Taste Confusion at La Zona Rosa

A Confounded Chile Poblano Eyes His Plate Mates

My squeeze and I are fans of La Zona Rosa as are many of the posters on this blog. On a typical Thursday night you will see the Z-Red restaurant chocked full to the gills with locals chowing down on the reasonably priced "South of the Border" fare. The service is good, the atmosphere friendly and the al fresco dining area a pleasant spot to dine in decent weather. In other words we like La Zona Rosa as our two former posts attest.

But....(and you knew this was coming didn't you?)....the truth is some of the various menu items do taste the same.  For example, in the above picture there are three items.  One is obviously a curious, furious or ravenous Chile Poblano.  However, can you possibly identify the two items the Poblano is gazing at?  Well, according to the menu, one is a burrito and one is an enchilada.  And not only do they look alike, I closed my eyes and could not tell one bit of difference in taste between the two.  What is more disconcerting is the fact that when I finally subdued and gutted the Poblano, it was stuffed with stuff that tasted just like the stuff inside the enchilito or the burlada (cross between a burrito and enchilada).  Just what that stuff is I have no clue.  Where the stuffing comes from I have no clue.

Now, is it all fairly tasty? Si senor. Do I have any problem with the meal itself? No senor. Was the meal only $7.50? Si, si senor. I'm just sayin': If there is no difference in taste between a burrito and enchilada why do they have such different names? I'm just askin'. I mean, is this stuff shipped in from some meat filling factory in Mexico or Guatemala where all the "Mexican" restaurants get the same stuff? Is that why a lot of "Mexican" food in the Gump tastes the same? Is there like some Mexican McDonalds that standardizes the meat you get so you are never disappointed nor delighted with your meal? Just askin'.  No disrespect intended.  I'm not going Shadow Pup on anyone here. It's just that inquiring and hung-over minds want to know.

Comments welcome.

Fine Lunching Above the Tojo Line at Michael's Table

Before I get started I want to first commend to you a nostalgic remembrance of long gone fine lunch restaurants in Montgomery (before it became "The Gump") penned by one of our classier members: Whig in a Blanket. You can access this well-written piece above or by clicking here.  Actually, It was my recent luncheon at Michael's Table in Zelda Place which brought Whig's tome to mind.  In Michael's Table restaurant I may have indeed found a place to the WIB's liking or, at least, some place that may hold a candle to the revered "Elite."

It is, alas, not a place for my dear friends Tojo, Cornbread Carp, or Show Dog. Their tastes and budgets run counter to a restaurant with metal forks that do not bend with slight pressure, a wine list, table cloths and prices over the $10 so-called "Tojo Line."  But recently my colleagues  Bama Bing (a financier) and Doctor NBA (a practitioner of the healing arts) joined me for a leisurely luncheon at the table of chef Michael Hochhalter at his cozy little restaurant tucked discreetly out of the way in the Zelda Place Shopping area on Zelda Road. They, Reginald McLucid and "Whiggy", certainly have the education, breeding and funds to occasionally splurge on a $14 lunch despite some recent challenging economic times.  As you know from prior posts, I have experienced a slight downturn of fortune which has resulted in my taking a sabbatical from my Club.  The silver lining of my self-imposed exile is my discovery of a few fine places to eat that I may have missed by force of habit. Michael's Table is certainly one of them.

Recently, the establishment was well patroned primarily with groups of present or former Miss America contestants. A few gentlemen were sitting in the back area where I joined my chums for glasses of port while we considered the eclectic choices.  The Michael's Table menu offers everything from Mezze (hummus, cheese, tzatzki, tomatoes and relishes) to Tuna Nicoise. Not your average "meat and three" fare eh? My associates ordered the Machaka Beef Burritos and purred satisfaction over their wine.  I tried the Judy's Chicken Salad and found a very fair portion of chicken salad served on a fresh slice of cantaloupe and a bed of lettuce.  Not only delicious and filling but reasonably within my dietary constraints.  The meals came with pita bread and olive oil dipping sauce for about $13 each. Sorry Carp, no cornbread or butter. A little pricey for some tastes but well worth it to someone with a little extra time to enjoy a real lunch prepared by a fine chef.

I am so delighted they are open for lunch and in my view the prices keep out the riff raff.  Sorry, if I have offended anyone. Perhaps I had one too many tots of port.