Two perfect meals came from two most unexpected places. One was a lunch in a tranquil courtyard of a yoga studio, with a shady vine with ripening figs hanging overhead. I drank a cactus, parseley and something else juice, and had a veggie sandwich of cucumber and lettuce on multigrain bread over a good conversation. It felt miles away from noisy Mexico.
Oaxacans need to get over their cheese. I'm over it. Oversalty, it somehow finds its way into everything - tacos, tostadas, salads - and consequently ruins it. This brings me to another rant. Briefly: "chilaquiles" is an entire entree of soggy, sloppy, mushy tortilla chips with salsa and of course Oaxacan cheese on top. This morning this somehow passed for breakfast at the posada. I had to pass, in turn. Now I have a soft spot for some things that others may consider past their prime. Namely, soggy, cold McDonald's fries. This predilection dates back to 1989 when the first McDonald's opened in Moscow. Occasionally my father, or some relative would travel to Moscow, stand in a line that stretched for three blocks and two hours, and return by train to Kiev with an entire #1 meal. (nb: I don't actually recall if the meals were numbered in Moscow. I think they were...) Subsequently, when we got around to having McDonald's in Lexington, Kentucky, the hot, just-assembled burger and fries tasted nowhere near as good as they did after a train ride and an overnight in the fridge. So, to tie this back to the chilaquilles: I admit that two-day-old McDonald's fries is one woman's dirty secret, and she promises to never inflict it upon others. What this woman would like to know is how an entire people comes to regard soggy, sloppy old nachos as an acceptable breakfast food? How?
Forgive the digression. I think I was telling you about good food. Another meal that hit the spot just ended moments ago at an unlikely place called 100% Natural, which looked totally hokey. The over-designed bilingual menu was pages long, espousing a philosophy of all natural foods... something about commencing an act of love when eating. Because of the pouring rain I've been selecting restaurants based solely on their proximity to home. I ordered a soup and some tacos, and wasn't expecting to receive a fragrant broth of tender veggies - celery, squash, potatoes, corn - with a huge lump of avocado on top, or taquitos with a generous side of creamy, spicy guacamole and a salad of spinach, beets, carrots, and chickpeas. This meal unfortunately went undocumented because the camera stayed home to hide from the never-ending rain. I'm over this rain too.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Why I love soggy McDonald's fries
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2 comments:
I have never had chilaquiles, but always really wanted to try. They are the perfect hangover food! Maybe they are not so great on any average morning, but a special, painful, nauseous morning, I bet they would be perfect. Try it and let me know :) Better than cold McDonald's french fries. I honesty gagged when I read that. Really. All nostalgia aside... vomit.
It's been raining like mad in Boston as well. Never-ending thunderstorms are now officially totally old.
My dear Anna, on the matter of soggy fries I regret to inform you that you are simply wrong. As for chilaquiles, I was actually excited to try them in the skillful hands of the señora at the hostel in Guanajuato, but she didn't follow through on the threat. Perhaps when I'm back in the states, we'll do a battling brunches reunion involving chilaquiles.
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