Thats my Mexican food California story.
Here is mine.
In 2005 ( I think) I flew to Pasadena for the American Association of Woodturner's big yearly seminar/conference/something.
As always, I made my first stop after the airport REI.
Once I'd finished shopping, I asked the girls and guys manning the counters if there was a good eating place near by.
Yup, mexican diner on the other side of the street.
Turned out to be a somewhat heavyset ( A more unkind person would probably use the word "Fat") Mexican grandmother who had a tiny establishment with something like 3 cafe tables and chairs.
She was a wonderful cook. Simple mex stuff, but all homemade.
I've eaten at Colibri in San Francisco 3 times, but that meal still stands out as the one I measure all Mexican food against.
I made falafel today.
Have always had a hard time keeping the patties from disintegrating when deep frying.
So last sunday some young cook wrote in my paper that she simply used the waffle maker.
Give that woman a Nobel price for cooking!
It works perfectly.
Of course you don't get lil' balls or patties, but waffles, but once they are stuffed in a pita bread with some salad and slathered with Tahin sauce, who can tell.
This is going to turn into a weekly thing in this household.
Both the mail order bride and I have a thing for falafel, because of our time spent in Israel.