Mexican Food

I grew up in Southern California, in Orange County. While I love the tall evergreens, mountain vistas, and clean air of the Northwest, I do miss the sunshine and the beach. And, I really, really miss the Mexican Food. Mexican restaurants in California are like Starbucks in Seattle. They’re on every corner. Making this Southern California girl eat bad Mexican food is like forcing a Seattleite to drink Folgers.

The other day I was describing good Mexican food to my South African friend, Glenda.
She asked, “What’s a quesadilla?”
“Well, it’s a tortilla folded over, with some cheese and meat inside. Sometimes beans. You dip it in salsa and guacamole.”
“Oh, well, what’s a taco?”
“Well, it’s a tortilla folded in half with meat and cheese and beans and salsa. Also guacamole.
“What’s a burrito?”
“Well, it’s a tortilla with meat, cheese beans, salsa, guacamole, but kind of all wrapped up.
“Hm. What’s an enchilada?”
“Well, it’s a tortilla with cheese, meat…well, kind of the same. But an enchilada has sauce on top.”
“A tostada? Wait. Let me guess. A tortilla. Cheese. Meat. Salsa. Beans.”
“Um, well, yeah. Pretty much. Delicious.”