"All you can EAT!" A regional/state thing?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

So typical of Americans.

I avoid the all-you-can-eat buffets. I much prefer a locally-owned restaurant with unique food and smaller portions -- and so do 90% of my friends.

Unique food? I tend to avoid places that advertise "unique cuisine," as the prices at those places tend to be as inflated as the culinary egos and the snobbery. That, and the food is rarely if ever "unique."

I'll eat wherever my family and I are in the mood to eat. Sometimes that's a nice restaurant, sometimes it a place that's quick and easy. Sometimes it's a local hangout, sometimes it's a chain. Sometimes it's a place to get dressed up for, sometimes I'm peeling my own shrimp. Sometimes it's "American cuisine," sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's even a buffet (which can be a plus with kids) -- either the "trough" kind or the Sunday after-church very nice kind.

Every restuarant may not have good food, but good food can be found in any kind of restaurant -- even the troughs.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Unique food? I tend to avoid places that advertise "unique cuisine," as the prices at those places tend to be as inflated as the culinary egos and the snobbery. That, and the food is rarely if ever "unique."

I really meant more -- well-prepared food or a place that gives a twist to a traditional dish.

Truly, I love the fine dining experience as much as a burger at a local hole-in-the-wall place.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Unique food? I tend to avoid places that advertise "unique cuisine," as the prices at those places tend to be as inflated as the culinary egos and the snobbery. That, and the food is rarely if ever "unique."

I totally agree with you!! I try to stay away from places that say "unique cuisine" or "authentic _____ cuisine." The summer I turned 15, I was traveling to Dallas with my family. As we passed Midland, we decided to stop and grab some food. We found a restaurant that said "authentic Mexican food." Well we didn't think anything of it, so we went in to eat. It was THE WORST food i've ever had. And totally NOT Mexican at all. the flautas were eggrolls, the quesadilla my cousin ordered was just one large tortilla chip covered in Velvetta. I shudder just thinking about it.

I hate it when people claim to know how to cook certain foods (well mainly Mexican food) but it's totally wrong.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by epchick

the flautas were eggrolls, the quesadilla my cousin ordered was just one large tortilla chip covered in Velvetta. I shudder just thinking about it.

After growing up in Texas with a fondness for Mexican food, I ventured to Virginia for graduate school.

Not long after arriving I was lamenting that I was really missing some good Mexican food. A friendly classmate, who was from Baltimore, tried to be helpful: "What do you mean there is no Mexican food here... we have a Chili's!"

Sigh.

Originally Posted by epchick

I hate it when people claim to know how to cook certain foods (well mainly Mexican food) but it's totally wrong.

If there is not a huge tub of lard involved in making my flour tortillas, then they ain't tortillas. Bonus points if the lady making them is the matriarch of the family and doesn't speak a lick of English. Love those sweet ladies....

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by Blondie93

After growing up in Texas with a fondness for Mexican food, I ventured to Virginia for graduate school.

Not long after arriving I was lamenting that I was really missing some good Mexican food. A friendly classmate who was from Baltimore tried to be helpful: "What do you mean there is no Mexican food here... we have a Chili's!"

Sigh.



If there is not a huge tub of lard involved in making my flour tortillas, then they ain't tortillas. Bonus points if the lady making them is the matriarch of the family and doesn't speak a lick of English. Love those sweet ladies....

Tex-Mex rules to live by -

1.) Understand that Tex-Mex is not Mex-Mex. Mexico has a rich and varied cuisine, which bears little resemblance to Tex-Mex.

2.) You cannot get good Tex-Mex outside of Texas. Yes, the restaurant may be owned by Mexicans, but that does not mean the food will be up to true Tex-Mex standards. I cannot count the bad experiences I have had all over the country because well-meaning friends are convinced I will LOVE their local Mexican restaurant. Thanks for trying - I need to go home to Texas.

3.) A good Tex-Mex restaurant makes their own tortillas (by HAND, not machine) and fries said tortillas to make chips. Bagged chips = NO. Salsa or pico out of a jar = no.

4.) Fajitas are made of skirt steak or chicken. Lobster fajitas are an abomination.

Herbert's Taco Hut in San Marcos is just about PERFECT - started as a Mexican grocery, started selling prepared food, added on to the grocery store in several stages. It is like a rabbit warren. Black velvet painting of Jesus amongst the cosmos over the jukebox, little Mexican women patting out the tortillas, two beer limit with dinner, and CHEAP as free. Yummmm. . . it is also out of the way, so tends to draw a local crowd. I need me some cheese enchildas now.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Tex-Mex....

Ewwww.....As much as i like certain "tex-mex" concoctions, it still isn't Mexican food, and shouldn't be claimed as such.

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by epchick

Ewwww.....As much as i like certain "tex-mex" concoctions, it still isn't Mexican food, and shouldn't be claimed as such.

That's why it is Tex-Mex, and strictly Mexican food is Mex-Mex.

My aunt married into a large Mexican family, and "Mama" taught her to make authentic Mex-Mex food. It is AMAZING.


eta - here's a link - scroll down to see Herbert's. Oh - and The Green Parrot, infamous Gamma Phi hang-out "back in the day".
http://www.texcenproperties.com/san-...photo-tour.htm

[epchick]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

That's why it is Tex-Mex, and strictly Mexican food is Mex-Mex.

I must admit that I do enjoy the occasional Tex-Mex food, like fajitas or a quesadilla (made w/ Muenster cheese, cause that's the only kinda cheese i like)

This reminds me of the post someone made on GC, that encouraged the AGDs (i believe) to go to a certain restaurant in San Antonio while they were on convention. The poster said something about guacamole not being made w/ mayonnaise and I almost barfed. I hate guacamole to begin with, but i can't imagine it with mayonnaise. I double barfed when i turned on the food network and Sandra Lee (blah) was making an "authentic Mexican" white bean guacamole. Yeah, "authentic" guacamole does not include beans of any kind.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

4.) Fajitas are made of skirt steak or chicken. Lobster fajitas are an abomination.

Ever been to Puerto Nuevo? Some of the best Mexican food I've ever had -- and lobster is their specialty!

http://www.bajalife.com/bordercrossi...nglobster.html

...but, I do know what you're saying -- it always makes me laugh when I see a "spinach & mushroom burrito" on the menu of an authentic mexican restaurant.

Oh, and I would dearly LOVE to experience Herbert's in San Marcos someday!

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Tex-Mex rules to live by -

1.) Understand that Tex-Mex is not Mex-Mex. Mexico has a rich and varied cuisine, which bears little resemblance to Tex-Mex.

2.) You cannot get good Tex-Mex outside of Texas. Yes, the restaurant may be owned by Mexicans, but that does not mean the food will be up to true Tex-Mex standards. I cannot count the bad experiences I have had all over the country because well-meaning friends are convinced I will LOVE their local Mexican restaurant. Thanks for trying - I need to go home to Texas.

3.) A good Tex-Mex restaurant makes their own tortillas (by HAND, not machine) and fries said tortillas to make chips. Bagged chips = NO. Salsa or pico out of a jar = no.

4.) Fajitas are made of skirt steak or chicken. Lobster fajitas are an abomination.

Herbert's Taco Hut in San Marcos is just about PERFECT - started as a Mexican grocery, started selling prepared food, added on to the grocery store in several stages. It is like a rabbit warren. Black velvet painting of Jesus amongst the cosmos over the jukebox, little Mexican women patting out the tortillas, two beer limit with dinner, and CHEAP as free. Yummmm. . . it is also out of the way, so tends to draw a local crowd. I need me some cheese enchildas now.

This sounds like one of my rants when people try to say that the Olive Garden is real Italian food.

ETA: Or when they try to tell me Legal Seafood still has the best chowder in Boston...but that's just a personal thing...

[alum]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

This sounds like one of my rants when people try to say that the Olive Garden is real Italian food.

ETA: Or when they try to tell me Legal Seafood still has the best chowder in Boston...but that's just a personal thing...

I miss Hanover Street.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

This sounds like one of my rants when people try to say that the Olive Garden is real Italian food.

Or Bravo. I don't care if it says "Italian Kitchen" in the name.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by alum

I miss Hanover Street.

As do I; the North End is fantastic in a number of ways. One reason I miss living in Boston is I can't just jump on the T and head down to the North End, either for one of my favorites (like Strega), or just to try a new place. Boston really is a great city for restaurants and good food.

Originally Posted by 33girl

Or Bravo. I don't care if it says "Italian Kitchen" in the name.

Absolutely; just because it has marinara, or the dish ends with an "a" or "o" doesn't make it an Italian dish.

[AOII_LB93]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

This sounds like one of my rants when people try to say that the Olive Garden is real Italian food.

Thank you! I can't really dis the OG, as I do like their salad, and their breadsticks dunked in alfredo are good, but it's so not real Italian food.

Re Tex-Mex: My MIL moved to Texas last year and she is miserable having grown up in so Cal with Mex-Mex food. The first time she ordered an enchilada they dumped chili on it. I've also heard that their guacamole is just mashed avocados, eww. Give me real Mexican food any day.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by AOII_LB93

The first time she ordered an enchilada they dumped chili on it. I've also heard that their guacamole is just mashed avocados, eww. Give me real Mexican food any day.

Chili, as in beans & meat? eww.

You do know that guacamole is essentially mashed avocados (with a couple other ingredients)? It's not a Tex-Mex thing, it's a Mexican thing.