Favorite Food

[elSicomoro]

Food is a beautiful thing...in moderation of course.

--Mexican: I've always loved Mexican food, but about 4 years ago, I discovered that I was denying myself the Holy Grail. At the time, St. Louis was just starting to get a larger Hispanic population, and so a down-home Mexican restaurant was hard to find. Then I started dating Mimi, who lived in Chicago at the time, and found out what I was missing. All these wonderful mom-and-pop hole-in-the-walls all over Chicago, where the food was tasty and cheap. Places that most folks would probably overlook b/c a) a lot of them were along W. Chicago Ave. and b) you're up the creek if you don't speak Spanish. I didn't eat Taco Bell again for over 2 years.

One of the few things I DON'T like about Philadelphia (other than the sucky economy and SEPTA) is the lack of good Mexican restaurants, but there is a fabulous one called El Azteca, at Grant and Bustleton Aves. Well worth the trip.

(Incidentally dham, I used to frequent a nice place over on Connecticut Ave. in DC, near the Cleveland Park Metro, called Alero. Great food, although I think they might have closed shop. I believe the block they were on was sold to developers.)

--White Castle: I am so fucking pissed that they went belly up in Philadelphia, but there is one right across the Tacony-Palmyra bridge in Palmyra, NJ. Nothing like being drunk as hell and going to Chez Whiteys for a sack of cheeseburgers and cheese fries.

--Jack in the Box: The closest one to here is in St. Louis...they're mostly in the Western US. Perhaps the greatest fast food restaurant chain around. Nothing like having 4 deep-fried tacos and a Sourdough Breakfast Sandwich at 7 in the morning...for $4.

--Italian: A beautiful similarity between St. Louis and Philadelphia--great Italian restaurants. I'm a fan of fetuccine alfredo or a nice order of manicotti. I also wouldn't mind a nice thin crust pizza from Imo's or Cecil Whittaker's right about now.

--Chinese: Not as big of a fan as I used to be. For whatever reason, the way it is made on the East Coast is different than the Midwest. *shrugs* Why, I have no idea.

--Cheesesteaks: Do I really need to say anything here? I prefer chicken over actual steak though. I'm not a huge fan of beef.

Potato soup is also good...nice and thick, with a bit of cheddar and bacon in it. Add some soda bread to it, an Irish band in the background, and Guinness all around, and you've got a party.