Hoy no hay dieta

I am in California right now, at an AP teaching conference, a whirlwind weekend trip, and a great opportunity for language immersion. California is a great place to enjoy Mexican cuisine outside of Mexico. After all, in this state reside some 15 million Hispanic people, more them 25% of them Mexicans. So today was my Mexican food day.

 For a quick lunch, I stopped at a chain fast-food restaurant, where I enjoyed a tasty fish taco for less than $5 (see the photo). An added bonus was a good laugh with three Mexican customers who carried with them a sign saying “Hoy no hay dieta” (No diet today).

 There were plenty of choices for dinner, as Mexican restaurants seem to be everywhere, and the cantina near my hotel turned out to be a great option. According to the sign on the door to the restaurant, their margaritas were voted #1, so I didn’t have to spend time thinking about what drink to choose. Guacamole was most fresh, made at my table. In addition to the usual ingredients, chopped jalapeños and fresh orange juice added an extra dimension to the dish. For the main course, I chose a sampler plate with a stuffed poblano pepper, a chicken taco and an enchilada. It was all delicious, but my meal could have fed an entire family… I forgot about the American sizes of food portions. Overall, a great culinary experience.