer the Tex Mex version myself, but occasionally I will order something more authentic. The authentic does seem a little more bland. We have several "real" Mexican restaurants around here, that are owned and operated by Mexicans. Most of them are pretty good, and serve both versions.
The is Mexican food and there is Tex-Mex food, and everything in between, above, and below!!!
A lot of actual native Mexican food, eaten my real Mexicans i have tasted can be pretty land.
Don't trick them with any Habinaro sauce. OK I can't spell Habinaro nor can my puter!!
A lot of actual native Mexican food, eaten my real Mexicans i have tasted can be pretty land.
Don't trick them with any Habinaro sauce. OK I can't spell Habinaro nor can my puter!!
For me it’s not the spices it’s the salt. Chilies really dumps the salt. Around here best Mexican foods is from the food trucks. To find a good food truck you have to look for one that’s busy all the time.
Springfling in Van Nuys when Teds Motion Picture Cars had their Friday open house he had a family come in and fix Mexican food. Pretty good stuff.
I miss that gathering that they used to have. It was fun to roam through the junker cars in the back lot.
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