12/7/2006 - Fast Meatless Mexican

To be perfectly honest at this point in time, I've never really been into Mexican cuisine.  This probably stems from the fact that the Mexican food - well, what passed for it, anyway - in high school consisted of tacos with about a teaspoon of ground meat (whether it was pork or beef, I had absolutely no idea), about a wheelbarrow's worth of shredded greens (no, it wasn't lettuce: it was cabbage!), and what was supposed to be salsa, but was more like half a minced tomato mixed with - urk! - banana catsup.  Ew.

Of course, when I grew older, I discovered real Mexican food at Taqueria Chilanga where the platillos (set plates) were generous affairs consisting of flour tortillas, frijoles refritos (refried beans - a name that's actually a culinary misnomer), nachos, tangy salsa made zesty with fresh tomatoes, cilantro, and chives, and one's protein source of choice.  At this taqueria, that would either be carne asada, pollo poblano, or pueblo-style roasted and shredded pork.  Wow.

However, seeing how the nearest taqueria is four widely-spaced MRT stops away from my office, the local Taco Bell franchise was the only answer to today's craving.

I have no idea why I decided to forgo meat for today's lunch, but it turned out pretty well.  The fried potatoes above were topped with a luscious combo of melted nacho cheese, sour cream, and chives.  The potato cubes were obviously tossed in spiced flour before frying and the savory flavor went well with the creamy topping.  In lieu of my usual steak-stuffed burrito, I opted for the meatless burrito pictured on top of this post.  It was stuffed with rice, cheese, frijoles, chunky tomato salsa, some lettuce, and the zing of cilantro danced on my tongue with every bite I took.

It wasn't quite as good as the stuff at Taqueria Chilanga, but it was how proper taqueria food should be: flavorful, satisfying, and modestly priced.

Taco Bell @ Gateway: Ground floor - The Gateway Mall (Right across from Italianni's or he Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf), Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City.